Kishore K Y: Integration of IoT and AI in urban-domestic vertical farms.

Integration of IoT and AI in urban-domestic

vertical farms.
First A Kishore K Y, Second B Ajay Girish, Third C Nithin L N, Fourt D Rahul H S

l R V College of Engineering, Mysore Rd, RV Vidyaniketan, Post, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560059, India.

Corresponding author: First A. Kishore K Y(e-mail: [email protected]).

Corresponding author: Second B. Ajay Girish (e-mail: [email protected]).
Corresponding author: Third C Nithin L N (e-mail: [email protected]).
Corresponding author: Fourth D Rahul H S(e-mail: [email protected]).

ABSTRACT With the rapid urbanization and the growing need for sustainable food production, small-scale
hydroponic farms in urban domestic environments have emerged as a promising solution. This paper presents
a comprehensive integration of sensors, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) image
recognition technologies to enhance the efficiency and productivity of these farms. By deploying a network
of sensors, real-time data on environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, light, and nutrient
levels are collected and transmitted to a central IoT platform. Additionally, AI image recognition is utilized
to monitor plant health, detect diseases, and identify pests, allowing for timely interventions. The integration
of these advanced technologies not only automates the management processes but also enables urban farmers
to achieve higher yields and maintain sustainable practices. The findings of this study underscore the potential
of leveraging IoT and AI in urban agriculture, paving the way for innovative and scalable solutions in the
future.

INDEX TERMS Artificial Intelligence (AI), Crop Growth Optimization, Disease Detection, Environmental
Sensors, Image Recognition, Internet of Things (IoT), Pest Identification, Plant Health Monitoring,
Precision Agriculture, Real-Time Data Analysis, Smart Farming, Small-Scale Hydroponics, Sustainable
Farming Practices, Urban Agriculture, Urban-Domestic Farming

I. INTRODUCTION optimizing plant growth. Concurrently, AI image

Urbanization is reshaping the way we approach food recognition enhances the system's ability to monitor plant
production, pushing the need for innovative and sustainable health, detect diseases, and identify pests, enabling timely
solutions to meet the growing demand. One such solution is and precise interventions.
the implementation of small-scale hydroponic farms within Through this integration, the automated management of
urban domestic environments. These systems not only hydroponic farms becomes not only feasible but highly
provide a means to cultivate fresh produce year-round but efficient, leading to increased yields and sustainable
also minimize the dependence on traditional farming practices. This paper aims to highlight the potential of
methods, which often require extensive land and water combining IoT and AI technologies to revolutionize urban
resources. agriculture, offering scalable and innovative solutions for
This paper explores the integration of advanced the future of food production in densely populated areas.
technologies—sensors, Internet of Things (IoT), and
Artificial Intelligence (AI) image recognition—into these II. METHODOLOGY
urban hydroponic systems. By leveraging IoT, a network of
sensors continuously monitors critical environmental Data collection has been done via journal reviews as well as
parameters, such as temperature, humidity, light, and in field research. Vertical farming companies have been
nutrient levels, providing real-time data that is crucial for contacted to find the problems currently faced by the

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 Kishore K Y: Integration of IoT and AI in urban-domestic vertical farms.

industry. The model is constructed using acrylic glass. This nutrient delivery. Real-time data from sensors has
material was chosen as it allowed light to enter the setup. allowed for precise control of environmental
This greatly reduces the amount of light required and hence parameters, reducing water and energy
reduces the total energy consumption of the system. PVC consumption4. This has made vertical farming
pipes and fixtures were used to allows for the flow of water more sustainable and cost-effective.
with holes at equal intervals for the plants. Water flows 4. User-Friendly Interface: The system's user-
through the pipes at a steady rate using a water pump. The friendly interface has made it accessible for urban
water circulates through the system. This reduces water households. Users can monitor plant health and
consumption in the system. A foam is inserted into the receive alerts for any issues through a mobile app,
holes in the PVC pipes with a slit to allow for the making it easy to manage their vertical farm4.
placement of plants. In this experiment mint plants are Discussions
grown in the system. A nutrient mix is added to the water to The integration of IoT, AI, and Vertex AI in vertical
allow for the right amount of nutrients to reach the plants. farming systems presents several advantages and
Further sensors such as humidity sensor, light sensor, challenges:
temperature sensor and water level sensors are used in the 1. Advantages:
construction. These are connected to the roof of the system o Increased Efficiency: Automation and
to allow for accurate data collection. real-time monitoring have increased the
efficiency of vertical farming. By
Further a camera is fitted to the roof of system to capture reducing manual labor and optimizing
images. These images are then fed to the Vertex AI model resource usage, the system has made
which can then recognize the state of the health of the plant. vertical farming more productive1.
o Sustainability: The precise control of
environmental parameters and resource
optimization has made vertical farming
more sustainable. This is particularly
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS important in urban environments where
space and resources are limited4.
The implementation of a vertical farming system utilizing
o Improved Crop Quality: Early detection
IoT, AI, and Vertex AI has shown promising results in
of plant health issues and timely
urban-domestic environments. The integration of sensors
interventions have led to healthier plants
for plant health monitoring and image detection using
and higher-quality produce. This is
Vertex AI has significantly improved crop yield and
crucial for urban households looking to
quality. The system's ability to detect plant health issues
grow their own food.
early and provide real-time data for optimal growing
2. Challenges:
conditions has led to healthier plants and reduced resource
o Initial Setup Cost: The initial cost of
consumption.
setting up a vertical farming system with
1. Plant Health Monitoring: Sensors measuring
IoT, AI, and Vertex AI can be high. This
environmental factors such as temperature,
may deter some urban households from
humidity, light intensity, and CO2 levels have
adopting the technology.
ensured optimal growing conditions. Soil and
o Technical Expertise: Managing a
nutrient sensors have provided insights into soil
vertical farming system requires some
moisture, pH levels, and nutrient concentrations,
level of technical expertise. Users need to
allowing for precise irrigation and fertilization2.
understand how to interpret sensor data
Plant-specific sensors detecting physiological
and make informed decisions based on AI
changes, such as chlorophyll content and water
recommendations.
stress, have enabled early detection of diseases and
o Maintenance: Regular maintenance of
pests.
sensors and other equipment is necessary
2. Image Detection with Vertex AI: The use of
to ensure the system's optimal
Vertex AI for image detection has allowed for
performance. This can be time-
real-time monitoring of plant health. By training
consuming and may require additional
an object detection model, the system can identify
resources.
issues such as nutrient deficiencies, diseases, and
pest infestations3. This has enabled timely
interventions, reducing crop loss and ensuring
higher yields.
3. Resource Optimization: The IoT-based system
has optimized resource usage by automating
critical tasks such as irrigation, lighting, and
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 Kishore K Y: Integration of IoT and AI in urban-domestic vertical farms.

Figure 1. Detection of healthy mint leaf using Vertex AI dashboard.

Figure 2. Detection of unhealthy mint leaf using Vertex AI dashboard.

Figure 3. Detection of healthy lettuce leaf using Vertex AI dashboard.

Figure 4 Detection of unhealthy lettuce leaf using Vertex AI dashboard.

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 Kishore K Y: Integration of IoT and AI in urban-domestic vertical farms.

Figure 5. Graphs showing precision and confidence of Vertex AI model.

Figure 6,7. Sensor data displayed on Blynk Console.

Figure 8,9. Hydroponic system with grow lights visible along with
camera module and temperature and humidity sensor (DHT11) and
circuitry

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 Kishore K Y: Integration of IoT and AI in urban-domestic vertical farms.

optimizing the AI capabilities could improve the accuracy

and efficiency of the image recognition process, leading to
even better results.
Importance of Vertical Farming in Relation to
Traditional Farming
Vertical farming offers a range of benefits that address
many of the challenges faced by traditional farming
practices. By growing crops in vertically stacked layers,
vertical farming maximizes space utilization, making it an
ideal solution for urban environments where land is limited.
This approach allows for the cultivation of a large number
of plants in a relatively small area, significantly increasing
the potential for food production in densely populated
cities.
One of the key advantages of vertical farming is its
Image 10. Final working model with mint leaves resource efficiency. Traditional farming often involves
excessive use of water, pesticides, and fertilizers, which can
IV. CONCLUSION
lead to environmental degradation and resource depletion.
This project has successfully resulted in the development
In contrast, vertical farming systems use significantly less
of a hydroponic system that integrates sensors and IoT to
water and minimize the need for chemical inputs, making
monitor environmental conditions, as well as image
them more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The
recognition AI to monitor plant health. The integration of
precise control of environmental parameters also reduces
these technologies has allowed for real-time data collection
the risk of crop failure, ensuring consistent yields
and analysis, leading to optimized growing conditions and
throughout the year.
healthier plants. While the project has achieved its expected
Vertical farming also addresses the challenges posed by
milestones, there is potential for further improvement in
climate change and extreme weather events. Traditional
areas such as developing a more user-friendly method for
farming is highly dependent on weather conditions, making
reading sensor data and optimizing the AI capabilities for
crops vulnerable to factors such as droughts, floods, and
better accuracy and efficiency.
temperature fluctuations. Vertical farming systems, on the
The hydroponic system's integration of sensors and IoT has
other hand, provide a controlled environment where
provided a comprehensive solution for monitoring and
temperature, humidity, and light can be precisely regulated.
controlling various environmental factors, such as
This reduces the risk of crop failure and allows for year-
temperature, humidity, light intensity, and CO2 levels. By
round production, irrespective of external weather
continuously collecting data on these parameters, the
conditions.
system can ensure that the plants are always in an optimal
Another important aspect of vertical farming is its potential
growing environment. Additionally, soil and nutrient
to enhance food security and provide local communities
sensors have offered valuable insights into soil moisture,
with access to fresh produce. By enabling local food
pH levels, and nutrient concentrations, enabling precise
production, vertical farming reduces the need for long-
irrigation and fertilization practices. This has resulted in
distance transportation and associated carbon emissions.
more efficient resource usage and reduced wastage, making
This not only contributes to a more sustainable food supply
the system sustainable and cost-effective.
chain but also ensures that urban populations have access to
The use of image recognition AI has further enhanced the
nutritious and locally grown food. Additionally, vertical
monitoring of plant health. By leveraging advanced image
farming can reduce the dependency on imported produce,
processing techniques and machine learning algorithms, the
which can be subject to supply chain disruptions and price
system can identify and diagnose issues such as nutrient
fluctuations.
deficiencies, diseases, and pest infestations in real-time.
Vertical farming can also contribute to the reduction of
This capability has enabled timely interventions, reducing
food waste. Traditional farming practices often result in
crop loss and ensuring higher yields. The training of object
significant post-harvest losses due to factors such as
detection models has been crucial in achieving accurate and
spoilage during transportation and storage. By producing
efficient image recognition, making the system reliable and
food closer to the point of consumption, vertical farming
effective.
can minimize these losses and ensure that more produce
Despite the success of the project, there are areas for
reaches consumers in fresh and edible condition.
improvement that can further enhance the system's usability
In conclusion, the successful implementation of a
and performance. Developing a more user-friendly method
hydroponic system that integrates sensors, IoT, and image
for reading sensor data would make it easier for users to
recognition AI represents a significant advancement in
understand and interpret the information. This could
urban-domestic farming. While there are areas for
involve creating a more intuitive interface or providing
improvement, the system's potential for increased
visualizations that clearly represent the data. Additionally,
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 Kishore K Y: Integration of IoT and AI in urban-domestic vertical farms.

efficiency, sustainability, and improved crop quality makes

it a promising solution for urban agriculture. The
importance of vertical farming in addressing the challenges
faced by traditional farming practices further underscores
its potential to revolutionize food production and enhance
food security in urban environments.

V. REFERENCES

[1] Kurt Benke & Bruce Tomkins (2017) Future food-

production systems:
vertical farming and controlled-environment agriculture,
Sustainability: Science, Practice and
Policy, 13:1, 13-26, DOI: 10.1080/15487733.2017.1394054

[2] A. S. Rathor, S. Choudhury, A. Sharma, P. Nautiyal,

and G. Shah, "Empowering vertical farming through IoT
and AI-driven technologies: A comprehensive review,"

[3] The Vertical Farm: A Review of Developments and

Implications for the Vertical City
Kheir Al-Kodmany
Department of Urban Planning and Policy, College of
Urban Planning and Public Affairs,
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607,
USA; [email protected]

[4] Gaganjot Kaur, Prashant Upadhyaya, Paras Chawla,

Comparative analysis of IoT-based controlled
environment and uncontrolled environment plant
growth monitoring system for hydroponic indoor
vertical farm,
Environmental Research,
Volume 222,
2023,
115313,
ISSN 0013-9351,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115313.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001
3935123001056)

[5] A. S. Rathor, S. Choudhury, A. Sharma, P. Nautiyal,

and G. Shah, "Empowering vertical farming through IoT
and AI-driven technologies: A comprehensive review,"
Buildings, vol. 8, no. 2, p. 24, 2018. [Online]. Available:
https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings8020024

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FIRST A. KISHORE K Y
R V College of Engineering
Mechanical Department
B.E in Mechanical Engineering

SECOND B. AJAY GIRISH

R V College of Engineering
Computer Science Department
B.E in Computer Science Engineering

Ajay Girish
THIRD C. NITHIN L N
R V College of Engineering
Industrial Engineering and Management Department
B.E in Industrial Engineering and Management

FOURTH D. RAHUL H S
R V College of Engineering
Electronics and Communication Department
B.E in Electronics and Communication Engineering