DESIGN OF AN IOT-BASED SMALL SCALE INDOOR HYDROPONICS WITH GEO-SOLAR SYSTEM

Urban farming is considered trending. Hydroponics, in particular, offers opportunities to grow and produce healthy plants with lesser energy requirements. In this work, the necessary requirements for plant growth and development such as temperature, humidity, pH, nutrient level and water temperature were being studied as bases for making the controlling and monitoring system. The outcome of this work indicates the selection of sensors through compare and contrast functions as set in the program. Data gathered were processed and programmed using microcontrollers and open-source software (Arduino and Blynk). Specifically, the solar photovoltaic (PV) and geothermal systems were utilized to provide power and maintain the temperature of the whole system. Based on the results, the design and selection of appropriate sensors and devices were able to monitor and control the required nutrients and environment of a plant. The integration also of solar PV was able to power up the whole system sustaining the operations of the devices. The integration also of the ground heat exchanger system helped in reducing the temperature to an average of 5oC. Moreover, the system was able to display the plant's parameters and prompt the owner of any irregularities in the system. It can be recommended to improve further the structural design and assembly of the system.