Construction of a VPN System for Remote Programming and Monitoring of Environmental Parameters for Serving Plant Production in Greenhouses

Nguyen Van Dieu,Duong Tri Ngo

doi:10.31817/vjas.2019.2.1.05

Abstract

This article introduces a virtual private network (VPN) system deployed in a 70m2 operator station and greenhouse at Vietnam National University of Agriculture. The VPN system was not limited by geographical distance and allowed for remote monitoring of environmental parameters, viz. light (10-16000lux), soil moisture (20-100%), temperature (20-60oC), and ambient humidity (30-90%) with tolerances of ± 5% of the set/measured values. The signals from the sensor system were recorded with a sampling time of 6 seconds. The designed interface made it easy for Vietnamese users. The system was initially established, and tested successfully with Gerbera in the greenhouse. The VPN system allowed for remote programming, stable operation, and no loss of data during the signal collecting process, and allowed users to fully and quickly react when the system crashed or when the user needed to upgrade or maintain the greenhouse system.

Highlights

The application of high technology in agricultural production is of great interest in countries with harsh climates and scarce resources
There have been many studies that offer wireless solutions for sensor networks to exchange data or to provide control requests for remote systems such as Li et al (2010) who introduced a monitoring system for plants in a greenhouse based on a wireless sensor network and the launching of an automated control system in a greenhouse based on wireless sensor networks using Zigbee (Park et al, 2011)
There have been several popular PLC applications such as Martin et al (2016) who managed a blueberry farm and monitoring system using a PLC based on a wireless sensor network; and Sindhu et al (2016) who used a PLC for the purpose of designing, selecting, controlling, updating, and upgrading greenhouses

Summary

Introduction

The application of high technology in agricultural production is of great interest in countries with harsh climates and scarce resources. Planting techniques and plant care, as well as the factors affecting the greenhouse crops, were researched and implemented in the greenhouses and the operator station of Vietnam National University of Agriculture with the web server application PLC S7-1200.

Results

Conclusion