Developing an Economic Estimation System for Vertical Farms

Yiming Shao,Yan Zhu,Tim Heath

doi:10.4018/ijaeis.2016040102

Abstract

The concept of vertical farming is nearly twenty years old, however, there are only a few experimental prototypes despite its many advantages compared to conventional agriculture. Significantly, financial uncertainty has been identified as the largest barrier to the realization of a ‘real' vertical farm. Some specialists have provided ways to calculate costs and return on investment, however, most of them are superficial with calculations based on particular contextual circumstances. To move the concept forwards a reliable and flexible estimating tool, specific to this new building typology, is clearly required. A computational system, software named VFer, has therefore been developed by the authors to provide such a solution. This paper examines this highly flexible, customised system and results from several typical vertical farm configurations in three mega-cities (Shanghai, London and Washington DC) are used to elucidate the potential economic return of vertical farms.

Highlights

The ‘vertical farm’, a relatively new concept in the realm of urban agriculture that, proposes highrise buildings as vehicles to cultivate plants in sealed, artificial indoor conditions with advanced greenhouse technologies such as hydroponics and areoponics (Despommier & Ellingsen, 2008)
The concept of vertical farming is nearly twenty years old, there are only a few experimental prototypes despite its many advantages compared to conventional agriculture
In order to simulate the annual yield of different crops and to predict the revenue of a vertical farm, a dataset that contains the information on plant cultivation is necessary

Summary

Introduction

The ‘vertical farm’, a relatively new concept in the realm of urban agriculture that, proposes highrise buildings as vehicles to cultivate plants in sealed, artificial indoor conditions with advanced greenhouse technologies such as hydroponics and areoponics (Despommier & Ellingsen, 2008). The first is for preliminary design estimating, whereby, the user inputs some of the initial decisions and settings of a potential vertical farm project, such as site location, construction information, system selection, plant selection and so forth. VFer will simulate and present the value of the maximum area of the vertical farm that can be built under constraints of the given budget.

Results

Conclusion