1. Technology Overview(1) Basic Technical SituationInner Mongolia is located in a northern cold region, where vegetable production relies on facility agriculture. However, many greenhouses still use traditional farming methods, limiting the varieties and growth cycles of facility vegetables. The rough management of light and temperature affects crop yield and quality, urgently requiring the introduction of advanced and economical modern control methods.Currently, whether it is the contradiction between energy demand and supply or the support of national policies, both provide a good opportunity for the development of IoT products. Although the construction of agricultural IoT in China is still in its infancy, there have already been preliminary applications in the field of agricultural and rural informatization, such as intelligent cultivation control, agricultural product quality safety, remote monitoring, and remote sensing systems. IoT technology combines hardware and software technologies such as sensor technology, network transmission technology, intelligent control technology, internet technology, and new intelligent algorithms, applying them to agricultural production. It connects agricultural facilities and equipment, accurately collects various data on crops and the environment through a professional IoT platform, and completes real-time monitoring of agricultural products using IoT-based detection and control technologies. This includes collecting various crop and environmental parameters, such as soil temperature, humidity, light, and carbon dioxide concentration. Intelligent algorithms analyze this real-time data to establish scientific and intelligent management based on data, automatically controlling devices to implement irrigation, ventilation, supplementary lighting, and increase carbon dioxide concentration. Meanwhile, the application of agricultural IoT technology allows for remote control of agricultural equipment. Producers can control roller blinds, electric heaters, supplementary lights, electromagnetic valves, carbon dioxide valves, and automatic ventilation switches through an APP, greatly improving work efficiency at all stages of agricultural product production. For example, during the planting and cultivation stage, IoT technology analyzes real-time soil conditions to select suitable crops; during the harvesting stage of agricultural products, IoT technology achieves economical and efficient information collection, allowing for more precise calculations during planting and harvesting, thereby improving agricultural production efficiency and product quality. Moreover, the introduction of remote video monitoring truly realizes unattended operation.(2) Technology Demonstration and Promotion1. The development of a single-point controller has been completed, and installation tests have been conducted in two pilot greenhouse areas in Xini Town, Hongjing Banner. This includes a remote intelligent control system with a control radius of 2.5 kilometers and a remote intelligent control system with a control radius of 5 kilometers, which are now in trial operation and promotion.2. The software and hardware development of a single access point network system has been basically completed and will be tested; the system has been adjusted and improved, and two model promotion pilot areas have been established.(3) Quality Improvement and Efficiency Enhancement1. Economic BenefitsThe application of technologies that achieve precision, remote, and automated agricultural production management, as well as intelligent storage and transportation of agricultural products, is beneficial for improving agricultural production efficiency, reducing circulation costs, and saving resource input costs. The total investment return rate in the project area can reach 80%, with a net profit margin of 50%, indicating strong profitability and risk resistance in agricultural production in the project area.(1) The refined planting and cultivation methods and scientific monitoring and management models through agricultural IoT can increase agricultural product yield.(2) Reduce input costs at all stages of agricultural production. By using the latest electronic technology, providing remote mobile monitoring, and offering convenience and reliability, facility agricultural producers can significantly reduce labor costs and effectively decrease the input of agricultural production materials.(3) The intelligent monitoring and early warning system within the agricultural IoT platform can timely and effectively prevent and manage agricultural disasters, safeguarding the harvest of agricultural products and achieving increased production and income.(4) The establishment of the agricultural IoT platform can stimulate the development of surrounding local industries, contributing greatly to local economic development through cooperation and infrastructure establishment.2. Social Benefits(1) Effectively integrates information resources in agricultural production, accelerates the process of agricultural informatization, and strengthens the research, development, and utilization of information resources, allowing for real-time monitoring of agricultural production dynamics across the city and effectively responding to various issues in agricultural production, enhancing response speed and implementing corresponding measures to ensure stability in agricultural production.(2) The use of the agricultural IoT platform encourages more agricultural producers to increase production and income, allowing them to tangibly experience the convenience and benefits brought by agricultural IoT applications, further promoting the digitalization, informatization, and intelligence of agricultural production in our city.(3) Stimulates the development of industries related to agricultural IoT technology and equipment.(4) Provides employment opportunities. The implementation of the project can directly create 30 jobs for society and indirectly create more jobs through upstream and downstream industries, playing a positive role in promoting local agricultural industry development, social employment, and economic growth, thus having good social benefits.(5) Introduces relevant professional talents. The implementation of the project will establish long-term stable talent training programs with higher education institutions such as China Agricultural University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing University of Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, and Inner Mongolia University of Technology, while purchasing and introducing advanced equipment from both domestic and international sources, continuously strengthening cooperation with universities and research institutions, introducing high-level talents from the industry, and establishing innovative R&D teams.3. Ecological BenefitsBy managing agricultural production through informatization, a growth data traceability system has been established to provide users with safe vegetables and fruits, further improving the food safety assurance system; scientifically and effectively utilizing agricultural resources to save water and fertilizer is beneficial to the agricultural ecological environment, truly achieving the goals of measurable environmental conditions, controllable production processes, and traceable quality in agriculture, ensuring the safety of agricultural product quality and leading the development of modern agriculture.2. Key Technical PointsDemonstration and promotion of key technologies for facility agricultural IoT and remote intelligent control systems can accelerate the construction pace of informatized agricultural production in Ordos City, promoting the development of agricultural IoT technology towards five major directions: low cost, reliability, energy saving, intelligence, and environmental friendliness, truly establishing and improving the supporting facilities for agricultural IoT and implementing informatized agricultural management models, thereby accelerating the efficient and rapid development of the agricultural IoT platform.(1) Installation of Independent Control SystemsEstablish monitoring for greenhouse facilities on a village basis, installing an independent control system in each greenhouse. The independent control system is connected to a wireless node via RS-485 bus, allowing a single wireless access point to achieve separate control for all greenhouses in the village, saving resources and reducing costs.(2) Collection of Agricultural Production DataThe collection of agricultural production data is transmitted from on-site sensor devices via 485 bus communication to the lower computer, with STM32 as the main control chip serving as the minimum system module terminal, responsible for collecting sensor data. The collected values can be displayed in real-time by the OLED module, including carbon dioxide concentration, air temperature and humidity, soil temperature and humidity, and light intensity.(3) Remote Monitoring of Agricultural ProductionAgricultural production data is sent to the cloud platform via Wi-Fi communication modules using EDP network protocol. After data parsing on the cloud platform, users can view real-time data from the greenhouse site on client devices (including PC web pages and mobile APPs). Using high-definition network live cameras, the video feed can be linked to the cloud platform for monitoring greenhouse visuals.(4) Remote Control of Agricultural EquipmentAgricultural producers can issue production instructions to remotely control agricultural equipment using control buttons on their mobile client. After data parsing on the cloud platform, they can control devices in the greenhouse via Wi-Fi, such as roller blinds, electric heaters, supplementary lights, electromagnetic valves, carbon dioxide valves, and automatic ventilation switches.(5) Coverage Area of Individual NodesA single wireless access point can cover an area with a radius of 2.5 kilometers.3. Key Implementation AreasIn Xini Town, Hongjing Banner, and in Chengchuan Town of Otog Front Banner, Shulinzhao Town of Dalate Banner, and Shiliang Town of Zhungeer Banner, four core project areas will be established, each promoting the application of key technologies for facility agricultural IoT and remote intelligent control systems over 30 acres, creating a demonstration area of 300 acres and radiating to promote application over 5000 acres.4. Expected OutcomesAfter project implementation, it will achieve precision, remote, and automated agricultural production management, as well as the application of intelligent storage and transportation technologies for agricultural products, which is beneficial for improving agricultural production efficiency, reducing circulation costs, saving resource input, and lowering production costs at all stages of agricultural production. This effectively reduces the input of agricultural production materials, improves the planting benefits for farmers, and achieves a total investment return rate of up to 80% and a net profit margin of 50%. Through the intelligent monitoring and early warning system within the agricultural IoT platform, timely and effective prevention and management of agricultural disasters can be achieved, safeguarding the harvest of agricultural products, increasing the profitability and risk resistance of farmers, achieving increased production and income, and truly realizing the goals of measurable environmental conditions, controllable production processes, and traceable quality in agriculture, ensuring the safety of agricultural product quality and leading the development of modern agriculture.5. Precautions1. Some technical products related to facility agricultural IoT are not mature, with poor sensor performance and relatively high costs, so special attention should be paid when selecting.2. Actively carry out demonstration work for agricultural IoT and guide farmers to apply it correctly through experimental demonstrations, thereby promoting the widespread use of agricultural IoT.3. By conducting remote education on rural technology to popularize key technologies for facility agricultural IoT and remote intelligent control systems, farmers can change outdated planting management concepts and quickly adopt this new agricultural IoT technology.
