Greenhouse Engineering: Software-Driven Design and Modelling for Optimal Microclimate Control

The comprehensive software-based approach in this book provides an in-depth exploration of the latest innovations in greenhouse engineering, thus transforming the existing Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) to a futuristic Greenhouse Smart Agriculture (GSA), aiding the reader to optimize crop yields, reduce environmental impact, and enhance farm profitability through software decision support systems. From renewable energy solutions and software-driven sustainable practices to AI-powered optimization and integrated smart greenhouse design, it covers the entire spectrum of GSA, including practical knowledge, global case studies, and real-world examples.

Key features:

• Explores innovative renewable energy solutions for Greenhouse Smart Agriculture
• Implements software-driven sustainable solutions for optimized crop yields and reduced environmental impact
• Develops innovative control strategies for Greenhouse Smart Agriculture using artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and advanced techniques
• Optimizes greenhouse production through modelling and simulation techniques for enhanced sustainability
• Designs and implements sustainable greenhouse climate control systems for heating, cooling, and energy efficiency
• Creates integrated smart greenhouse systems that combine automation, renewable energy, and sustainable design
• Harnesses the power of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and data-driven approaches to enhance greenhouse optimization and sustainable agriculture
• Integrates smart soilless greenhouse agriculture and aquaponics using a design-to-software approach

This book is aimed at university and greenhouse industry researchers, agricultural engineers, and graduate students in fields such as agriculture, agricultural and biosystems engineering, horticulture, environmental science, and renewable energy, as well as professional agricultural policymakers.

Dr V.P. Sethi has thirty years of experience in teaching and research in the areas of greenhouse design, thermal modeling, micro-climate control, efficient solar cooker designs, Photovoltaic mathematical models for maximum power output and Biomass energy (paddy straw management). He has developed several affordable and field-worthy greenhouse technologies for higher economic gains, indigenous substrate hydroponics technologies (soil-less farming) and urban rooftops vertical farming. He has published more than 100 research and review papers in highest impact factor journals in the areas of greenhouse engineering, thermal modelling techniques, solar and renewable energy. In recognition of his research contributions, The Institution of Engineers (India) has awarded him two National awards (i) K F Antia Memorial award-2008 and (ii) President of India’s Award-2010 for best published work. He was invited as Visiting Research Faculty to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University (NDSU) twice, USA for collaborative research work in greenhouse thermal modeling and micro-climatic control. He was invited as guest faculty by university of Guelph, Canada and keynote speaker at international conferences held in China. He was conferred with the International Fellow Award for outstanding research contributions by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut in 2019. Due to his productive and useful research publications, Stanford University, USA included his name in the list of the top 2% best scientists working at global level since 2019 till date.