Smart Data Monitoring Solution of Indoor Farms
| Smart Data Monitoring Solution of Indoor Farms | |
|---|---|
| |
 Aquaponics | |
| Team Organizations | Lateral |
| Team Leaders | Ed Lisle |
| Participating Municipalities | Portland OR |
| Status | Launched |
| Document | None |
Description
LATERAL.systems LLC, an AgTech startup, has developed the LATERAL Edge Platform, an edge-based monitoring system designed to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of commercial indoor farms. By continuously monitoring water quality and atmospheric conditions, the platform helps farmers detect and respond to potential imbalances before they cause significant crop damage, reducing waste and increasing yields. The system offers customizable Grow Profiles for various crops and provides real-time alerts, alarms, and actionable mediation options, making it particularly valuable for addressing the challenges faced by novice farm workers. Unlike cloud-based solutions, LATERAL’s edge-based approach ensures reliable data processing even in areas with limited internet connectivity, lowers operational costs, and improves data security. With its innovative tools, LATERAL aims to democratize access to smart monitoring solutions, support food security, and advance the growing indoor farming industry.
Challenges
The LATERAL Edge Platform addresses challenges in the commercial indoor farming industry, including the rapid onset of imbalances that can damage crops within hours, a largely inexperienced workforce struggling to interpret and act on monitoring data, and the lack of reliable internet connectivity on many farms. Traditional manual monitoring methods are inadequate for detecting early warning signs, leading to unnecessary food waste in an industry critical to addressing global food insecurity. Furthermore, the high cost and data latency of existing cloud-based solutions create barriers to widespread adoption, particularly for smaller or resource-constrained farms. Overcoming these challenges requires not only developing accessible, edge-based technology but also designing intuitive systems that train workers to understand data patterns, make informed decisions, and retain knowledge to improve long-term farm productivity.
Solutions
The LATERAL Edge Platform provides a cutting-edge solution to the challenges faced by commercial indoor farms through an edge-based monitoring system that continuously tracks water quality and atmospheric conditions in real time. By locating data collection, storage, and analytics at the source, the platform eliminates the need for high-speed internet, reduces data latency, and ensures cost-effective and secure operations. Its customizable Grow Profiles enable farmers to tailor monitoring parameters to specific crops, offering early alerts and actionable mediation options to prevent crop damage and optimize yields. Additionally, the platform incorporates intuitive dashboards with visual data trends and scaffolding tools to support worker training and retention, fostering a skilled workforce capable of making data-driven decisions. This comprehensive approach not only reduces waste and increases farm efficiency but also democratizes access to advanced AgTech solutions for farms of all sizes.
Major Requirements
The LATERAL Edge Platform requires the development and deployment of modular, interoperable sensor hardware and software capable of continuously monitoring water quality and atmospheric conditions in commercial indoor farms. It necessitates an edge-computing framework to process, store, and analyze data locally, ensuring functionality in environments with limited or unreliable internet connectivity. The system must support customizable Grow Profiles for various crops, provide real-time alerts and mediation options, and feature an intuitive dashboard with visual data trends to assist farmers and train novice workers. Additionally, the project demands a secure and cost-effective design that minimizes operational costs while addressing scalability to meet the needs of diverse indoor farming operations.
Performance Targets
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Measurement Methods |
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Standards, Replicability, Scalability, and Sustainability
The hardware components comply with environmental durability standards such as IP65 for water and dust resistance, while the sensors align with ISO calibration standards for accuracy in water quality and atmospheric monitoring. The edge computing framework incorporates cybersecurity protocols such as AES-256 encryption to safeguard data integrity and confidentiality. Additionally, the software architecture follows IoT interoperability standards like MQTT and OPC-UA for seamless integration with existing farm systems. Usability design standards, including ISO 9241 for ergonomics, guide the development of intuitive dashboards that support user training and operational efficiency. Together, these standards ensure a robust, secure, and user-friendly system tailored to the unique demands of indoor farming.
Cybersecurity and Privacy
The LATERAL Edge Platform's cybersecurity requirements focus on ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical farm data. The system must incorporate robust encryption protocols, such as AES-256, to protect data at rest and in transit. User authentication must include multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access controls to prevent unauthorized access. The edge-based architecture requires secure boot processes, firmware integrity checks, and tamper detection to safeguard hardware against physical and software attacks. Regular vulnerability assessments and compliance with cybersecurity standards like NIST Cybersecurity Framework or ISO 27001 are necessary to address potential threats. Additionally, secure communication protocols like TLS/SSL must be implemented for data transmission between sensors, edge devices, and user interfaces, minimizing risks of interception or tampering. These measures collectively ensure the system remains resilient against cyber threats, protecting both farm operations and sensitive data.
Impacts
The LATERAL Edge Platform has transformative impacts on commercial indoor farming, enhancing food security and sustainability. By providing real-time monitoring and early alerts, the system reduces crop losses, minimizes waste, and increases yields, contributing to more efficient food production. Its edge-based design democratizes access to advanced AgTech solutions, enabling farms in remote or underserved areas to benefit from automated monitoring without reliance on high-speed internet. The platform also fosters workforce development by equipping novice workers with tools and insights to interpret data, improving retention rates and cultivating a skilled agricultural workforce. Additionally, the reduction in water and fertilizer usage aligns with environmental sustainability goals, while cost savings from local data processing and increased farm efficiency improve profitability. Overall, the project supports resilient food systems, reduces food waste, and contributes to the economic viability of indoor farming.
Demonstration/Deployment
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