Aquaculture

Introduction

It is vital to provide an optimal environment for healthy aquatic and plant life in a wide range of Aquaculture applications including: Fish Farms, Shrimp Farms, Nurseries, Hatcheries.

IoTPortal’s monitoring and control features help you achieve this. Employees can view data from a wide array of sensors and control devices such as pumps and fish feeders via the output actuators, from anywhere via their Smartphones. They can also oversee the farm by viewing a large number of charts on a larger computer screen using our dashboard. The system can also be configured with events allowing it to react automatically, for example to turn on an air pump when the dissolved oxygen gets low.

Challenges

Ensuring optimal Water Quality

Staff need to regularly monitor water quality in ponds and tanks to ensure the health of the aquatic life.

On-Site Staffing Requirements

Staff must be on-site to carry out manual monitoring and tasks such as fish feeding and water treatment.

Limited Coverage

Many monitoring and automation systems can only be used over small areas, making them unsuitable for aquaculture farms with multiple or large ponds.

Powering sensors

Providing power to all of the sensors used around the facility requires careful planning, adds complexity for installation, and limits flexibility.

Complex Configuration

Setting up and using automation systems can be beyond the expertise of the staff, requiring extensive training or long-term reliance on external contractors.

Limited scope for automation

By using several discrete systems to monitor parameters and control devices, farmers cannot take full advantage of the possibilities for unattended automation.

Solutions

The system shown uses several of BRTSys sensors to monitor the critical parameters to ensure the health of the aquatic life. The IoTPortal Gateway manages the Long-Distance Sensor Bus consisting of up to 80 sensor units and over distances of 200m per bus allowing use in facilities with many different ponds spread over a wide area.

The system allows you to monitor parameters such as:

  • Nutrient level via the EC probe adapter
  • Water temperature via Thermocouple sensor adapter
  • pH level via the pH sensor adapter
  • Dissolved Oxygen level via the DO sensor adapter
  • Water quality and waste product breakdown via the ORP sensor adapter
  • Salinity level via the salinity sensor adapter for saltwater applications
  • Water Level via the IO Controller
  • General environment monitoring (such as CO2 level and motion sensing)

It provides manual or automatic control of devices too such as:

  • Control water pumps to control water levels and filtration (2CH Relay actuator)
  • Control air pumps to maintain water quality (2CH Relay actuator)
  • Control fish feeders automatically (2CH Relay actuator)
  • Control Sirens and Warning Lights to indicate to staff that attention is required (2CH Relay actuator)

User friendly and intuitive user interface via smartphone app and dashboard (viewed on a computer via browser)

  • Set up and configure the entire system using the app and dashboard without any programming
  • View the system status from anywhere using the smartphone app
  • Use the dashboard on a large monitor to view many charts at once
  • Set up events to automatically respond to measured conditions
  • Receive emails, SMS and push notifications when an exception occurs

Advantages

Maintain a healthy environment for aquatic life

Ensure optimal water quality and environment conditions remain within limits. IoTPortal monitors the farm 24/7 reducing manual tasks. Configure Alerts to notify staff when an issue occurs or their attention is required.

Remote Cloud-based Monitoring/Control

The IoTPortal Gateway links your sensors and actuators to the IoTPortal Cloud allowing you to access sensor data from anywhere. Control devices manually from anywhere and set up automated events to carry out tasks without staff needing to be present.

Monitor large aquaculture farms

Each gateway supports three daisy-chained sensor networks, up to 200m long, allowing a large area to be covered. Use more than one gateway for even larger systems.

Problem-Free Power

IoTPortal connects to all sensors and actuators via the LDSBus, using RJ45 connectors and CAT5e/6 cabling in a simple daisy chained configuration. This makes the system very easy to reconfigure and expand. LDSBus provides power to the sensors avoiding the need to have separate power cabling or outlets.

User-Friendly

The IoTPortal smartphone app and web application are easy to use for all members of staff. Set up different user permissions with privileges to view only, or to change settings etc.

Unified Operation

The entire farm can be monitored and controlled via one system with all sensors and actuators working together. We have a wide range of sensors for aquaculture applications covering key aquatic parameters.

Maintain a healthy environment for aquatic life

Ensure optimal water quality and environment conditions remain within limits. IoTPortal monitors the farm 24/7 reducing manual tasks. Configure Alerts to notify staff when an issue occurs or their attention is required.

Remote Cloud-based Monitoring/Control

The IoTPortal Gateway links your sensors and actuators to the IoTPortal Cloud allowing you to access sensor data from anywhere. Control devices manually from anywhere and set up automated events to carry out tasks without staff needing to be present.

Monitor large aquaculture farms

Each gateway supports three daisy-chained sensor networks, up to 200m long, allowing a large area to be covered. Use more than one gateway for even larger systems.

Problem-Free Power

IoTPortal connects to all sensors and actuators via the LDSBus, using RJ45 connectors and CAT5e/6 cabling in a simple daisy chained configuration. This makes the system very easy to reconfigure and expand. LDSBus provides power to the sensors avoiding the need to have separate power cabling or outlets.

User-Friendly

The IoTPortal smartphone app and web application are easy to use for all members of staff. Set up different user permissions with privileges to view only, or to change settings etc.

Unified Operation

The entire farm can be monitored and controlled via one system with all sensors and actuators working together. We have a wide range of sensors for aquaculture applications covering key aquatic parameters.

Videos

Modern Day Aquaculture using BRTSys IoTPortal and Sensors