Smart Greenhouse
A smart greenhouse that self-regulates its environmental conditions
Role: UX/UI, Research, Visual Design
Tools: Figma, SketchUp, Enscape
Timeline: June - July 2022
Smart Greenhouse
RESEARCH
In order to grow fragile veggies such as pepper plants, the surrounding environment has to be in optimal conditions at all times in order to produce bountiful harvests. So I created a greenhouse that uses smart technology to automate and regulate the internal conditions for the type of plant growing inside
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Greenhouses experience fluctuations and inconsistencies that need to be monitored and regulated in order to achieve the ideal environment for plants to thrive.
DESIGN FRAME
How might we enable botanists to achieve perfect environmental conditions for their plants with the help of a smart greenhouse space?
USER PERSONA
Ideal Environment for Pepper plants
Technologies to measure Environmental Factors
Greenhouses experience fluctuations and inconsistencies that need to be monitored and regulated in order to achieve the ideal environment for plants to thrive.
STORYBOARDING
To show how the smart technology is used by Jonathan, I drew up a storyboard to show how the technologies work together to keep the greenhouse space in optimal conditions for the plants to thrive in
IDEATION
To have a functional smart space I planned the flow that Jonathan would take when using this greenhouse to cultivate his peppers. Key points were highlighted such as where the sensors would be, and what part of technology can be triggered in the space where the data comes from that is shown on the dashboard.
1. Greenhouse Entrance
Built on the south side of a house
3. TDS & pH sensors
Suspended in the water solution to monitor the quality
5. Carbon Dioxide Canisters
Canisters can be opened to build up the CO2 levels in the space
7. Extractor Fans
Removes hot depleted air from the greenhouse space
2. Data Dashboard
Displays the data of the surrounding environment
4. Hydroponics Reservoir
The reservoir pumps water into the hydroponic system
6. Inlet Fans
Allows fresh air from the outside to enter the greenhouse
IDEATION
I created unconventional wireframes that they try to explain how the space would function and how it would possibly look
DATA DASHBOARD
The dashboard is the all-in-one visualization location of the environmental statistics that can be found inside the greenhouse. The overall space stats are shown such as Humidity, Temperature, and Carbon Dioxide Levels to monitor the greenhouse conditions. The two hydroponic reservoir’s stats are also displayed in order to find solution imbalances as soon as they happen in the hydroponic systems.
Smart Space Design
To show the final idea in action a replica model of the space was created by using 3D design Software such as SketchUp and Enscape. This allowed for a detailed understanding of the smart space and how the solutions would impact it
AIR
CIRCULATION
To regulate the internal temperatures of the greenhouse, inlet and extractor fans are activated when temperatures go above or below desired ranges
SHADE COVERAGE
When needing to build up temperature or humidity, a shade roof is activated which builds up condensation inside the space and decreasing the amount of evaporation
HYDROPONICS
To measure the reservoir solutions, the PH and EC sensors are suspended in the liquid to feed the data to the dashboard. Jonathan would then manually adjust the solution with nutrients and chemicals to balance the solution if needed.
