Abstract: Recently, the Algerian economy starts to decline due to the drop in oil prices. The decline in oil prices shows the
dependence and vulnerability of a system built on the only resource of the hydrocarbon sector. In this case, it is urgent to
develop other sectors of the economy to reduce the dependence on hydrocarbons. Agriculture is a strategic and important
sector for economic development, especially in southern Algeria. In general, poor irrigation management affects
agricultural production, for this purpose it is necessary to develop strategies to optimize irrigation. An automated irrigation
system is designed to monitor and control the various factors derived from an agricultural field such as humidity, water
level, temperature, and human interaction. The integration of modern technology in irrigation management system is one of
the ways to improve the irrigation processes to optimize the use of water, electricity consumption and labour costs. This
new mechanism allows the farmer to monitor and manage agricultural area using smart phones via Internet.
I. INTRODUCTION etc. of food also generates a lot of income. The aim of this
Embedded systems are self-contained programs that are Master’s thesis project is to exploit modern technologies and
embedded within a piece of hardware. Whereas a regular tools to improve monitoring and management of crops, in
computer has many different applications and software that order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of farming
can be applied to various tasks, embedded systems are and food production. To this end, we have designed a system
usually set to a specific task that cannot be altered without for precision agriculture, which relies on a wireless sensor
physically manipulating the circuitry. Another way to think network combined with a service to provide individual
of an embedded system is as a computer system that is farmers with access to data that they find useful. The system
created with optimal efficiency, thereby allowing it to utilizes wireless sensor nodes that collect and transmit data
complete specific functions as quickly as possible. about the quality of the water supply, the soil, and other
The contemporary world is in a transition stage where parameters in an agricultural field. While such sensor-based
problems concerning global issues, such as global warming systems have been investigated earlier, one of the key
and alternative energy sources, are combined with new innovations to be explored in this Master’s thesis project is
challenges demanding immediate solutions. Society’s focus the combination of these sensors systems with a service-
has shifted from economic growth to sustainable driven business model to increase their ease of use and to
development, where environmental, social, and economic amplify the gains that can be realized via an integrated
aspects are considered together, rather than separately. system. The goal is to give a farmer a more complete picture
Policies that promote sustainability in all sectors of the of the current and historic crop status in order to foster better
economy (manufacturing, agriculture, and services) are now informed decision making. It is expected that such decisions
considered as a part of good governance. Problems such as will benefit both farming and irrigation by saving time and
climate change, population growth, and poverty (especially resources. Factors such as the diversity of conditions which
hunger), occur in a context of a gradual depletion of natural vary depending on location (for example weather, presence
resources and the fear of diminishing coal energy reserves. of insects, and disease) combined with the inability to
These are some of the global issues that are thought to predict the future characteristics of the environment during
require multidisciplinary approaches in order to be addressed the different seasons over time complicate the decision
successfully. In this Master’s project we focus on making process and require specialized knowledge.
agricultural production and cultivation. This overall process II. RELATED WORKS
has a significant role in fulfilling the basic human need for The design and instrumentation of variable rate
food. The production, preparation, packaging, distribution, irrigation, a wireless sensor network, and software for real-
water in the soil, while the soil water potential is an easier. This system is scalable, as it allows any number of
expression of the soil water energy status. The relation devices to be added with no major changes in its core
between content and potential is not universal and depends architecture.
on the characteristics of the local soil, such as soil density
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