Internet of Things (IoT) Applications

Study Case Internet of Things (IoT) Applications for Modern Agricultural Innovation Michael Kurniawan (2018123456) University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45221, United States kurniaml@mail.uc.edu Abstract Technological developments in the modern era require various activities to prioritize efficiency and convenience in carrying out daily tasks. This has led to the emergence of various automation-based innovations that can help humans complete tasks more quickly without taking up too much time. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology designed to facilitate various processes by enabling devices to connect via the internet. This scientific article aims to examine the use of IoT in one of the important economic sectors in the United States, namely agriculture. Agriculture contributes significantly to the national economy with major products such as corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, coffee, and other horticultural products. The research method used is a literature review. The results of the study show that the application of IoT in agriculture can provide an overview of how to increase production while maintaining quality. Each form of utilization discussed is accompanied by citations as references, thereby deepening the understanding of the role of IoT technology in the agricultural sector. Keywords: Internet of Things, Agriculture, Technology, Utilization INTRODUCTION Agriculture plays a vital role in human survival as it is the main source of food [1]. In the United States, many rural communities depend on the agricultural sector for their livelihood. However, some farmers still rely on manual methods in land management, resulting in suboptimal productivity and efficiency. Current technological advances demand efficiency and convenience in various daily activities. This condition has led to the emergence of automated technology that can MICHAEL KURNIAWAN 1 Study Case reduce the time and energy required [2]. One sector that greatly benefits from this development is agriculture. The use of information and communication technology in land management can increase production effectiveness while strengthening food security [3]. IoT was initially developed to improve business processes in the manufacturing industry, but has now expanded to various strategic sectors, including agriculture [4]. Through IoT, various devices can be connected to the internet to carry out certain activities automatically. The main reason for utilizing IoT in the agricultural sector is its ability to provide solutions to various challenges faced by farmers. IoT sensors, for example, can be used to monitor plant health, detect pests, and assess soil fertility levels. In addition, IoT-based wireless technology is also capable of monitoring weather and climate conditions in real-time. IoT-based devices can be used to set automatic schedules for fertilization, pesticide spraying, and irrigation [5]. Based on this description, the research question for this study is: what are the forms of IoT technology utilization in the agricultural sector? The objectives of this scientific article are: 1. To provide an overview of the use of IoT to improve work efficiency and agricultural yields. 2. To encourage new IoT-based innovations in the agricultural sector. 3. To provide insight for farmers and the wider community regarding the potential of IoT in increasing productivity and advancing agriculture in the United States. THEORETICAL BASIS Agriculture Agriculture is one of the main means of meeting food needs [6]. This sector occupies an important position in economic development because it acts as a provider of food and a creator of jobs [7]. With good management and the application of modern technology, agriculture can improve crop quality, create new jobs, and strengthen the national economy. Internet of Things (IoT) According to [8], the Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept in which various physical MICHAEL KURNIAWAN 2 Study Case objects can communicate with each other and be integrated into a system connected via the internet. Broadly speaking, the IoT architecture consists of three main elements: 1. Physical devices equipped with IoT modules. 2. Internet connection devices such as modems and wireless routers. 3. Cloud data centers, which are application and database storage centers. IoT works by utilizing programming logic. Each instruction will result in machineto-machine interactions that take place automatically, without human intervention, and are not limited by distance. The role of humans is limited to that of regulators and supervisors, while the internet connection serves as a bridge for communication between devices. METHOD This study uses a literature review method. The process involves collecting data from various sources, such as scientific journals, books, academic publications, and relevant documents. The data obtained is then analyzed to compile a discussion and draw conclusions. This literature study method allows researchers to understand past conditions and current developments related to the topic of IoT utilization in agriculture, thereby producing comprehensive conclusions. DISCUSSION Based on the results of the literature review, there are several forms of IoT technology utilization in agriculture, including: Application of IoT in Irrigation Systems According to [9], IoT can be applied through the development of a Smart Irrigation system. This system is designed to monitor and control activities in irrigation channels, such as monitoring water discharge, air temperature, water level, rain detection, and automatically opening and closing dam gates. With this system, the water supply becomes more optimal and farmers' work is more efficient because activities can be controlled remotely via a computer or smartphone. MICHAEL KURNIAWAN 3 Study Case Figure 1. Smart irrigation device circuit The device circuit includes four sensors connected to a Wemos D1 microcontroller, namely: • Water flow sensor to calculate water flow, • Temperature sensor to detect temperature, • Rain sensor to detect rainfall, • Water level sensor to measure water level. In addition, the system is equipped with a servo motor to move the dam gate and a GSM module to send SMS notifications when flooding occurs. All data is transmitted in real-time. Test results [9] show that: 1. Temperature data was successfully sent via the internet and displayed on the smart irrigation website. 2. The rain sensor was able to detect weather and display data online. 3. Water flow was read as a digital pulse, then converted to liters. 4. The water level sensor was able to automatically open and close the gate according to the water level. Humidity and Temperature Control in Mushroom Cultivation According to [10], IoT technology can be applied to mushroom cultivation, particularly white oyster mushrooms, by building a temperature and humidity monitoring system. The devices used include Arduino Uno, NodeMCU, DHT22 sensor, ultrasonic sensor, soil pH sensor, water pump, heater, buzzer, relay, and humidifier. MICHAEL KURNIAWAN 4 Study Case Figure 2. Oyster mushroom monitoring system circuit design NodeMCU and Arduino Uno function as data management centers. The DHT22 sensor detects air temperature and humidity, while the soil pH sensor monitors acidity levels. The ultrasonic sensor is used to monitor water capacity. Data is sent via the ESP8266 module to a database and can be accessed by users through a website. The test results [10] are as follows: 1. The DHT22 sensor has an average error of 1.28% for temperature and 2.93% for humidity. 2. The soil pH sensor shows an average error of 3.46%. 3. The ultrasonic sensor has an average error of 1.59%. 4. NodeMCU successfully sent data to the server with an average delay of 10 seconds. Soil Fertility Detection in Plantations According to [11], IoT is also useful for detecting soil fertility, which is a major factor in agricultural success. This system uses Arduino Uno R3 as the control center, with pH and Soil Moisture Sensors to measure soil moisture. Data is sent via ESP8266 to a database and displayed in real-time on a website. Figure 3. Soil fertility detection device circuit MICHAEL KURNIAWAN 5 Study Case Test results [11]: • At depths of 5 cm to 20 cm, moisture varied from 84.5% to 87.8% in the morning and from 75.5% to 79.1% in the afternoon. • The pH sensor showed different values between locations, for example, plot 1 (device = 5.15; error 0.03) and plot 2 (device = 5.43; error 0.06). Automatic Plant Watering According to [12], IoT can be used to build an automatic watering system with soil moisture and temperature sensors. Initial data is displayed on the LCD, then processed using fuzzy logic to determine the watering category (no watering, light, moderate, or heavy). The data is then sent to the ESP32 microcontroller, which activates the relay to turn on the water pump. The system is integrated with the Blynk application so that users can monitor soil and temperature conditions in real-time. Test results [12]: 1. Morning (08:00): temperature 27°C, humidity 42% → moderate watering; humidity 79% → no watering. 2. Afternoon (1:30 PM): temperature 32°C, humidity 23% → moderate watering. 3. Evening (4:30 PM): temperature 28°C, humidity 59–60% → no watering. Monitoring Soil Moisture and Rainfall According to [13], monitoring soil moisture and rainfall is important to support decision-making in fertilizer application and irrigation. An IoT system is used so that sensor data can be displayed on an online platform. This device consists of two sensors: a soil moisture sensor for soil moisture and a rain sensor for rainfall. Data is recorded on a microSD card, sent via an internet modem every 10 minutes, and displayed in graph form on the ThingSpeak platform. The results of [13]'s 10-day test showed different average variations in soil moisture and rainfall each day. The graph data is automatically displayed on the platform. Agricultural Land Security System According to [14], one of the losses experienced by farmers is the theft of crops, especially vegetables and fruits. An IoT-based security system can be a solution through real-time monitoring of object movements. This system uses PIR sensors to detect movement. If movement is detected, the system sends notifications and photos to the Telegram application. In addition to being MICHAEL KURNIAWAN 6 Study Case automatic, users can also access it manually with the /photo command. A live streaming feature is also available to enhance security. Test results [14]: • PIR sensors are most effective at distances ≤ 6 meters, with accuracy decreasing above 7 meters and failing at 9 meters. • From 10 tests, the average notification delay = 4.9 s, photo delay = 3.9 s, photo request delay = 10.7 s. • The system works well in both rainy and sunny conditions, with an average live streaming delay = 2.3 s. CONCLUSION Based on a literature review, it can be concluded that IoT technology has many benefits in the agricultural sector, including: • Smart irrigation systems, • Humidity and temperature control, • Soil fertility detection, • Automatic watering, • Soil moisture and rainfall monitoring, • Agricultural land security systems. The primary objective of implementing this technology is to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and ease of work in the agricultural sector. As technology advances, it is anticipated that more IoT-based innovations will emerge, driving agriculture toward a more modern, productive, and sustainable direction. MICHAEL KURNIAWAN 7 Study Case REFERENCE MICHAEL KURNIAWAN 8 Study Case MICHAEL KURNIAWAN 9