Sustainability has dominated discussions ever since the UAE declared 2023 as the 'Year of Sustainability' and announced its hosting of the global climate change conference COP28 later this year.
This subject is also a central theme at the Expand North Star exhibition, where over 1,400 startups from around the world are presenting their products. Even schools in the UAE are embracing sustainability, emphasizing its importance among young students.
Hamad AlAwadhi and Dawood AlAwadhi, students at Al Mawakeb School in Al Khawaneej, have designed an innovative smart greenhouse system aimed at safeguarding crops from the adverse effects of climate change and global warming. Their smart farm provides the energy, water, and heat needed for plant growth automatically and intelligently around the clock, throughout the year. What's remarkable is that this system can operate without human intervention, ensuring the healthy growth of plants. The students showcased their invention in Hall 1 of the Expand North Star exhibition, a part of Gitex Global, the world's largest gathering of technology companies and startups. Moreover, this entire setup can be controlled via a smart app, and it offers cost-effective solutions. Hamad and Dawood shared their insights with Khaleej Times during the exhibition.
The system comprises four key sections. Firstly, an irrigation system equips the soil with sensors that measure soil moisture levels. When the soil is dry, the system automatically activates the pump to irrigate the plants through irrigation pipes. Once the soil is sufficiently moist, the pump automatically shuts off.
The tank is fitted with sensors for monitoring its water level. When the water level decreases, the system activates automatically to refill the tank and halts when it reaches the desired level.
The intelligent ventilation system is equipped with sensors for monitoring the temperature and humidity within the farming environment. If the temperature surpasses a specific threshold, a cover positioned atop the farm shifts automatically to allow fresh air inside until the temperature returns to an optimal range.
Additionally, the students have integrated a smart artificial lighting system for plants that switches on when natural sunlight diminishes and vice versa. Any system malfunctions trigger alerts for farmers, utilizing a combination of light indicators and sound alarms.
They have also devised a protective net placed beneath the farm's roof to shield plants from dust and sand while capturing water droplets during foggy conditions.