A smart automatic control and monitoring system for environmental control in poultry houses integrated with earlier...

Monitoring key environmental parameters-such as temperature, humidity, ammonia (NH₃), and methane (CH₄)-is critical for optimizing poultry health, improving productivity, and mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These variables not only influence poultry well-being and performance but also contribute significantly to environmental pollution, underscoring the need for accurate, continuous, and cost-effective monitoring solutions. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies offers a transformative approach in agribusiness, enabling real-time data acquisition, automated control, and enhanced connectivity for environmental management in poultry houses. This study introduces a low-cost, automated monitoring and control unit (AMCU) designed for small-scale poultry operations. The AMCU is IoT-based, employing Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) for communication. The performance of the developed AMCU was evaluated and calibrated under controlled laboratory conditions at the Agricultural Engineering Department, Aswan University, during August 2023, where ambient temperatures ranged between 40 and 42 °C. Each test was replicated three times to ensure consistency and reliability. The results demonstrated a strong correlation (r > 0.96) between the AMCU sensor readings and those obtained from certified reference devices, confirming the system's accuracy in measuring temperature, humidity, ammonia, and methane. The economic analysis revealed that the complete system, including the early warning feature, was constructed at a total cost of only USD 76, with the core measuring unit costing USD 37.5. In contrast, the combined cost of the commercial reference devices was approximately USD 321, indicating that the AMCU achieved comparable functionality at just 11.68% of the commercial cost. The findings suggest that the AMCU is a promising, scalable solution for environmental monitoring in poultry farming. Its future deployment in real-world poultry houses could significantly reduce GHG emissions and promote more sustainable agricultural practices.