AquaWise is a smart, automated irrigation system designed to optimize water use through customizable schedules – start/stop times, duration, flow rate, and total volume. It connects to the irrigation network and adjusts water distribution based on real-time data and plant’s production. The system integrates weather forecasts, environmental conditions (humidity, rainfall, wind, temperature, light), and local soil moisture sensor input to improve efficiency and reduce water waste. AquaWise is scalable for use in gardens, farms, or large agricultural setups and it includes machine learning. It requires basic hardware: affordable soil moisture sensors and a Raspberry Pi programmed in C++. The system controls a hydraulic valve and, if required, a pump. A pilot version is currently implemented in a school garden.
This is how I came up with the idea for this project:AquaWise was inspired by the drying Pediaios River near our school and the increasing concern over water scarcity in Cyprus. During summer, authorities drastically reduce water supply to farmers, causing serious damage to crops and a significant drop in agricultural production. This motivated us to seek smart irrigation solutions.
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