IoT (Internet of Things) in several markets is still a promise, but for those innovative customers who are willing to invest and explore its potential the benefits are increasingly clear. For one of the biggest rose greenhouses in the Netherlands, Porta Nova, growers of the coveted Red Naomi rose, the introduction of a new platform that leverages the unique power of IoT has resulted in the wellbeing and success of its greenhouses and sought-after flowers.
Porta Nova’s challenges began with monitoring the horizontal temperature distribution within their greenhouses. They required sensors that were not affected by solar interference to ensure correct measurements, to get the maximum production per square meter. Additionally, they needed sensors that were precise enough to detect a fire, fine-tuned to go off at the first sign of smoke.
After considering several solutions, Porta Nova opted for a simple and open universal platform that allowed them to receive data from four critical environmental conditions: temperature, humidity, CO2 and light intensity all using solar powered wireless sensors. Developed by Technolution and equipped with an IoT gateway from MultiTech the new “Sense2Grow platform” utilized the power of the LoRaWAN protocol to receive fine-grained data on all their critical conditions. Now, the growers at Porta Nova have access to the kind of information they need to optimize the climate in the greenhouse, resulting in better quality, production, and savings.