Scientific African (Mar 2025)
IoT-enabled smart agriculture for improving water management: A smart irrigation control using embedded systems and Server-Sent Events
Abstract
Modern agriculture is facing increasing challenges related to the efficient management of water resources and the optimization of agricultural productivity, exacerbated by global climate change. This context has motivated the development of an intelligent irrigation system using advanced technologies such as embedded systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), HTTP, Server-Sent Event (SSE), HTML, and CSS. This study develops a real-time smart irrigation system using IoT and embedded technology, achieving efficient water management and supporting sustainable agriculture in Africa. The main objective of this study is to improve irrigation management by enabling real-time monitoring of climatic conditions and crop requirements. The central problem addressed is the need to minimize excessive water use while maximizing crop yields, taking into account environmental constraints and economic pressures. To achieve this, an intelligent irrigation system architecture was developed, exploiting the capabilities of embedded systems to collect data and send real-time updates via SSE. The methods involved integrating the embedded controller (ESP32) and specialist sensors such as the DHT22 to measure temperature and humidity, as well as soil moisture and water level sensors. The data collected was transmitted to a web server via HTTP and SSE, allowing continuous updating of a user interface developed in HTML/CSS. The results showed a significant improvement in irrigation efficiency, with more accurate use of water resources based on actual soil and atmospheric conditions. This approach has resulted in more stable and predictable crop yields while reducing the risks associated with droughts and floods. The discussion highlights the importance of this technology in promoting sustainable and resilient agriculture in the face of today's environmental challenges. By enhancing proactive management of water resources, this study paves the way for future innovations in smart farming.
