Positioning of sensors for control of ventilation systems in broiler houses: a case study

Abstract

Ventilation systems are incorporated at intensive poultry farms to control environment conditions and thermal comfort of broilers. The ventilation system operates based on environmental data, particularly measured by sensors of temperature and relative humidity.Sensors are placed at different positions of the facility. Quality, number and positioning of the sensors are critical factors to achieve an efficient performance of the system. For this reason, a strategic positioning of the sensors associated to controllers could support the maintenance and management of the microclimate inside the facility. This research aims to identify the three most representative points for the positioning of sensors in order to support the ventilation system during the critical period from 12h00 to 15h00 on summer days. Temperature, relative humidity and wind speed were measured in four different tunnel ventilated barns at the final stage of the production cycle. The descriptive analysis was performed on these data. TheTemperature and Humidity Index (THI) was also calculated. Then, the geostatistical analysis of THI was performed by GS + and the position of sensors was determined by ordinary kriging. The methodology was able to detect the most representative points for the positioning of sensors in a case study (southeastern Brazil). The results suggested that this strategic positioning would help controllers to obtain a better inference of the microclimate during the studied period (the hottest microclimate), considered critical in Brazil. In addition, these results allow developing a future road map for a decision support system based on 24 h monitoring of the ventilation systems in broiler houses.

How Are Information Technologies Addressing Broiler Welfare? A Systematic Review Based on the Welfare Quality® Assessment

“…Curi et al [75] 2017 Brazil Different positions of sensors to control ventilation system during the critical period in summer were assessed.…”

“…This group includes sensors for measuring concentration and pressure of gases, temperature, humidity, and airflow, being observed in 8 publications (14.0% of total publications). These "environmental sensors" were used in broiler houses to measure CO 2 [74] and NH 3 [76] concentrations as part of ventilation control systems [75] to provide information about environmental conditions to farmers [28] and as a component in the gas concentration control when using foam to humanely slaughter broilers in extreme situations [34]. Moreover, environmental sensors were also used in the control of ventilated chamber [30], as part of slaughter chambers used for small-flock depopulation [35], and in a study about the effects of low atmospheric stunning on broilers [64].…”

“…They were primarily used to process image data involved with the detection and assessment of broiler lameness and/or leg disorders [23,[36][37][38][39][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]55], to characterize chick behaviour under different temperatures [46] and other environmental conditions [30], to detect equipment malfunctioning [54], and for early detection of sick broilers [69]. In addition, they were used to process sound data and to provide information about feeding and/or drinking behaviours [24,44], to automate the detection of footpad dermatitis along the slaughter line [68], to define the best positions to install CO 2 sensors in a broiler house [75], to control broiler chickens growth curve [81], and to develop an innovative image display tool that allowed farmers to assess broilers' living conditions [28].…”

Study of environmental thermal variation in vineyards harvested by different curtain colors used as lateral closure

“…Study of environmental thermal variation in vineyards harvested by different curtain colors used as lateral closure The collected temperature data were tabulated in worksheets compatible with the Excel® application. The Mean Surface Temperature (SST) data of infrared thermography were compared by Student's t test, with 95% confidence, according to Curi et al (2017).…”

The influence of microclimate on the development of foot pad dermatitis in broilers

“…The principles of climate control in barns are focused on temperature and moisture parameters and the ventilation system becomes a key factor to determine optimal conditions for livestock farms. (Curi et al, 2017).…”