Thesis College of Engineering University of Rizal System-Morong 2024

This thesis titled Smart Water Management System for Sustainable Landscaping is a research study conducted during the academic year 2023–2024 in the University of Rizal System, Morong campus. This aimed to design and develop an automated water management system that is beneficial to the landscape in front of the Science and Technology building in the University of Rizal System, Morong campus. This system allows the accurate watering of the plants for better and healthier growth. The study consists of an automatic irrigation system that uses a water pump to draw water from a creek located near the Science and Technology building. The water undergoes sediment filtration before going through the network of pipes to irrigate the landscape. The device can be remotely operated via Arduino IoT Cloud Remote and offers a variety of features such as constant moisture level monitoring, automatic and manual irrigation, system updates, and soil moisture history. The researchers used a descriptive survey questionnaire to determine the acceptability level of the Smart Water Management Device for Sustainable Landscaping in terms of functionality, efficiency, maintainability, aesthetics, security, and safety. The data gathered was treated using a weighted mean average method to determine the findings of the questionnaire. The device was installed in the front landscape of the Science and Technology building on the university campus and was subjected to 5 hours of testing. The moisture sensor detects the moisture level of the soil and delivers the value to the microcontroller, which is the Arduino Nano ESP32. When the value of the soil moisture falls lower than the optimal moisture level, it triggers the water pump to pump water from the creek and irrigates the landscape. When the optimal soil moisture level is reached, the system stops the pump. The data gathered from the microcontroller is sent to the Arduino IoT Cloud for monitoring and controlling. The system’s performance was evaluated by testing its capability to efficiently draw water from the creek and distribute it to the required watering zones. Its precision was assessed through a comparison between the device's intended programming and the achieved real-world outcomes. In conclusion, the researchers developed a water management system device that shows significant advancements in moisture sensing capability and featured a stable notification system. Some improvements are needed in the water pumping and filtration systems to optimize performance. Despite having some issues about the pumping that have been resolved, the system works effectively as it has done its intended purpose as a sustainable automated irrigation system. Furthermore, the respondents expressed strong approval of the system, rating its functionality, efficiency, maintainability, aesthetics, security, and safety as very much acceptable, emphasizing its efficacy and appropriateness for its intended objectives. In order to improve this thesis, several recommendations are proposed: Future researchers must consider replacing the existing pump with a more energy-efficient model. The implementation of high-precision moisture sensors is also recommended. The installation of a more accurate moisture sensor allows for more precise irrigation control. Adding features like a rain sensor and a pH sensor can further automate irrigation processes. The rain sensor prevents unnecessary water use, and the pH sensor would provide data on soil acidity levels. Future researchers may also consider the integration of sustainable power sources, such as solar panels, to enhance the Smart Water Management device's autonomy and promote environmental sustainability.