A standard operation protocol on the environmental measurement and control systems aiming at promoting development of computer software for remote measurement, control and analysis of greenhouse environment

摘要

Computerized environmental measurement and control systems for greenhouses have been developed and used in Japan since 1974. In 1995, 2566 sets such systems operated for protected plant production in Japan, and the total floor area of computer controlled greenhouses was 3.44km-2. the selling systems of more than 20 corporations could not be operated by the same software in the personal computers connected with the systems, because the systems do no have the common remote operation standard from personal computers. We realized that a more convenient measurement and control for advanced plant production is indispensable to develop advanced software in personal computers. Allowing remote operation of any systems by the same software decreases software development costs and increases the usefulness of the systems and software developers. Therefore, we proposed a standard operation protocol for the environmental measurement and control systems. The standard operation protocol was determined by the following process; (1) A questionnaire research, (2)testing by a prototype system, (3) Hearing from concerned makers, and (4) Verification of the protocol practicality. Elements of the standard operation protocol were (1) Transferal standardization, (2) Identical standardization, and (3) Semantic standardization. The primary concepts to perform the protocol functions were a virtual controller and a map file. The virtual controller permitted the realization of the protocol by only emulating software. The map file worked unification and localization of measurement and control items easily. The practicality of the standard operation protocol was confirmed by verification tests. It is considered that standard operation protocol contributes to promote development of personal computer software for remote measurement, control, and analysis of the greenhouse environment.