TERRACE MILE has developed and is deploying an agricultural data analysis service utilising the IoT, known as ‘RightARM’. Murata has been supplying TERRACE MILE with its soil sensors to enable it to continuously measure soil and water quality, in a collaboration that has demonstrated the advantage of data-driven decisions in agriculture.
In a blog post put out by Murata detailing the collaboration with insights shared by Yuichi Ikoma, TERRACE MILE’s Representative Director, and Kouki Watanabe from Murata, TERRACE MILE explained that it had previously experienced difficulties with installing other soil sensors for monitoring purposes, such as only being able to obtain data from above the soil, such as hours of sunshine and the balance of temperature and humidity.
Using Murata’s soil sensors, the company was provided with guidance from Murata’s engineers on how to install the sensors and consequently they were able to collect accurate soil data from an early stage. TERRACE MILE can analyse the data in various ways, and share it for the benefit of farmers, who previously have been wary of using digital devices to collect and analyse data.
Farmers who were provided with accurate data analysis from the sensors were able to utilise it to increase yields and make proactive decisions such as adjusting the volume of irrigation water and opening/closing skylights based on the information provided by the sensors. As a result, they have been regularly checking data on a smartphone app during the cultivation period, in what Ikoma said was a good example of changing awareness and behaviours.
“Currently, TERRACE MILE is testing analysis with an algorithm called trend prediction technology. This is technology that predicts the conditions of fields. We believe it will be necessary to collaborate on this trend prediction technology,” said Ikoma. “Above all else, Murata Manufacturing’s soil sensors are essential to establishing this technology.”
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