The main objectives were: (1) to develop tools to aid in the design of enclosed agro-ecosystems, and (2) to use these tools to develop a prototype simulation-based control system. Three tools were developed: (1) a conceptual framework, (2) a (simulated) greenhouse system and (3) a simulation approach within OS/2. / Part of the conceptual framework was dedicated to "conscious control", defined as a form of control practised by an entity that uses models of itself in its decision-making processes. The greenhouse system was composed of six modules (a simulation manager, a weather generator, a greenhouse model, a crop model, a Pavlovian controller and a cognitive controller), which were implemented under OS/2 as separate processes. / The greenhouse system was used to develop a prototype simulation-based controller. Primarily, the role of the controller was to determine temperature setpoints that would minimize the heating load. The simulation model used by the controller was an artificial neural network. The controller adapted temperature setpoints to anticipated meteorological conditions and reduced greenhouse energy consumption, in comparison with a more traditional controller. / Generally, the results showed the feasibility and illustrated some of the advantages of using simulation-based control. The research resulted in the definition of elements that will allow the creation of a methodological framework for the design of simulation-based control and, eventually, a theory of conscious control.

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Orientador: Paulo A. Martins Leal / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agricola / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T02:06:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Scaranari_Ciro_D.pdf: 4375189 bytes, checksum: be0a12907f91b0a3e056a9e6f4ff67c5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: passar por um período de aclimatação, pois não realizam eficientemente a absorção de luz, água e nutrientes. A aclimatação deve ser feita em casas de vegetação, onde as condições de umidade relativa do ar e luminosidade são favoráveis a um endurecimento gradual das plântulas, período este que, para bananeira, se divide em dois estágios: o primeiro, denominado pré-aclimatação ou berçário, no qual as plântulas permanecem sob reduzida intensidade luminosa e elevada umidade relativa do ar até atingirem altura mínima de 10 cm e o segundo, a aclimatação propriamente dita, sob maior intensidade de luminosidade até que atinjam padrões comerciais. O presente trabalho estudou o desenvolvimento de mudas durante o segundo estágio da aclimatação sob diferentes condições de luminosidade (plena, 70, 50 e 30% de superfície de cobertura com malha vermelha e 50% com malha preta, ambas sob filme plástico transparente de 100 µm) associado a períodos de aclimatação (3, 6 e 9 semanas), em ambientes sob condições favoráveis de temperatura (ao redor de 28ºC, com mínimas a 18ºC e máximas a 34ºC), umidade relativa (acima de 75%), nutrição e irrigação controladas, tendo como variáveis físicas da planta, a altura e o diâmetro do pseudocaule, a área foliar, o número de folhas, o comprimento das raízes e a massa da matéria fresca e seca, e como bioquímicas, a quantificação de pigmentos, de açúcares e do rendimento quântico da fotossíntese obtido por meio da fluorescência da clorofila. Após cada período, as plantas foram submetidas a ensaios de desenvolvimento em condições de campo por 7 semanas, sendo avaliadas para as mesmas variáveis. Quanto aos parâmetros ambientais, os resultados indicam controle satisfatório de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar nos ambientes oferecendo as condições requeridas pela planta embora tenham sido observadas diferenças significativas entre eles. As malhas vermelhas apresentam transmitâncias diferenciadas ao longo do espectro da radiação fotossinteticamente ativa e os resultados mostram maiores reduções na faixa RFA para estas, independente do horário, insolação e estação do ano. Na comparação entre as médias, cada tratamento recebeu pontuações obedecendo à ordenação hierárquica de desempenho verificada em cada avaliação (casas de vegetação e campo), segundo critérios de classificação estatística, onde considera-se o número de tratamentos estatisticamente inferiores e superiores. Na ordenação estatística, o uso de malha preta com 50% de sombreamento associado ao período de 9 semanas foi o que propiciou melhores condições, tanto no verão quanto no inverno. Visando a redução para 6 semanas, o uso alternativo de tela de malha vermelha com 70% de sombreamento produz efeitos equivalentes ao da malha preta com 50% em 9 semanas, apenas para condições de verão. Medidas paralelas utilizando o medidor portátil de clorofila SPAD-502 foram efetuadas simultaneamente às determinações analíticas deste parâmetro, verificando-se correlações positivas significativas da regressão entre o conteúdo de clorofila total e a leitura do equipamento. De acordo com o modelo da classificação estatística, verificou-se que as maiores pontuações envolvendo todos os parâmetros estudados coincidiram com as maiores pontuações obtidas pela leitura SPAD, recaindo na maioria das situações no ambiente com malha preta, já descrito como o de melhor desempenho entre todos. Assim, o uso deste equipamento pode vir a se constituir em importante ferramenta para avaliação auxiliar e expedita de plantas de bananeira sob aclimatação, requerendo, para tanto, mais estudos que visem o estabelecimento de modelos que melhor expliquem esta relação / Abstract: acclimatization, because it does not operate light, water and nutrient absorption in an efficient way. The acclimatization must be done at a greenhouse, where temperature, light and air humidity are adequate to a gradual hardening of plantlets. The first period lasts until the plantlet reaches 10 cm height and is named pre-acclimatization or nursery, being characterized by low light intensity and high relative air humidity. The acclimatization phase ends when plants reach commercial standards under a higher light intensity. In this study, banana plantlets development was evaluated during acclimatization under different light conditions (full, 70%, 50% and 30% of a covered surface with a red mesh and 50% with a black mesh, both under a transparent plastic film of 100 µm), average temperature of 28ºC (minimum 18ºC and maximum 34ºC), above 75% relative air humidity and controlled nutrition and irrigation. Physical parameters as height, pseudostems¿s diameter, number and leaves area, root¿s length and fresh and dry biomass, and also physiological data as pigment, sugars and quantum efficiency obtained by chlorophyll¿s fluorescence were taken after 3, 6 and 9 weeks and after 7 weeks of transplantation to field conditions. Treatments were hierarchically graded according to their statistic¿s classification. Temperature and relative air humidity were adequate for plant¿s development, although significant differences were observed between the different environment conditions. The presence of red mesh resulted in different transmittances along the photosynthetically active radiation specter, showing a greater reduction on the PAR zone, independently of time, insulation and year season. Combined results indicate superior results of the black 50% mesh for a acclimatization period of nine weeks, either in the summer as in the winter season. Pursuing a time reduction to a six week period, the use of a red 70% mesh showed similar results as the black 50% mesh for nine weeks, in summer conditions. Chlorophyll contents were also measured with a SPAD-502 and these results, when ordered by values, gave a similar ranking as all other parameters taken together. According to the statistical classification model, it was verified that SPAD can be used as an easy and fast tool to evaluate banana plants under acclimatization / Doutorado / Construções Rurais e Ambiencia / Doutor em Engenharia Agrícola

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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: James E. Swasey, Dept. of Plant & Soil Sciences. Includes bibliographical references.

The Hayes Arboretum Solar Greenhouse located in Richmond, Indiana, at 39° 50' N latitude, 84° 50' W longitude has been operational since December 1, 1976. Temperatures inside the 1000 square foot greenhouse were maintained at 55°F. minimum, 85°F. maximum. Data on gas usage was collected over a 24 month period (December 1, 1976 - November 30, 1978). Temperature data was collected during months when auxiliary heat was necessary to supplement the greenhouse.The solar greenhouse was designed by the author to test the feasibility of solar energy in Indiana. Solar energy provided 27% of heating needs during the two year period. A total of 77% of the energy needed to run a convencial design features."Fuel" (natural gas + collector pump electricity) costs were 11.8 ¢ /sq. ft./year for the solar greenhouse compared to 51 ¢ /sq. ft./year for conventional greenhouses during the same period.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

M. Tech. Architectural Technology / The aim of this study was to investigate the climate influence of a conservatory added to an existing building. The interior temperature and relative humidity levels were measured, analysed and compared with that of the exterior, to determine in which seasonal cycle the conservatory was more effective as an interior climate enhancement system. The building on which the case study was based is a farmhouse, retrofitted with a conservatory, situated in KwaZulu-Natal, near Bergville in the Drakensberg region. The owner added a conservatory to the existing building, in an attempt to achieve a more temperate indoor climate by harnessing natural energies. The South African climate is typified by varying high diurnal temperatures, with some climatic zones experiencing high summer and/or low winter temperatures. The conservatory was therefore used as a design measure to create a passive solar environment within an enclosed intermediate area.