Smart Aquaculture Farming in Iran

Project Overview

In this project, fish and shrimp farming ponds in Iran have been equipped with Dahir smart aquaculture platform offering automation system and acoustic feeding controller. This platform enables real-time monitoring water parameters through digital sensors, allowing for automatic control of aeration and feeding equipment. Therefore, aquaculture farmers can manage their farms remotely, anytime and anywhere, using a mobile application. This empowers them to make informed decisions based on real-time reports.

Ronika is a knowledge-based company that creates customized smart products and services using modern technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, digital twins, and more. The Dahir Smart Aquaculture Platform, a Ronika brand, is a comprehensive system designed to automate all processes and equipment in aquaculture farms.

Project Objectives

Aquaculture is a vital global industry that faces several challenges, including the need to optimize water resource management, reduce losses, maintain water quality, and improve feed efficiency. Inadequate monitoring of critical water parameters such as oxygen levels, temperature, and pH can result in poor water quality, increased mortality rates, and reduced productivity. Additionally, inefficient feeding practices can lead to wasted feed, higher costs, and water pollution from the accumulation of organic matter and ammonia.

To address these challenges, aquaculture farmers need a comprehensive solution for intelligent farm monitoring and control, utilizing modern technologies to enhance productivity, lower costs, and improve product quality.

The Dahir Smart Aquaculture Platform is designed as an all-in-one system to automate various processes in aquaculture farms. This smart farming solution enables remote monitoring and control via the internet, provides detailed reports, sends alerts in critical situations, automates feeding, and offers AI-driven recommendations to improve overall efficiency. The Dahir platform integrates various smart aquaculture solutions into a single infrastructure. Once installed, farmers can easily expand the system by adding new smart products and services without major modifications.

Key Results and Achievements

• Achieved a 20% reduction in feed costs and improved Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

• Minimized losses through real-time monitoring and automated control systems

• Optimized energy consumption for aeration and feeding equipment

• Provided detailed reports and instant alerts for emergency situations

• Enabled remote access to farm management from any location

• Ensured seamless system integration for future expansions

Project Implementation

The Dahir Smart Aquaculture Platform has been implemented in over 100 fish and shrimp farming ponds across the provinces of Tehran, Bushehr, and Kermanshah. This automation system features digital sensors that monitor crucial water parameters, including dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, ozone, and ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential). The sensors collect real-time data, which is wirelessly transmitted to a central farm computer. The system is designed for local data processing, ensuring continuous monitoring even in the event of internet disruptions. Once reconnected, the data is uploaded to the cloud, allowing farmers to access and control farm equipment remotely.

Additionally, the automated aeration systems adjust oxygen levels based on real-time data. Farmers can control aeration settings manually or schedule fixed operational times. The platform enables farmers to track changes in water quality, access historical data, and receive alerts in critical situations.

One of the most innovative features of the project in Bushehr province is the smart feeding system. This system employs acoustic analysis of shrimp feeding sounds, combined with environmental factors such as temperature and oxygen levels. This approach, the first of its kind in Iran, dynamically adjusts feeding times and quantities. As a result, feed waste has been reduced by 20%, and Feed conversion Rate (FCR) has improved. Consequently, the reduction in feed waste and enhancement of water quality has significantly lowered costs and mortality rates, while boosting overall farm productivity.

Technical Solutions Provided

• Titanium digital sensors for real-time water quality monitoring

• Measurement of Dissolved Oxygen (DO), temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), total suspended solids (TSS), total soluble hydrogen (TSH), turbidity, ammonium, etc.

• Smart control panels for data collection from sensors and management of equipment.

• Dahir software for real-time and remote farm management

• Acoustic feeding control systems

Exhibitions and Events

• 2020: A prototype was unveiled by the former Vice President for Science and Technology

• 2022, 2023, 2024: Participated in the International Fisheries Exhibition in Bushehr

• December 2023: Showcased at the International Fisheries Exhibition in Tehran

• 2023: Deployed in 22 shrimp farming ponds in Bushehr

• 2024: Implemented in 15 Carp fish farming ponds in Kermanshah

• 2024: Expanded to 66 sturgeon fish farming ponds in Tehran