AUTOMATED VERTICAL GARDENING SYSTEM USING IoT-ENABLED SMART IRRIGATION FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN GREEN SPACES

Abstract: Cities are growing really fast these days, and because of that, we’re losing a lot of green spaces. This is causing problems like increased heat, bad air quality, and even affecting the natural balance around us. To deal with limited space, many people have started using vertical gardens. They are a good solution, but the main problem is maintaining them regularly. Not everyone has the time or proper knowledge to take care of plants every day.
So, in this project, I tried to make things easier by building an IoT-based vertical gardening system using NodeMCU. The idea is simple — instead of manually watering plants, the system does it automatically based on the plant’s actual needs. Sensors are used to check things like soil moisture and other conditions, and watering happens only when required. I tested this system for about 30 days, and the results were actually pretty good. Water usage was reduced by around 44%, and the effort needed for maintenance dropped a lot, almost by 90%. The system also worked reliably most of the time, with around 98.7% accuracy, which means it can be used in real-life situations like homes, offices, or even small public setups. I also created an Android app to make it easier to monitor everything. Through the app, users can see live data like soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and pH levels. This helps in understanding how the plants are doing without checking them physically again and again. There are two modes in the app — automatic and manual. So if someone wants full control, they can switch to manual and manage things themselves. Users can also set their own limits, like when watering should start or stop. If something goes wrong, like low moisture or any system issue, the app sends a notification immediately.
Overall, this project is a small step towards making gardening easier in cities. It connects simple hardware with a mobile app to reduce effort and save resources. It’s not too complicated and can be improved or expanded further, which makes it useful for creating greener spaces in urban areas.

Keywords: Smart Vertical Farming, Internet of Things (IoT), Automated Irrigation Systems, NodeMCU Controller, Environmental Monitoring, Urban Sustainability, Smart Agriculture Solutions.