Iot- and blockchain-based smart agricultural water management system for water resource optimization

Abstract

This invention provides an innovative blockchain-based water management system configured to optimize the use of water in agricultural communities. The system effectively manages two scenarios: a community-driven approach in which water is drawn from a shared water tower, and a collaborative-driven approach in which farms share their excess water with one another. By using IoT sensors, smart contracts and a decentralized ledger (blockchain), this system allows real-time tracking, transparent accounting, and secure distribution of water resources, thereby contributing to reduced waste, improved agricultural productivity, and enhanced resilience to climate change. The aim of the present invention is to optimize water management in agricultural communities by providing an innovative IoT- and blockchain-based solution.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title: Intelligent agricultural water management system based on IoT and blockchain for water resource optimization

[0003] Context of the invention:

[0004] Agriculture is one of the world's largest water-consuming activities. Traditional water management systems, often based on manual methods and outdated infrastructure, are generally inefficient and costly. They result in significant losses due to suboptimal water use and lack real-time monitoring. Furthermore, the absence of data integration prevents a consistent view of water distribution networks between farms. To improve water management in agriculture and address the challenges of urbanization and climate change, it is crucial to develop smarter, more connected systems. These systems must be able to monitor and control water consumption in real time, provide accurate data for effective management, and share surplus water.This invention will be key to the future growth of agriculture, particularly in regions facing water scarcity, a problem that could worsen in the future.

[0005] This invention improves water management in agriculture through two distinct scenarios:

[0006] Community-driven water management: Each farm, connected to a network supplied by a shared water tower, benefits from precise management of its water consumption. Blockchain technology records each withdrawal in real time, guaranteeing data transparency and reliability. Sensors measure flow rates, and solenoid valves regulate the flow according to each farm's needs. An intuitive application allows farmers to monitor their consumption and optimize their irrigation.

[0007] Collaborative-driven water sharing: Farms equipped with wells can share their surplus water with neighboring farms through an automated transfer system. Blockchain technology ensures the traceability of these exchanges and guarantees a fair distribution of resources. Sensors and actuators allow for precise and flexible control of water flows, thus optimizing water use at the local level. This invention enables smart and sustainable water management, reducing dependence on external sources and improving the overall efficiency of water use in agriculture.

[0008] Technical specifications

[0009] The method used to implement the invention is as follows:

[0010] >- Water flow sensors: for each farm, sensors measure the amount of water used for irrigation and sharing.

[0011] >- Solenoid valves: control irrigation systems and water sharing mechanisms between farms.

[0012] >- Interactive graphical interface (Decentralized Application): allows users to view their water consumption and control irrigation and water sharing systems according to predicted needs.

[0013] System operation

[0014] Figure 1: Proposed System Architecture. Figure 1 presents a schematic representation of the two scenarios. Scenario 1, shown at the top, represents an irrigation network supplied by a shared water tower, for example, in Sidi Bennour el Jadida. Sensors installed on each pipe continuously measure the water flow consumed by each farm. This data is transmitted to a secure blockchain-based platform, where it is stored and analyzed. This approach guarantees transparency and traceability of water consumption for each farmer.

[0015] Scenario 2, illustrated below, highlights water sharing between independent farms, for example, in "El Kelaa des Sraghna." Each farm has its own pumping and storage system. Smart solenoid valves, controlled by the blockchain platform, regulate water transfers between farms according to needs and availability. Sensors measure water levels in the reservoirs to optimize resource management. An intuitive user interface allows farmers to view their water consumption in real time, track their withdrawal history, and manage their irrigation parameters. The blockchain platform, secured by advanced cryptographic protocols, guarantees data integrity and information confidentiality. Scenario 1 (community-driven): Each farm consumes water from a village water tower.A blockchain-based system is used to record and verify each water transaction, ensuring transparency and trust. Sensors measure each farm's water consumption, and the data is recorded on the blockchain to guarantee the integrity and immutability of the information. Solenoid valves control access to and distribution of water to each farm based on the collected data. An interactive application allows farmers to view their water consumption in real time, as well as other important metrics. 2. Scenario 2 (Collaborative-driven): Each farm has a well and a retention basin. After irrigation, solenoid valves transfer excess water from one farm to a neighboring farm as needed, ensuring optimal use of water resources. The blockchain is used to record water transactions between farms, ensuring trust and transparency.Sensors and actuators control and manage the flow of water between farms, thus optimizing the use of available water. A prototype was deployed at the UIR to demonstrate the feasibility and relevance of the invention under real-world conditions. The two scenarios (community and collaborative) described earlier were deployed simultaneously across the UIR sites. Figure 2 illustrates this deployment. The photographs shown in Figure 2 are actual images taken at the experimental sites, demonstrating the feasibility and relevance of the invention.

Claims

Demands: Claim 1 An intelligent water management and sharing system for an agricultural community, characterized in that it includes: • A sensor network, including: o Flow sensors installed at water sampling points; o Moisture sensors positioned in the ground. • Actuators that regulate water flow based on collected data. • A blockchain-based IT platform configured to: o Securely collect and store sensor data; o Record all water withdrawal and distribution operations as transactions; o Control the actuators according to predefined rules or automated management; o Provide a user interface for real-time data visualization and manual or automatic control of the system. • An analysis module, designed to interpret the collected data in order to optimize water management. Claim 2 A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the water management rules are implemented in the form of smart contracts hosted on the blockchain, these contracts being automatically executed based on: • Soil moisture thresholds; • Volumes of water consumed or available; • Specific conditions defined by the agricultural community. Claim 3 System according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer platform supports at least two water management scenarios: • A community scenario, where water distribution is based on a collective quota; • A collaborative scenario, where users can exchange or transfer their levy rights via the blockchain. Claim 4 A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the user interface is configured to: • Display in real time the status of water consumption and the evolution of soil moisture; • Automatically generate alerts in case of malfunction, critical humidity threshold or risk of shortage; • Use the collected data to automatically adjust the water flow rate. Claim 5 A water management method for an agricultural community, implementing a system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: • Data collection: continuous measurement of water flow and soil moisture via sensors; • Secure recording: tamper-proof storage of data in the blockchain, ensuring traceability and reliability of information; • Intelligent analysis: interpreting data to determine the water needs of each user or plot; • Automated adjustment: regulation of water flow according to humidity thresholds and predefined rules; • User feedback: real-time display of information and alert notifications via the user interface.

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