Collaborative Research: CPS: Medium: Controlled Wastewater-Hydroponic Systems for Enhanced Nutrient and Water Efficiency via Coupled Real-Time Sensing and Data-Driven Technologies
zhaohui tong
Lead PI:
zhaohui tong
Co-PI:
Abstract

We're leveraging the latest innovations in sensors, wastewater treatment, hydroponic systems, and machine learning to develop a new decentralized system that integrates wastewater treatment with hydroponic farming. This system aims to produce vegetables efficiently, using minimal resources and energy, by implementing advanced methods for real-time data collection and system control.Local and decentralized controlled environment agriculture (CEA) can address issues related to water and nutrient shortages, enhancing food security and environmental management. However, current CEAs often struggle with limited data collection, unreliable control systems, and high costs. Our project seeks to overcome these challenges by equipping future CEA facilities with reliable sensing, understanding, and decision-making capabilities, moving towards greater automation.This research is supported by two established experimental setups: a pilot CEA system at Georgia Tech and a hydroponic greenhouse at the University of Georgia. These setups feature innovative data-gathering devices, such as online membrane sensors and robotic systems for plant monitoring, along with cutting-edge reinforcement learning algorithms for optimizing complex, changing environments.

zhaohui tong
Dr. Zhaohui Tong is currently an associate professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She received a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Changsha University of Science and Technology in China. She earned her first M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, with a concentration in biopolymer synthesis at Tianjin University of Science and Technology in China. Under the guidance of Dr. Yulin Deng, she earned her Ph. D. and second M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in organic-inorganic nanocomposite synthesis, from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2007. She had worked as a consulting engineer in the Energy and Chemical Division of Ch2mHill Engineering Ltd. for two years. In 2010 she joined the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at the University of Florida as an Assistant Professor in the Biological Engineering program and was promoted the associate professor in 2017. Tong’s research interests include the conversion of renewable resources to bioproducts (biochemicals, biomaterials, and biofuels), bioprocessing, sustainable process control, and modeling.
Performance Period: 09/01/2024 - 08/31/2027
Institution: GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Sponsor: USDA-NIFA
Award Number: 2024-67021-43862
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