Title: Modelling the assessment of atmospheric impacts from smart farming applications

Authors: Evangelia Fragkou; George Tsegas; Fotios Barmpas; Eleftherios Chourdakis; Nicolas Moussiopoulos

Addresses: Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University, University Campus, P.O. Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece ' Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University, University Campus, P.O. Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece ' Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University, University Campus, P.O. Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece ' Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University, University Campus, P.O. Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece ' Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, Aristotle University, University Campus, P.O. Box 483, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: The project LIFE GAIA Sense focuses on the development and application of an innovative 'Smart Farming' system, aiming to reduce the consumption of natural resources and to minimise the environmental impact of agricultural activities, while increasing crop production. One of the main objectives of the project is to evaluate and quantify the impact of smart farming applications on the atmospheric environment. A combined use of dispersion modelling and continuous measurements of several atmospheric pollutants is employed to assess the emission, dispersion and deposition of gases and particulates, taking advantage of collected input data as provided by the on-site GAIA sensors and meteorological stations. Activity data for emissions calculation are derived by targeted questionnaires to farmers. The atmospheric dispersion calculations follow a multiscale approach, based on a two-way coupled model system, incorporating the mesoscale model MEMO/MARS-aero and the microscale model MIMO, in conjunction with a soil model.

Keywords: sustainable agriculture; smart farming; environmental impact assessment; air quality assessment; air quality modelling; atmospheric emissions from agriculture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2021.130309

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2021 Vol.70 No.1/2, pp.22 - 32

Accepted: 06 Oct 2022
Published online: 17 Apr 2023 *

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