Honors Theses

Creation and Validation of a Greenhouse Model for the University of Dayton

Advisor

Rydge Mulford, Ph.D.

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Publication Date

4-23-2025

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

The use of a greenhouse model is essential to ensuring that any greenhouse design presents the best value that is possible within that region of the world. Often times, greenhouse models within research papers are created, with varying levels of detail, but the models themselves are often not shared openly. This problem can be solved via some of the greenhouse models that have been made openly available, but unfortunately, the vast majority of these require a subscription, either to the model itself, or to a software that the model was built on. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to create a clear open-source model, created in the programming language Python, that is published alongside this paper. This model was validated through data collected for a short period from late August to early October of 2024 within two greenhouses in the area of Dayton, Ohio. The data was collected via temperature and humidity loggers placed within 3D printed solar shields that were previously validated, while the two greenhouses contained two different environments, one with vegetation and no electronic equipment, and one with no vegetation and a fan present. The findings of this work are that the model requires more work (especially for humidity); an open-source model should be used instead of creation of one from the ground up; and this work shall continue.

Permission Statement

This item is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and may only be used for noncommercial, educational, and scholarly purposes.

Keywords

Undergraduate research

This document is currently not available here.


Share

COinS
 
 
 

Links