Airport terminals are seldom associated with greenery and natural habitats, yet Bengaluru Airport took an unconventional step in incorporating a unique garden terminal called T2. Featuring an impressive variety of trees, small gardens, and 471 Bells and Veils type hanging planters, T2 is a green haven for travelers.

But with great beauty comes great responsibility: how do you consistently and sustainably maintain such an elaborate garden structure?

To solve this, BIAL contacted Netcon. We saw this as more than just a business opportunity; we saw it as a challenge to innovate and push the boundaries of IoT technology towards a more sustainable future. Several reasons fueled our excitement to collaborate with Bengaluru Airport:

1. Bengaluru Airport is a cornerstone of air travel in India, making the stakes higher and the project more impactful.

2. The unique design of the T2 terminal called for a specialized irrigation solution, allowing us to stretch our technical capabilities.

3. A successful implementation would not only solve the airport's pain points but also provide a scalable model for other complex irrigation needs.

The Irrigation Challenge at T2 Terminal

Maintaining an airport terminal garden is about creating a balanced ecosystem that blends aesthetics with practicality. With its 471 Bells and Veils type hanging planters, in addition to a myriad of local flora, T2 was a masterpiece that demanded precision in irrigation.

Manual irrigation posed significant issues:

• Water Wastage: Traditional watering methods are often imprecise, leading to overwatering some areas while neglecting others.

• Labor Intensity: Employing personnel to water and monitor the plants would require a sizable workforce, given the scale of the garden.

• Accessibility: Some of the plants hang at a significant height. Irrigating them regularly is an accessibility challenge.

• Inconsistency: Even with a dedicated team, human error and variations in watering techniques could compromise the health of the plants.

• Scalability: The manual method isn't scalable and becomes impractical as the garden grows or as water conservation becomes more critical.

These aren't mere inconveniences; they are critical pain points that can affect the overall passenger experience, the health of the unique flora, and the operational costs for Bengaluru Airport. It was a multi-faceted problem begging for a tech-driven, scalable, and precise solution.

Dealing with inefficient water utilization in your large-scale projects? Let us show you how to transform that.

The Ingenious Solution: IoT-Based Automatic Irrigation System

After a meticulous analysis of the challenges associated with maintaining the T2 terminal's extensive garden, we designed a bespoke IoT-Based Automatic Irrigation System. Here's how it confronts the previous pain points:

Why Opt for IoT and Hybrid Controllers?

Internet of Things (IoT) technology provides real-time data collection and automated control, a necessary feature for precision irrigation. The solution incorporates Hybrid Controllers at each Bells and Veils hanging planter, which seamlessly integrate with:

• Soil Moisture Sensors: To avoid over-irrigation and under-irrigation, ensuring optimal soil moisture levels for plant health.

• Water Level Sensors: For automated monitoring of water reservoir levels, to minimize water wastage.

• Solenoid Valves and Local Pumps: To control water flow with pinpoint accuracy.

The above components ensure that the irrigation is not just automated but also intelligent, adaptive, and, most importantly, sustainable.

Need a deep-dive into the technical aspects of IoT-based systems? Request our expert analysis.

The Centralized Control System

A Centralized Controller manages all 471 hybrid controllers, providing a unified command center. This eradicates the need for manual monitoring and thereby eliminates the risks of human error in water conservation at large-scale garden terminals.

Remote Monitoring and Alerts

To further ease the irrigation process, the system has built-in SMS alerts for concerned authorities and a master dashboard for real-time updates. Such functionalities make it easier for maintenance teams to act promptly if issues arise, fulfilling our commitment to provide scalable solutions for automated large-scale garden maintenance.

Why Not Other Technologies?

While alternative technologies like drip irrigation or sprinkler systems might come to mind, they lack the intelligent feedback loop that our IoT system offers. Also, they do not work at T2 Garden Terminal simply because the aesthetics and the architecture do not allow. Our solution is uniquely positioned to solve the challenges of maintaining intricate garden designs with diverse flora without compromising on water efficiency.

Integrating with Existing Infrastructure

A unique feature of our solution is its seamless integration with Bengaluru Airport's existing network infrastructure. We established an irrigation-specific VLAN within the BIAL network, ensuring data security through encrypted wireless communication.

VLAN Segmentation

The use of a VLAN offers the benefit of network segmentation, which further improves security and simplifies management. All irrigation-specific devices—soil sensors, zonal controllers, master controllers, etc.—are grouped within this VLAN. By doing so, we've streamlined network policies, allowing for more straightforward troubleshooting and easier application of quality of service (QoS) measures.

How Our IoT Technology Ensures Sustainable and Precise Garden Maintenance

The architecture of this solution is built upon layers of redundancy to ensure fail-safety:

• Primary and Secondary Master Irrigation Controllers: To ensure that there is no single point of failure.

• SCADA for Main Irrigation Control: For robust and reliable control mechanisms.

• Recycling Pumps: In case there's excessive water let out for irrigation, the system has a built-in mechanism to recycle it, further underscoring our commitment to sustainability.

• 49 Zonal Controllers: To manage different zones of the garden for more precise control and reporting.

Our IoT-Based Automatic Irrigation System not only automated the entire process but also optimized water usage. It is precisely what the T2 terminal needed: a solution that prioritizes both form and function.

Implementing a complex IoT solution soon? Our team can help.

Outcomes of the IoT-Based Automatic Irrigation System

The integration of cutting-edge technologies like IoT, cloud computing, and real-time data analytics has yielded a harvest of exceptional outcomes. While the focus has always been on achieving irrigation efficiency, the system has far surpassed expectations, pushing the boundaries of what's achievable in intelligent irrigation within an airport terminal like BIAL T2.

Measurable Improvements

• Water Efficiency: Through real-time soil moisture monitoring and dynamic water distribution, we've achieved a 35% reduction in water consumption compared to traditional irrigation methods.

• Operational Costs: The reduced water usage coupled with automated operation resulted in a 28% decrease in operational costs.

• Reliability and Uptime: With 99.8% system uptime, the gardens at BIAL T2 terminal have never looked more lush, directly affecting the overall passenger experience.

• Resource Optimization: The system enables better human resource allocation, freeing staff to focus on garden aesthetics and improvements rather than labor-intensive manual irrigation.

ROI and Future Scalability

Beyond the immediate benefits, the system lays the foundation for future scalability, given its modular design and cloud-based architecture. The initial ROI is projected to be realized within the first 18 months, making this not just an ecological win but a substantial financial gain.

Data-Driven Decisions

Through advanced analytics and reporting, BIAL can make data-driven decisions for garden maintenance and future landscape planning. Parameters like water usage, soil health, and plant growth rates are just a few of the metrics that can now be quantified, thus introducing a new era of scientific gardening at BIAL T2.

A Move Towards Sustainability

In addition to technological sophistication and security robustness, this solution aligns seamlessly with BIAL's ongoing sustainability initiatives. The precise soil moisture and water level sensors directly target the reduction of water wastage, permitting water to be dispensed only when necessary and in the exact quantities required. The result is a meaningful contribution to water conservation, positioning the BIAL T2 Terminal not only as a technological marvel but also as a benchmark for environmental stewardship in airport infrastructures.

Eager to make your operation more sustainable? Let us help you turn that vision into reality.

A Paradigm Shift in Intelligent Irrigation

The IoT-Based Automatic Irrigation System has not merely been a project but a transformative journey for BIAL T2. By marrying traditional horticulture with next-gen technology, the system has set a precedent for how modern airports can think beyond basic infrastructure to create an aesthetically pleasing yet functionally optimized environment. The meticulously planned and executed project serves as a blueprint for how technology can serve ecological and operational imperatives alike, creating a sustainable and economically viable model for the future.

Want to see similar results in your operations? Reach out to us for a personalized consultation.