Developing a Comprehensive Relational Database for Optimizing Land Utilization in Sustainable Farming

Abstract

Over the past few decades, researchers have been studying different approaches to promote self-sustaining communities, especially in developing countries, to combat the formidable challenges of rapid urbanization, climate change, as well as food and energy depletion. While the analysis of previous literature has shown a significant shift towards the design and application of smart data and automated tools in farming and landscaping, there is still a need for comprehensive databases that help users identify efficient and economic approaches pertaining to utilizing a land plot for either open field farming or the use of greenhouses. This study offers an overview of how a comprehensive relational database can be developed and implemented into an automated interface that optimizes the decisions for such operations, through the acquisition and organization of big data in farming and greenhouse construction. The relational database established in this study links different crops with soil types, water and climatic requirements. Furthermore, information regarding the type of greenhouses and their construction requirements is also integrated into the database. This relational database will facilitate the optimal utilization of land through identifying solutions that maximize potential returns while minimizing the life cycle cost and water consumption. Not only will this assist planners and farmers to approach their agricultural operations in the most sustainable manner, but also help them overcome the typical intuitive process of selecting how a land is utilized, which does not necessarily provide optimal return.