Key Takeaways:
- ZERO develops a Digital Twin of its farm, integrating VR, BIM models, and IoT sensor data for real-time visualization and control.
- A new web-based 3D viewer, developed in collaboration with Tre.Digital, enhances facility management, allowing users to interact with the model from any internet-connected device.
- This initiative is funded by the “Fondo per lo Sviluppo e la Coesione” in Friuli Venezia Giulia, with support from Area Science Park and IP4FVG.
Virtualization Pilot Project
ZERO has initiated a pilot project to virtualize its production environment, creating a Digital Twin of one of its vertical farms. This advanced system integrates Virtual Reality (VR) with Building Information Modeling (BIM) models and data from IoT sensors installed in the farm’s grow room. By combining these technologies, ZERO enables real-time visualization and monitoring of the entire production process through VR viewers. This innovative approach simplifies infrastructure maintenance and optimizes control of the facility by providing users with immediate, interactive access to real-time data.
Phase Two: 3D Environment Viewer
The second phase of this project, in collaboration with Tre.Digital, further enhances the user experience by introducing a web browser-based viewer. This tool allows operators to navigate the BIM model in a 3D environment, enriched with real-time sensor data localized within the virtual model. The web viewer streamlines facility management by making the integrated 3D model accessible from any internet-connected device, enabling operators to manage maintenance, monitoring, and control systems with greater ease and efficiency.
Regional Support and Funding
The Digital Twin project is supported by the “Fondo per lo Sviluppo e la Coesione” from the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The initiative is also backed by Area Science Park as part of the IP4FVG regional digital innovation hub, providing both strategic and operational support.
This cutting-edge technology represents a leap forward for ZERO’s vertical farming operations, contributing to enhanced operational efficiency, sustainability, and control over complex agricultural environments.
Ongoing Projects
ZERO has been involved in multiple groundbreaking projects:
- Canada: Converted a former cannabis facility into a multi-purpose future farming site.
- Molecular Farming Network: Partnered with KBio to create a globally deployable plant-based molecular farming network.
- Future Farming Initiative: Collaborating with the University of Venice Cà Foscari to build an R&D lab focused on future farming technologies.
These and other collaborations, including work in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with ADQ, Mitsui & Co., and Tamimi Markets, continue to shape ZERO’s innovative impact in the global AgTech landscape.
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