RFID-Based model for remote chicken monitoring: case of free-range chicken farming in Machakos County
Date
2017
Authors
Nthusi, Gift Musyoka
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Poultry farming is an important economic activity among Kenyan farmers. In order to earn income, they have to raise chicken and sell them once fully matured. This Indigenous chicken farming not only requires time investment but also money. However, security of chicken is an inevitability every farmer has to face. This is because, this category of chicken needs a free-range environment where it can move around, scratching for food, worms and other edibles. The chicken farmer faces challenges majorly theft of chicken by workers or strangers who randomly visit the farm. In this study, we developed a model that tracks chicken using RFID tags. This model enables a farmer to remotely monitor chicken from anywhere using the internet. The model constantly records and stores chicken data captured by the reader and updates this information in a database. The farmer can thereafter retrieve the tagged chicken information using a user interface designed to simplify the process of monitoring the chicken to minimise theft. The RFID model was designed to identify the chicken, each with its specific tag, containing particular information about it. To demonstrate this, an Arduino Uno microcontroller is set up with an encoded RFID system for chicken tracking. The RFID system uploads data sketches to a remote server via an Ethernet shield.
Description
Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Computer-Based Information Systems (MSIS) at Strathmore University
Keywords
Free-range Chicken, Radio frequency identification, RFID, Remote Monitoring, Data Sketches