The project ANDREA aims to develop a concept for an automated management system for composting that reduces the measurement and documentation effort for compost producers. In the project, the temperature measurements that are required by the Compost Regulation are carried out directly by a compost turner and are georeferenced through GNSS-based trajectory determination. The temperature measurements are then mapped in a management system for composting, which gives compost producers a better overview of the rotting process. To automate the documentation process in the best possible way, a new measuring concept is developed which allows measuring the temperature of the compost during the turning process. For the compost turner, an innovative navigation module (see project ANTON) for autonomous navigation is developed. The module uses GNSS, inertial measurements, encoder readings, and LiDAR point clouds. The navigation module calculates complex routes and steers the compost turner along them. The degree of autonomy is further increased by adding obstacle detection. In addition, sensors for operation at night will be investigated. That way the battery-operated compost turner could be charged with solar power during the day and carry out measurements at night. For innovative traceability of the compost, its mixing before and after the compost turning process will be investigated in detail using the coupled Discrete Element Method and displayed in the data management system. As a result, it should be shown to what extent the documentation effort resulting from the regulations of the Compost Regulation can be reduced by automated, GNSS-based procedures. Through a structured data management system, compost producers are to be given a better overview of the rotting process and thus be able to increase efficiency at composting plants. This can help to reduce the emission of harmful greenhouse gases such as methane.
This project is funded by the Austrian Promotion Agency (FFG) within the programme line "ASAP".
Philipp Berglez
Steyrergasse 30/II
8010 Graz
Austria
Tel: +43/316/873-6830
pberglez@tugraz.at
Eva M. Buchmayer
Steyrergasse 30/II
8010 Graz
Austria
Tel: +43/316/873-6833
eva.buchmayer @tugraz.at
Fabian Theurl
Steyrergasse 30/II
8010 Graz
Austria
Tel: +43/316/873-6835
fabian.theurl@tugraz.at