Applying the Systems Engineering Principles to the Design Process of a Mobile Aquaponics System

Systems Engineering is an interdisciplinary approach to product development which encompasses extended design factors (e.g. manufacturing, social, economic, human factors, safety, and schedule) into the technical design process to create an optimal product and/or service. Systems Engineering principles have proven to be highly effective in managing and implementing complex projects, yet can be utilized on any design project. The implementation of Systems Engineering into the design of a mobile aquaponics system will be examined as well as the successes, challenges, and opportunity for future improvements. Aquaponics is a food production system that ecologically integrates aquaculture and hydroponics. This particular system is designed to be mobile so that it may be utilized for educational activities and events to create further awareness of and support for aquaponic agriculture. The design factors incorporated into this project are maintainability, sustainable microecosystems, transportability, reliability, audience engagement with educational value, and social awareness of food production. The tools and techniques of Systems Engineering, when properly applied to a project, will greatly increase the project’s probability of success.

http://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2014/oral_session_05/2/

Startup stages of a low-tech aquaponic system. - CAB Direct

The goal of the project was to establish a low-tech cheap sustainable food production system that combines traditional fish farming with hydroponics (cultivating plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil), in a symbiotic environment. We used local fish and plants species only. The project was conducted in two different stages: "construction" stage and "fish" stage. The goal of the start-up stage was to build the grow bed for the plants, to establish the water circuit, to set the lights and to prepare the fish tank for the fishes. For the "fish" stage we used local fish species (carp and caras). The goal of the stage was to build the nitrogen-fixing bacteria colonies in order to provide a constant NO₃^- rich water (around 50 mg/l), with as low as possible traces of NH₃/NH₄⁺ and NO₂^- (below 0,5 mg/l). This was established by testing the NH₃/NH₄⁺, NO₂^- and NO₃^- values under several environmental changes (pH, temperature, lighting, quantity of fish in the tank etc.) in order to identify the best combinations to achieve the goal. Upon completion of the second stage we'll test different local species of plants with the already established system. The goal of the project is to find the best combinations of fish, plants and environmental conditions in order to have a cheap, sustainable symbiotic food production system, easy to be replicated by anyone.

Botswana Vaccinates Cattle to Prevent Spread of FMD - The Cattle Site

A total of 33895 cattle have been vaccinated in the administrative division of Ngamiland. Conventional SAT 1, 2, 3 vaccine have been used both in 2a and 2b subzones.