2017 IEEE Conference on Open Systems (ICOS), November 13-14, 2017, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
Environment Control for Smart
Mushroom House
Ibrahim Mat, Mohamed Rawidean Mohd Kassim, Ahmad Nizar Harun, Ismail Mat Yusoff
MIMOS, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation,
Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
{ibm, dean, nizar.harun, ismail}@mimos.my
Abstract- Mushroom cultivation is important due to
its nutritional value, medicinal value, income
generation and employment creation. Currently the
mushroom cultivation are just being done in a very
primitive way. Due to all these circumstances, it is
crucial to upgrade the facilities to increase yield
through optimum resources. Smart Mushroom
House (SMH) for mushroom cultivation is a project
to address the automation in the production of
expensive mushroom such as Shiitake. The system
developed is a smart system for shiitake mushroom
cultivation. The system utilizes sensor technology
with feedback system to optimize climate condition
for optimum growth.
Keywords – Mushroom cultivation, sensors
technology, climate control, shitake
mushroom and greenhouse.
I. INTRODUCTION
Mushroom industry in Malaysia is growing
with market value increase from RM 25 million in
2004 to RM120 million in 2007. In 2009,
mushroom is categorized as high value agriculture
products that contributed about 1% to GDP
(RM12.5 billion) [1]. In 10th Malaysia Plan, the
contribution to GDP increases to 2% by 2015 by
incorporation of the innovation based growth and
production process that utilize modern farm
technology. The project will improve the quality
and productivity of the mushroom industry with
smart system for cultivation.
World demand for mushroom is predicted to be
more than USD 50 billion in the future seven
years. This happened due to the growing of
mushroom usage lately [2]. The importance of
mushroom cultivation is due to its nutritional
value, medicinal value, income generation and
employment creation. However, there are
challenges in mushroom cultivation such as lack
of skills on mushroom cultivation and less quality
of mushroom production [3].
978-1-5386-0731-2/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE
Australia have invested more than Australian
Dollar 1.4 million specifically in research and
development to increase income of mushroom
farmers [4]. Malaysian government has
announced that mushrooms are the important
commodities. This is stated in Malaysia's National
Agro-Food Policy (2011-2020). This includes the
agriculture transformation program to concentrate
in increasing the yields research and development
[1]. Mushrooms which growth largely in Malaysia
now are grey oyster mushroom, black jelly,
ganoderma, and shitake. The agro-climatic
conditions in Malaysia is suitable for cultivation
of mushrooms throughout the year. Thus,
Malaysia has chance to increase the export of
mushrooms to the world market. Nevertheless,
there are many issues and challenges faced by this
industry [5]. Challenges for Malaysian
mushrooms growers are low quality seeds and
high production cost [6]. This paper highlights the
solutions to increase the yields of mushrooms
cultivation. The famous mushrooms in market are
Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms [7]. The most
crucial parameters for mushrooms cultivation
environment are Carbon Dioxide (CO2),
humidity, temperature and light [8].
Currently the mushroom cultivation are just
being done in a very primitive way. Due to all
these circumstances, it is crucial to upgrade the
facilities to increase yield through optimum
resources. Smart Mushroom cultivation
greenhouse is a project to address the automation
in the production of expensive mushroom such as
Shiitake. Utilizing sensor technology with
feedback system to optimize climate condition for
optimum growth. The project is also to implement
the suitable technology for the Smart Mushroom
House System to cultivate Shiitake mushroom.
Smart Mushroom House will have incubation
room and grow room. Incubation room is critical
for the first 4 months of the cultivation process.
Incubation room is a cool room which can control
the temperature and humidity more precisely.
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 2017 IEEE Conference on Open Systems (ICOS), November 13-14, 2017, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
In Second Section, the introduction of Wireless
Sensor Network (WSN) especially for Smart
Mushroom House will be given. In third Section,
the overall architecture of the system and the
design of it will be described. Fourth and fifth
Section will cover the result and analysis. Final
Section will give the conclusions.
II. WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK
There are multiple sensor nodes in a wireless
sensor network (WSN). Sensor node is to detect
physical phenomena such as temperature,
humidity and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) [9]. Figure 1
illustrate the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN)
common architecture and the components.WSN
common architecture components are controller
or the processor, module for communication,
module for power source and the module sensing
function. Sensing module function is to capture
sensor parameters. Most important sensors for this
project are temperature sensor, humidity sensor
and CO2 sensor.
Fig.1 WSN Node Architecture [6]
In this project XBEE technology has been
chosen as an option for WSN. XBEE is produced
by Digi International. XBEE has been launch in
2005 [10]. The standard of 802.15.4-2003 has
been followed by XBEE technology [11].
Fig.2 WSN Interconnection in Smart Mushroom House
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Figure 2 shows the architecture of Wireless
Sensor Network (WSN) used in Smart Mushroom
House for Shiitake mushroom cultivation. It
consists of multiple sensors from temperature,
humidity and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The
numbering in Figure 2 shows the flow of data in
this overall system of Smart Mushroom House.
Started from sensors in wireless sensor node, the
parameters such as temperature, humidity and
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) are read. Number 1 shows
that the data from sensor nodes are sent to a
gateway. Number 2 shows data captured by
gateway collector are passed to the gateway WIFI
module. Data from gateway WIFI module is sent
to the internet and to database server as noted by
number 3 and 4. PC users and mobile phone users
will acquire data from server noted as number 5
and 6.
III. SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
The Smart Mushroom House consist of the
most important component that is the controller to
handle monitoring and control of the overall
system functions. Figure 3 illustrate two
mushroom houses and the linkage between the
controlling devices that will be actuated based on
the sensing parameters levels. Smart Mushroom
House system monitor parameters and control the
devices in order to utilise resources as optimum as
possible. The sensing parameters are Carbon
Dioxide (CO2), humidity and temperature. The
parameters read by the sensors will be sent
wirelessly using XBEE technology to control
panel and gateway. Control devices shown in
Figure 3 are the control devices such as
humidifier, exhaust fan and circulation fan.
Humidifier function is to increase the humidity.
Exhaust fan is to remove exceed CO2.
Circulation fan will move the air inside the
Smart Mushroom House to create an even flow of
air. Circulation fan avoid the air to become
stratified and consequently the air becomes
stagnant. The fan circulates air in the house.
Circulation fan may contribute in controlling the
temperature of the air inside Smart Mushroom
House. The movement of the air inside the Smart
Mushroom House with the water mist from
humidifier may change the ambient temperature.
Mobilising the air inside the Smart Mushroom
House is also refreshing the air and helping to
homogenous the air.
Sensors used in the Smart Mushroom House
are temperature sensor, humidity sensor and CO2
sensor. Data collected from sensors sent to a
 2017 IEEE Conference on Open Systems (ICOS), November 13-14, 2017, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
remote server for monitoring and analysis. When
the threshold value of the humidity data is reached
85%, humidifier will be stopped. Whenever
humidity data is below 75%, humidifier will be
activated automatically. When the threshold value
for CO2 data is reached to 600ppm, exhaust fan
will be activated automatically. Whenever CO2
data less than 400ppm, exhaust fan will be
stopped.
Several sensors are located in each Mushroom
House. All sensors are equipped with XBEE
technology communication module. The sensor
nodes will measure the ambient condition inside
Smart Mushroom House. The sensors measure
humidity, temperature and CO2. Humidity
condition is measured as to detect the air wetness
inside the Smart Mushroom House. One humidity
sensor node, one temperature sensor node and one
CO2 sensor node are placed at each area of
shiitake mushroom. Data captured from each
sensor is transmitted to the central data collector
or called gateway. Gateway transmit data to
internet. Data from internet could be accessed by
end users through applications inside normal
computer or application in mobile phone.
Fig. 3 Control Layout in Smart Mushroom House
Smart Mushroom House system consists of
sensor units, gateway, actuators and control
devices to become a WSN platform. Sensor unit
is attached to sensor node. Sensor unit will read
the sensing parameters and produce raw analog
data. Raw analog sensing data are digitized by
sensor node. At the same time sensor node will
packed the digital sensing parameter in to a data
stream. The data stream will then be transmitted
to the gateway using XBEE technology. Sensor
node sends temperature, humidity and Carbon
Dioxide (CO2) data in every 2 minutes. Router
may be used for sensor node to send sensor data
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to the Gateway [11]. Collector in the gateway
receives data from sensor node. Data will be
received by collector in gateway module. Data
received will be processed by Microcontroller
Unit (MCU) in Gateway. The linkage between
collector and MCU is through serial interface.
Gateway board also consists of GPS module and
GSM module as well as control circuit [12].
Gateway forward the data to the internet and
server through WIFI network.
Figure 4 shows the link between XBEE
receiver and a connection between gateway Bee
connector to WIFI module ESP8266. XBEE
module is plugged into Bee connector to receive
signal from all wireless moisture sensor nodes. At
the same board there is a WIFI module ESP8266
that is connected from XBEE connector. XBEE
module will receive data from several wireless
nodes. XBEE module will pass received data to
WIFI module. WIFI module will connect itself to
the WIFI network. After connected, WIFI module
will send data to main database server through
WIFI network.
Fig. 4 Gateway and WIFI module through Bee connector
Figure 5 shows the internet Graphical User
Interface. This GUI shows received data. The data
could be accessed through internet and display
remotely at PC and also at mobile phone with
Android application.
Fig. 5 Internet Graphical User Interface
V. TEST AND RESULTS
This section is to describe the control of
humidity and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the Smart
Mushroom House area. Factors of growth are
 2017 IEEE Conference on Open Systems (ICOS), November 13-14, 2017, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

controlled automatically based on data from is activated. Point 1 and point 2 are purposely
sensors to follow an optimal growth climate for created to test the efficiency of an exhaust fan.
the mushrooms at their different stages of CO2 at 1000pm is a good condition for shiitake
development. Humidity, temperature and CO2 is mushroom. Figure 8 shows three days stable
tracked in real time via sensors placed into the reading for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the Smart
mushroom growing system at key intervals. Mushroom House. Figure 9 shows mushroom
racks in the Smart Mushroom House.
Smart Mushroom House grow their
mushrooms indoors. As such, humidity,
temperature and CO2 in all areas of the farm must
be precisely controlled to produce optimal
growth. Humidity control done by continuously
monitoring the level of water in the air. Automatic
control maintains the humidity condition of the air
in the Smart Mushroom House to be between the
required levels. Mushroom experts suggest that
the humidity need to be within 70% to 90%.
Optimal growth curve for the humidity and CO2
control system is set up and integrated using the
actuators. Humidifier will be activated to increase
the humidity level when it goes below 70%.
Humidifier will be stopped when humidity level Fig. 7 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) respond to exhaust fan
reached 90%.

Figure 6 shows three days data for temperature

and humidity levels in Smart Mushroom House
data. Data is captured in 3 minutes interval.
Humidity and temperature levels shown in Figure
6 are within the required climate.

Fig. 8 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in three days

Fig. 6 Temperature and Humidity in Smart Mushroom House

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is another important

parameter to be controlled. CO2 level has been
controlled not to go beyond 1000ppm. Figure 7
shows the CO2 reading during the testing period
of exhaust fan efficiency. Point 1 in Figure 7
shows that the CO2 level increase drastically
when exhaust fan is closed. Level of drastic
changes will depend on amount of mushroom in Fig. 9 Mushroom racks in Smart Mushroom House
the room. Point 1 shows that the CO2 level
decrease to a stable level 500pm when exhaust fan

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 2017 IEEE Conference on Open Systems (ICOS), November 13-14, 2017, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
VI. CONCLUSIONS
In a Smart Mushroom House environment using
WSN and control technology, our test shows
clearly that a system is efficient to maintain the
suitable condition for mushroom cultivation. In
general Smart Mushroom House system
contributes crucial function to read cultivation
ambient status, calculate and analyse and finally
controls all related appliances inside the Smart
Mushroom House to modify the climate
according to the agronomist advised parameters
level. Based on this project experiment, Smart
Mushroom House system able to keep the wetness
of the air, the level of CO2 inside the cultivation
area to be within an agronomist advised range.
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