Prediction of Greenhouse Indoor Air Temperature Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Combined with Sensitivity Analysis

Abstract

Greenhouses are essential for agricultural production in unfavorable climates. Accurate temperature predictions are critical for controlling Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Dehumidification (HVACD) and lighting systems to optimize plant growth and reduce financial losses. In this study, several machine models were employed to predict indoor air temperature in an even-span Mediterranean greenhouse. Radial Basis Function (RBF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) were applied using external parameters such as outside air, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. The results showed that an RBF model with the LM learning algorithm outperformed the SVM and GPR models. The RBF model had high accuracy and reliability with an RMSE of 0.82 °C, MAPE of 1.21%, TSSE of 474.07 °C, and EF of 1.00. Accurate temperature prediction can help farmers manage their crops and resources efficiently and reduce energy inefficiencies and lower yields. The integration of the RBF model into greenhouse control systems can lead to significant energy savings and cost reductions.