Screen house simulation of work processes in green ornamentals

Gad Vitner, Avital Bechar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The study investigates the growing processes of Pittosporum Virgatus and Aralia in screen houses. These processes are labor intensive, and the large numbers of workers involved in the various operations cause bottlenecks that affect costs and working efficiency.The objectives of the present study were to improve work methods of green ornamentals farms, to increase productivity and to develop an optimal screen house layout in order to maximize the total revenue. The research was performed during the years 2006-2007 in two modern farms in the central part of Israel. The farms consist of 7 and 11 hectare of Pitosporum and Aralia screen houses. On each farm, work studies and time measurements were performed in the various stages of harvesting. A computer simulation model was developed to find an optimal design of a screen house layout. Simulation results showed that the optimal length of a screen house is 22 m. Furthermore, the optimal width of the screen house was determined as a function of the number of workers and the pace of their performance. In addition, the optimal location of the cart to transfer the crops to the packaging house was determined.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2008, ASABE 2008
PublisherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Pages6622-6630
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9781605605364
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2008
Externally publishedYes
EventAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2008 - Providence, RI, United States
Duration: 29 Jun 20082 Jul 2008

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2008, ASABE 2008
Volume11

Conference

ConferenceAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityProvidence, RI
Period29/06/082/07/08

Keywords

  • Aralia
  • Pitosporum
  • Productivity
  • Screen house
  • Simulation
  • Time studies
  • Work methods

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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