Journal ID : AMA-24-11-2021-10886
[ This article belongs to Special Issue 2021 ]
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Title : Using Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), Image Thresholding, and Tracking and Monitoring Mobile Application to Encourage Urban Beekeeping

Abstract :

This paper describes Try Gonna Bee, an Android-based mobile app that can be used to aid users who are enthusiastic to start keeping stingless bees (Trigona thorasica and Trigona itama species). Eager but inexperienced beekeepers may mistakenly installed bee hives in inappropriate locations due to the lack of guidance. This results in poor quality honey yield and causes the bee colony to move or die. Also, the hive’s entrance must not be situated under direct sunlight because it may melt the propolis structure and cause heat stress. Novice beekeepers may not understand how frequent harvesting, maintaining and re-queening a hive should be done. The developed app determines whether an area is suitable for a beehive installation by using the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) information, which retrieves an image of the area through Google Maps API. It calculates the greenery percentage of the location, where higher greenery is more favorable (has better access to vegetation). As the hive’s entrance should not face direct sunlight, and the app uses sensors in the phone (gyroscope, compass, and camera) to capture images from the North, East, South, West, and the luminance detection algorithm calculates the direction with the lowest luminance. The app also has a honey tracker function to remind users of upcoming tasks. The accuracy of the app, the usability and users’ experience when using the app was evaluated in a user study with two stingless bee experts, and thirty non-trained users. Results showed that it could determine the greenery percentage better than humans, and accurately (100%) detect lowest luminance direction, compared to novice users (50%). Most of the respondents were satisfied with the usability and experience of using the application. The app can help cultivate higher interests in individuals to be involved with bee keeping, which indirectly improves food security.

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