• Project title: SMARTBeeing
  • Bee population health, wellbeing and yield improvement through novel monitoring technologies (project code: T2EDK-01681)
  • Starting date: 29/10/2020
  • Duration: 36 Μonths
  • Smartbeeing.web.auth.gr

Project Summary

The SmartBeeing project proposes:

  • Design, development and pilot application of an innovative system of early-warning and avoiding a set of stressful factors - situations that are directly related to the bee's "social" life and to the quality of the final products.
  • ICT-supported methodologies employed to
    • (a) support beekeeping management and estimation of possible stressful situations,
    • (b) track in real-time hive and field conditions,
    • (c) support decision-making through appropriate data analysis mechanisms.
  • The proposed solution also allows for the accurate assessment of future adverse situations (eg swarming, loss of queen) and the implementation of appropriate corrective actions by beekeepers.

    • The aim of the “SMARTBEEing” project is to create an integrated hive-based system at hive level, beekeeper level and globally. A set of parameters regarding the honeybee colony itself and its location is taken into account, while the product is characterized by low acquisition / maintenance costs and a friendly interface with the not familiar with the technology end-users.

    The “SMARTBEEing” approach involves the instrumentation of low-cost electronic equipment in hives, in combination with appropriate outcome models and the supporting software developed within the project, will allow:

    • (a) timely notification of upcoming swarming, abandoning of colony and the presence or not of the queen in the hive,
    • (b) managing the internal conditions of the hive in order to prevent diseases,
    • (c) estimating the future productivity of bees and
    • (d) increasing security against theft and natural enemies of bees.

    The system estimates will provide the beekeeper with the time to respond with the proposed managements.

    Consortium: Laboratory of Apiculture-Sericulture (AUTH), School of Physics (AUTH), EMNIA3.