2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The Plant Wall project is an ongoing senior design initiative aimed at the intersection of advanced engineering and environmental biology to foster innovative solutions for sustainable plant growth systems. The project seeks to create a highly efficient and scalable plant support and irrigation infrastructure that incorporates mechanical and biological considerations for optimal plant development. This interdisciplinary collaboration between the Engineering and Biology Departments enables the application of diverse expertise to address complex challenges related to environmental management and plant growth technologies.
The mechanical design, a key milestone achieved during the project's first phase, involves creating a structure that can support various plants while offering sufficient space and optimal conditions for growth. This stage focused on ensuring that the design could accommodate the physical needs of different plant species, including factors such as structural stability, space allocation, and environmental exposure. By utilizing advanced engineering principles, the Plant Wall system is designed to promote an eco-friendly and sustainable growing environment within limited spatial constraints.
The current phase of the project is to develop an intelligent irrigation system that integrates innovative technologies, such as sensors, automated controls, and data-driven algorithms. This system monitors vital environmental variables, including moisture levels, temperature, and nutrient concentrations. By allowing precise control over these parameters, the innovative irrigation system aims to create an optimized plant growth environment, promoting water conservation and healthy plant development. The ability to remotely control and adjust these variables in real-time adds the technological sophistication essential for modern, sustainable teaching.
Collaboration with the Biology Department has been instrumental in identifying and addressing the unique biological needs of plants within this system. By combining engineering design with biological research, the Plant Wall project addresses complex interdisciplinary challenges such as nutrient delivery, light optimization, and growth cycle management. This cross-departmental effort ensures that the system is not only technically sound but also tailored to the specific growth needs of plants.
The project's primary objectives are to develop an innovative, technologically advanced irrigation system and to provide students with practical, hands-on experience in applying engineering principles to real-world environmental challenges. By integrating the latest advancements in technology, the project aims to contribute to sustainable development in engineering and plant growth management while fostering an enhanced educational experience.