E3S Web of Conferences 430, 01098 (2023) https://doi.org/10.

1051/e3sconf/202343001098
ICMPC 2023

Motorized Smart Roofing System using IoT for

Sustainable development
P. Prathibha Swaraj1, Deekshitha Shivuni1, Lasya Chatragadda1,
Srinidhi Ettom1 , V. K. Srivastava 2, K.Hima Bindu 3
1 Department of Information and Technology, Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and
Technology, Hyderabad, India
2 School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, 248007, India
3 KG Reddy College of Engineering & Technology

Abstract: Climate change caused by human activity has led to abnormal

rainfall in India. Agriculture is a crucial source of income for the Indian
Government and the abnormal rainfall patterns pose a significant threat to
the industry. These fluctuations in rainfall have caused damage to homes,
and infrastructure, wash away crops and destroy water sanitation. Unusual
rainfalls are also affecting the Rooftop restaurants. The Government, Roof
Top restaurant owners, and farmers are all seeking solutions to address the
impact of climate change. One potential solution is the development of a
Smart Roofing System that can detect rainfall and respond accordingly. The
Proposed system would use a Rainfall Sensor to detect rain, which would
then send signals to a Wi-Fi-enabled board. The board would then activate
dc motors, opening the roof to protect against rainfall. When the Rainfall
Sensor detects no rain, it sends a signal to the board to reverse the direction
of the motors, closing the roof. The implementation of this Smart Roofing
System could help minimize the damage caused by unusual rainfall patterns
and help towards the development of a sustainable environment. With a
Smart Roofing System in place, roof-top restaurant owners could continue
their service during periods of heavy rain, ensuring minimal disruption to
their business. Overall, the development of a Smart Roofing System could
help protect India's infrastructure, agriculture, and economy from the
adverse effects of climate change with minimal cost.

1 Introduction

India is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to its geography, high
population density, and reliance on agriculture. Causes for the Climatic Changes are human
activities such as the burning of Fossil Fuels, Deforestation, industrial activities, and
Transportation release a large number of harmful gases called Green House Gases such as
carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, etc. Climate Change is also caused by a few natural
factors such as solar radiation, volcanic eruptions, and natural variability of the climate
system. The effects of these Climatic Changes are huge across the country’s environment,
economy, and society. India is experiencing more frequent and severe heatwaves, floods,
droughts, and cyclones due to climate change. It causes changes in rainfall patterns which
also impacts agriculture and businesses of rooftop restaurants. It leads to the spread of
diseases. Climate change is causing changes in the spatial distribution of rainfall in India,
with some regions experiencing more rainfall, while others are experiencing less. This is
leading to disparities in water availability and impacting agricultural productivity.[12] It is
also expected to have significant economic impacts on the country, including a decrease in

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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agricultural productivity and an increase in healthcare costs and sustainable development of

the society and utilization of the resources.
Urgent action is needed to reduce the above-mentioned impacts of Climate Change.
Framers usually sun-dry their crops before taking them to the market. They adopt traditional
methods to dry the cultivated crops. The usual way is exposing the crops to sunlight by
spreading them on the floor. But during times of unusual rains, the crop becomes wet which
leads to spoilage of the crop, increased dry time, and decreased quality. Smart Roofing
System can sort all the above-mentioned problems. In Smart Roofing System, the roof which
is a waterproof sheet spreads over the area. [11] Smart Roofing Systems include weather
sensors to track climatic conditions like temperature, wind speed, etc. In the case of Open-
Top restaurants the data collected by the sensors help in making decisions about opening and
closing the outdoor dining area. Similarly, in the case of agriculture, the smart roofing system
can integrate sensors to detect factors like temperature, humidity, sunlight intensity, and soil
moisture. This data can be used to protect the crop from getting damaged by indicating when
to open and close the roof at the time of unusual weather conditions.

2 Related Works

[1] This article focuses on the construction of a rain detection system that employs a rain
sensor to recognize rainfall. It uses an Arduino and rain sensors to detect rain. The system
works by establishing an interface with the rain sensor and controlling it using an Arduino
UNO board. The Arduino Uno board serves as the microcontroller for a rain control module
that is also used to regulate the movement of the sensor. The "Processing Development
Environment Software" is then used to process the signal from the rain sensor in order to
decide what is to be done.

[2] This paper presents an Automatic Cloth Drying System using Rain and LDR Sensors with
an Arduino UNO. It addresses rain-related challenges during the rainy season when drying
clothes outdoors. The fear of wet clothes due to rain prompts individuals to avoid open drying
areas and use their home terraces instead. [15] To tackle this issue, the author proposes an
automatic clothesline towing device. This device employs an Arduino Uno, rain sensor, and
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) sensor. It operates by detecting weather conditions through
these sensors. In the absence of light, indicating rain, the device moves the clothesline to a
sheltered spot, while in sunny conditions, it retracts the line to an exposed area, offering a
practical solution to outdoor clothes drying concerns.

[3] This study centers on creating an Automatic Sliding Door with an Infrared Sensor. The
system consists of a sensor, control unit, and drive unit, facilitating automatic door operation
in public building entrances. The primary goal is to comprehend automatic door system
functionality and concepts, while the secondary goal is to build a basic circuit model
showcasing the system's workings. This project includes sensors like an Infrared sensor to
detect motion. A pressure sensor to detect the pressure occurred due to the weight of the
person and it uses a Motion sensor to detect the motion of the people. Activities encompass
studying automatic door operations, crafting a comprehensive circuit diagram, and
constructing a functional model.

[4] The automatic sliding window is a highly useful component in our daily lives and holds
great significance in mechanical applications, particularly for the purpose of window opening
and closing. This study aims to investigate the fundamental operational characteristics of the
sliding window. To this end, a mechanically-based system for linear actuation and remote
control was designed and constructed. This project encompasses various stages including

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design, fabrication, and assembly. It uses a Limit switch to stop the movement of the window.
Despite the existence of numerous sliding window types in the market, the completion of this
new model offers enhanced practicality compared to its predecessors.
[6] Design and development of an Automatic Retractable roof for a clothing line. This paper
focuses on the design and development of an innovative solution for protecting clothes on a
clothesline from rain and providing a convenient retractable roof system. The proposed
system utilizes an automatic retractable roof mechanism that is activated based on weather
conditions. It incorporates sensors such as rain and light sensors to detect rainfall and control
the movement of the retractable roof accordingly. The system can be implemented using
popular development boards like Arduino, and the notification system can utilize GSM or
Wi-Fi modules to provide updates and alerts to the user's mobile device or computer. The
primary objective of this research is to offer a practical and efficient solution for protecting
clothes from rain on a clothesline, ensuring they remain dry and ready to use.

3 Methodology

Addressing all the limitations in the existing systems, the proposed model consists of a
system that uses a Rainfall sensor to detect rain. This data on rain is sent to the Wi-Fi-enabled
board. The board then sends the signals to the motors. The motors rotate to make the roof
open and close according to the requirement. The owner gets notified about the roof status
via a mobile app.
[10] The implementation of the intelligent roofing system incorporates sensors to collect
rainfall data and assess rain conditions. A predefined threshold value is employed for rainfall
calculation. Sensors offer real-time data for operations based on threshold or user
preferences. Data collection is followed by establishing connections between system
components to enable communication. For seamless interaction between sensor data and
smart roof actions, a centralized control system is introduced. This system responds
automatically to rain changes or user inputs, facilitating roof opening and closing. A user-
friendly application interface is developed to monitor roof status changes. Rain sensors
transmit data to a cloud-connected Wi-Fi board, which activates motors for timed roof
opening and closing. Users receive notifications about roof and rain status via the application.
As a result, the motorized smart roof attains automation, enhancing efficiency and user
convenience.

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Fig. 1. System Architecture

The above architectural diagram shows what are hardware devices and software required
and how are they integrated together, and the data flow through the system. The sensors
provide information about the surroundings to the board where the preprocessing takes place
and the results are shown by the actuator that is motor. The location of the user is stored in
the cloud and accessed by the user through their mobile phones

3.1 Requirements

3.1.1 WIFI Enabled Board:

In our project, the Wi-Fi-enabled board is considered a critical component for seamless
connectivity and advanced control capabilities. By introducing the Wi-Fi-enabled board into
our project, the roofing system can establish wireless connectivity, which allows the system
to communicate with other devices and platforms. This wireless connectivity allows remote
control of the system from anywhere with an internet connection, which allows the users to
access the system’s functionalities through a smartphone, tablet, or web interface.

3.1.2 Gismo Board:

The GISMO BOARD, based on an ESP32 controller, serves as a Wi-Fi-enabled platform for
seismic data analysis. It simplifies research code development, supporting various data
formats like IRIS DMC, SAC, Seisan, and more. It automates data manipulation and
enhances stability, versatility, and troubleshooting. It offers a standardized framework for
researchers to create codes. GISMO-VII acts as a central control unit with GPIO pins and
interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, Ethernet) for seamless communication and data exchange.
Wireless features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi facilitate IoT device connectivity for cloud and
inter-device data sharing. It manages power and includes an embedded ESP module for Wi-
Fi. The ESP32-WROOM module provides computing power, supported by Tensilica Xtensa
LX6 processor, 520 SRAM chips, and Flash memory. Coding is done through development
frameworks and languages like Arduino IDE and Micro Python, utilizing GPIO pins for
external component connection and additional functionalities.

3.1.3 Rain Sensor:

A rain sensor is used to detect the rain. It detects rain in applications like irrigation, car
wipers, and weather monitoring. It provides analog or digital outputs. Analog sensors give
voltage/current proportional to rainfall, while digital ones signal rain’s presence or absence.
Some allow threshold adjustment for the response. Rain sensors integrate into systems,
adapting to scenarios. Calibration ensures accuracy and reliability by compensating for
variations. Regular maintenance keeps sensors efficient. Key features of rainfall sensors
include signal conditioning, converting analog to digital values, amplifying operations, and
optimizing signals for processing. Rainfall sensor modules offer digital outputs for rain
presence/absence, interfacing with microcontrollers, development kits, and electronics for
further operations. These modules are compatible with various microcontrollers and kits,
utilizing common communication interfaces like I2C and GPIO pins for digital, and analog
voltage output for analog interfaces.

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3.1.4 DC Motors:
DC motor, also known as direct current motor, converts electrical energy into mechanical
energy. The conversion happens through the interaction of magnets. The DC motors work
according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. DC motors are used in various
applications for their simplicity, control, and versatility. They have two parts, called the stator
and the rotor. The stator of a DC motor is a fixed field containing electrical wires that create
a magnetic field when current is flowing through it. The magnetic field of the stator interacts
with the magnetic field of the rotor, causing the rotor to rotate. The rotor rotates and usually
consists of coils or permanent magnets.

3.1.5 L298N Motor Driver:

The L298N motor driver is a versatile integrated circuit (IC) widely used for controlling DC
motors and stepper motors. It employs an H-bridge configuration to provide bidirectional
control of the motors, allowing them to rotate in both forward and reverse directions. With a
maximum continuous current of 2A per channel and an operating voltage range of 7V to
35V, it is capable of handling various motor types. The L298N is controlled using logic-level
signals, making it compatible with microcontrollers and digital control circuits. To use the
L298N, external components such as the power supply, motors, and control signals need to
be connected. Overall, the L298N motor driver is a reliable and widely adopted choice for
motor control in robotics, automation, and IoT projects.

Fig. 2. Prototype with Hardware Components

The prototype of the retractable smart roof integrates weather sensors, a motorized
mechanism, a microcontroller unit, a user interface, and wireless communication. This
combination ensures efficient automation and functionality. Weather sensors detect
environmental changes, while the motorized mechanism facilitates smooth roof panel
movement. The microcontroller unit processes data and controls roof operations. A user-
friendly interface allows manual control and scheduling. Wireless communication enables
remote monitoring. The prototype presents a reliable and cutting-edge solution, transforming
open area coverage for enhanced protection and sustainability.

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4 Results
As a result, the Smart Roofing System incorporates a rain sensor for rain detection, relaying
data to a Wi-Fi board that commands motor actions. This enables automated roof movement
based on weather conditions and notifies the owner via a mobile app. This innovative project
enhances user convenience, adapting roofing operations to changing weather, and
showcasing effective technology applications.

Fig. 3. Serial Monitor

This thorough testing validates the accurate functioning of the rain sensor system, ensuring
appropriate responses and updates based on the rain conditions .

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Fig. 4. Rain and Roof Status in database

Flawless updating of all essential data related to Rain and Roof occurs in the cloud, ensuring
easy accessibility and effortless monitoring for the user. The data is securely stored in
Realtime Firebase, allowing real-time display of information about the rain and Roof Status
variables. As the Rain value changes, these variables are automatically updated in the cloud.
Leveraging this data, the user can conveniently access rain and roof status information
through the Kodular application, providing a seamless and user-friendly experience.

Fig. 5. Kodular Application

The Kodular Application facilitates the display of rain and roof variable values accessible
from Firebase to the user. Real-time data about rain and roof status can be readily accessed,
allowing users to stay informed at all times. The application provides a seamless interface
for users to monitor the current rain conditions and roof status, ensuring they remain up-to-
date with the latest information.
The system offers valuable Outdoor Asset Protection, safeguarding furniture, outdoor
kitchens, and decor in residential and commercial settings. Farmers can conveniently sun-
dry crops, unaffected by unpredictable weather conditions. Roof-top restaurants and cafes
can enhance dining experiences by adjusting the roof based on the weather, ensuring comfort

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for patrons. Smart roofs prove advantageous for large event venues and exhibition centers,
adapting to weather during outdoor concerts, events, or exhibitions.
[7]The implementation of retractable smart roofs revolutionized traditional manual
methods of covering open areas. The project successfully introduced automated and remote-
controlled solutions for protecting harvested crops, drying wet clothes, and managing open-
top restaurants. Smart roofs autonomously covered crops, reducing spoilage and losses. In
households, they offered convenience in drying wet clothes. Open-top restaurants effectively
shielded dining areas during inclement weather, minimizing inconvenience and financial
losses.
Overall, retractable smart roofs provided a sustainable and cost-effective solution,
enhancing productivity and customer satisfaction across various domains. The success of this
project signifies a significant advancement in roofing technology, with promising prospects
for future innovations.

5 Conclusion and Future Enhancements

In this entire project, we have tried to present a unique approach to building a smart roof that
is very useful in our daily life. Our project helps to address the problems faced by Farmers,
Roof-top restaurant owners, and other people by providing a solution to the problems faced
due to unusual rains. This Motorized Smart roof helps the Farmers in Drying their harvested
crop without any fear of getting the crop drenched. It also helps restaurant owners in
preventing the losses that may occur due to unusual rains. This project detects the rain and
makes the roof spread over the area with the help of IoT technology like using the rain sensor
to detect the rain and motors to spread the roof. In our project, we are also building an
application using Kodular which helps in knowing the status of the rain and the status of the
roof of a particular area to the user.
We can overcome the constraints in this project by using advanced technologies. It can
incorporate a few other features like solar tracking where the alignment of the roof is based
on the sun’s movement to escape from the hotness of the sun. Integration of the Motorized
smart roof with the Weather forecast enables the roof to adjust itself according to the weather
conditions. This roof can also be integrated with Smart home automotive devices like Smart
Grid, which further improves the performance. Web portal can also be developed, that allows
users to monitor the roof and control the roof remotely. These solutions for the problem will
make an efficient, sustainable and convenient method for the operation of the roof.

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