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Agricultural Engineering I
Agrartechnik I
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 14:59:16
Abstract
Presentation of basics in tractor technologies (including emission and soil compaction), planning of agricultural buildings and work economics. This lecture forms the basis for the ‘Agrartechnik II’ course (indoor and outdoor work processes, work economics).
Objective
Main objective: The students acquire comprehensive functional knowledge about agricultural engineering systems (including construction) enabling them to plan and assess the use of those systems in practice. Subobjectives: Knowing about the basics of energy and emission aspects related to tractor technology. In addition to technical properties, the students know about the ecological and economic effects of selected samples. Basics in agricultural construction shall show that a professional implementation of functional, animal-friendly, environmentally sound (and economically advantageous) construction of buildings is feasible. Profound knowledge of planning tools based on work economics will help the students to correctly plan the substitution of agricultural work by efficient technical solutions.
Content
Part 1: Tractors (function, emission, soil compaction) and their use in farming - additional use outside the farm makes for improved efficiency - emissions and particles: combustion engine - transmission of energy in tractors: transmission and hydraulics - slippage and pressure on ground cause soil compaction: originating of slippage, impact of weights, wheel footprints, etc. - Smart technologies enable efficient use of agricultural technology (CAN bus, steering systems, N sensors - Hill side mechanisation P.S.: Outdoor mechanisation: 'Agrartechnik II' summer term 2006 Part 2: Agricultural building - Agricultural building activity, building and production costs, multi-purpose buildings: tasks and requirements, basic conditions and their effects - Planning and execution, space and functioning programme, laws, regulations and recommendations - Building costs, cost estimates, financing, requirements for low-cost buildings, simple buildings, internal contribution, prefabrication - Pens/housing of: cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses - Technical pen facilities: pen climate, air conditioning, milking systems - The multi-purpose building as an important work place: working time requirements and work load - tied housing vs. cubicle housing systems, effects of the various systems and herd size on pen work - shared pens: advantages and disadvantages, recommended concepts - Project assessment, construction concepts: function, work economics and ergonomics, investment - planning/designing and/or excursions P.S.: Indoor work processes: 'Agrartechnik II' summer term 2006 Part 3: Work economics - work-economics-related guiding figures (time measurements, statistical processing, data recording using a work diary, sources of work-economics-related planning data, application for 'Agroscope FAT' machine costs lists, 'LBL' planning basics, etc.) - working time models (work and production process level, process comparisons, process optimisation through growth and/or specialising of farm, cooperation with others, work productivity) - 'Agroscope FAT' (agricultural research station in Tänikon) work budget (integration of modules in entire farm, available field work days and risk of weather, farm management-related work and special tasks, use of a detailed or global work budget, comparison of target and actual situation in terms of work economics
General Information
- Language
- German
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Agrartechnik I |
|
2 h weekly |