Virtual Grower Tutorials : USDA ARS

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Virtual Grower 3 Tutorials

The Basics

VG 3.0 Highlights
New and improved features of Virtual Grower 3.0 are highlighted.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #1: Getting Started and Setting Your Location
Introduction to the general organization of VG 3.0 and selecting the location of your greenhouse.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #2: Greenhouse Design
Selecting the dimensions and materials of your greenhouse, describing air infiltration opportunities, and activating energy curtains.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #3: Heating
Defining your heating schedules and characterizing your heating systems.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #4: Lighting
Defining your lighting schedules and characterizing your lighting systems.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #5: Plants
Describing the features within the plant section and creating a plant list.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #6: Output and Greenhouse Setup
Assigning heating, lighting, and plant properties to a greenhouse to begin the cost-calculating process.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #7: Output and Calculating Costs
Calculating costs and reviewing the data tables and graphs generated by your simulation.

Advanced Techniques

VG 3.0 Tutorial #8: Generating Reports
Exporting your simulated costs and opening your report in a word-processing and spreadsheet program.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #9: Predicting Crop Timing
Calculating when a crop should be started to be ready for a specified finish date.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #10: Real Time Heating Costs
Predicting heating costs for the next three days based on current weather forecasts.

VG 3.0 Tutorial #11: Edit Fuels and Materials
Adding a real or theoretical fuel and material to the database for use in simulations.