Site Data Gathering
Appendix C: Site Data Gathering
Introduction
HydroPoint Data Systems (HPDS) manufactures a line of ET-based
irrigation controllers that allow the user to enter details about their
landscape. This is done to calculate an economical irrigation
schedule.
Note: As with any irrigation schedule, an initial calculation of the
schedule is performed and then adjustments are made to it to fine-
tune the amount of water that is used to properly maintain the
landscape. These adjustment may require follow-up visits to a site
in order to monitor the landscape and make adjustment to the
controller settings. These visits are vital to obtaining a proper and
efficient schedule for the landscape.
The follow-up visits are a prime opportunity to sell upgrades to the
owner’s irrigation system. If the system is over-pressurized, under-
pressurized, has improper head spacing or other design flaws, even
the best control system will not compensate for this. You have a
golden opportunity to up sell your services to improve the irrigation
system and assist in saving the owner money and waster water.
The schedule adjustment process requires a base program calculated
on as much information about the landscape as possible. It is then
adjusted up or down according to the landscape response. The goal is
to adjust the program to the point of slight stress in the landscape
and then adjust if back up slightly to keep the landscape green. This
allows a green landscape while using only enough water to keep it
that way.
One of the parameters a user must enter to calculate an efficient
schedule is a precipitation rate (PR). The outlined processes enables a
user to gather site information to determine a base precipitation rate
for each station. Fine-tuning of this precipitation rate may be
necessary if the irrigation system was not installed to exact
manufacturer standards.
Appendix C
C
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