Before we know it, we will be buried in the next irrigation season. It seems like the downtime between seasons is getting shorter every year. For many people in the industry, that downtime is when we look at ways to make our jobs more productive or less intensive, or maybe offer better service. We are not short on opportunities that can make a difference in our day-to-day.
Lately, many new products and technologies have been associated with controllers and the platforms that connect them. We have quickly moved to robust, cloud-based systems that give us access to our controllers reliably from anywhere. Why? Because it makes us more efficient in managing the irrigation water, whether for a four-zone residential system or a large college campus. New items are worth reviewing regularly, as technology is evolving quickly, with new options for integration and better management tools.
We also have more options for communication between the controller and the field equipment (valves, sensors, etc.). Two-wire/decoder system options are growing, especially for retrofitting traditionally wired systems. Reliable wireless communication with valves is here via developing communication protocols like LoRa, which will also create new possibilities for communication with other devices. New options are available to activate solenoids with longer-lasting batteries and for ambient light, and even the possibility of the power of water movement in the system is being developed.
“Sensors are becoming more accurate, more cost-effective and more resilient to working in our environments, and they’re simpler to use and maintain.”
Sensor technology to provide information to the controllers is changing. Sensors are becoming more accurate, more cost-effective and more resilient to working in our environments, and they’re simpler to use and maintain. It is interesting how accurate remote meteorological data has become and how it has replaced some on-site weather sensors. The number of options for flow sensors, moisture sensors and pressure sensors is growing. We are also starting to consider using these sensors as stand-alone devices instead of expecting them to be integrated and automated with the controller.
Sprinklers and micro/drip equipment have more available options. Pressure regulation is required in many areas and is increasing. Irrigators are better trained and more experienced, with customized application rates for various soil conditions and water windows, and are able to take advantage of the many options available.
Installation equipment is advancing with more choices for power and specific applications. Power equipment choices for smaller applications, such as trenchers, are common, with many more brands and options available. Remote-control options are available for pipe installation equipment. Battery power is becoming more common, especially for smaller tools.
Diagnostic tools for technicians, especially valve, wire and fault locating, have improved, with digital signals offering many advantages. There has even been discussion about completely new ways to locate valves and other equipment — and maybe even tying that into the controller function.
Today, most companies use some type of office, data movement, or operations technology or platform. While many are primarily focused on the irrigation and green industry, the ones that have solutions for any service business are worth reviewing, too. Most offer a larger suite of business solutions with more ability to integrate with other software and devices. Where I see the greatest potential is the complete integration of the irrigation controller, with its data and information collected during system inspections with the operating platform that estimates cost, converts into proposals, tracks the job data, and ties to accounting and customer relationship management. These are starting to build out now and will become more common as platforms develop.
So, these all sound great, but why bother? What we have done in the past has worked fine, right? Is the reward for making the change worth the effort? Those questions are for you to answer, because only you know what works best for you. We are bombarded with many types of new products, new tools that could make our jobs easier, and new technology to make our businesses and our day-to-day more efficient. My suggestion isn’t that these are all must-haves and must-dos, but that while you have a month or four, take a little time to see what’s out there and weigh what’s right for you and your interests.
