3
Soil, plant & weather feedback 4
Soil, plant and weather feedback is by sensors deployed in the field; this is distinct from feedback related to the irrigation system itself. Many SPW sensors were developed before the 1960s and have been used in both research and commercial production since, although their use has been limited by cost, accuracy, harsh field environments and the need for wireless data transmission. Numerous wireless sensors are now available that can be accessed directly in the field by a mobile device via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi or accessed through commercially available SCADA systems offered by manufacturers. These have greatly enhanced sensor ease of use and adoption.
Analytics
Analytics are concerned with reports, forecasts and decision support tools for irrigation management. Analytics can be a major component of a SCADA system and, similar to remote control apps, can reside and execute anywhere in the system (e.g., firmware, web or mobile device). However, analytics are a step beyond merely acquiring data, where they include additional calculations to synthesize data into meaningful reports and forecast future conditions using crop and weather modeling. These feed into decision support tools (e.g., variable rate irrigation prescriptions) and irrigation system automation. The role of analytics will become more crucial as SCADA systems acquire increasingly voluminous amounts of data, and we find ourselves “drowning in information but starved for knowledge,” as eloquently suggested by author John Naisbitt. At the same time, practical field experience is still relevant and will guide successful adoption of analytical approaches.
Paul D. Colaizzi, PhD, and Susan A. O’Shaughnessy, PhD, are research agricultural engineers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Conservation and Production Research Laboratory in Bushland, Texas.
This article was condensed from a presentation by Drs. Colaizzi and O’Shaughnessy during the 30th Annual Central Plains Irrigation Conference held in Colby, Kansas, Feb. 20-21, 2018.
22 Irrigation TODAY | July 2018
Figure 1. Examples of components used in remote control and feedback of an irrigation system
Paul Colaizzi and Susan O’Shaughnessy at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Conservation and Production Research Laboratory in Bushland, Texas
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
