Irrigation management system

• US 20010049563A1
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aqua Conservation Systems, Inc., John W. and Betty J. Addink Living Trust
• Original Assignee: Aqua Conservation Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Addink, Sylvan, Addink, John
• Application Number:
  US09/852,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering

Abstract

An irrigation management system comprises a microprocessor that determines a mathematical relationship between a calculated watering requirement and an applied irrigation amount; and an output device that provides a result of the mathematical relationship to at least one of an irrigation user and a third party. Preferably the calculated watering requirement is at least partly derived from ETo data. Additionally, the calculated watering requirement is at least partly derived from a crop coefficient value and an irrigation efficiency value. Preferably the applied irrigation amount is derived from data obtained from a flow meter and preferably from a utility meter that was initially installed at the irrigation site. Water pressure can also be measured and communicated to the irrigation user and/or third party.

Claims

1. An irrigation management system comprising:

a microprocessor programmed to (a) determine a calculated watering requirement and an applied irrigation amount for a time period for an area of an irrigated site and (b) determine a mathematical relationship between the calculated watering requirement and the applied irrigation amount; and

an output device that provides a result of the mathematical relationship to at least one of an irrigation user and a third party.

2. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the microprocessor is disposed in an irrigation controller.

3. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the microprocessor is disposed in a personal computer.

4. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the calculated watering requirement is at least partly derived from ETo data.

5. The irrigation management system of

claim 4

, wherein the ETo data comprises potential ETo data.

6. The irrigation management system of

claim 4

, wherein the ETo data comprises estimated ETo data.

7. The irrigation management system of

claim 4

, wherein the ETo data comprises historical ETo data.

8. The irrigation management system of

claim 4

, wherein the ETo data is received from a device local to the irrigation site.

9. The irrigation management system of

claim 4

, wherein the ETo data is received from a device distal to the irrigation site.

10. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the calculated watering requirement is at least partly derived from a crop coefficient value.

12. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the applied irrigation amount is derived from data obtained from an irrigation water collector.

13. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the applied irrigation amount is derived from flow data obtained from a flow meter.

14. The irrigation management system of

claim 13

, wherein the flow data is from a utility meter that was initially installed at the irrigation site.

15. The irrigation management system of

claim 13

, wherein the flow data is from a flow meter separate from the utility meter installed at the irrigation site.

16. The irrigation management system of

claim 13

, wherein the flow data comprises raw data.

17. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the time period is at least 10 seconds.

18. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the irrigated site is a residential site.

19. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the irrigated site is an agricultural site.

20. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the output device is a display screen.

21. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the output device is printed material.

22. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the result comprises a ratio of the calculated watering requirement to the applied irrigation amount.

23. The irrigation management system of

claim 1

, wherein the result comprises a difference between the calculated watering requirement and the applied irrigation amount.

11. The irrigation management system, wherein the calculated watering requirement is at least partly derived from an irrigation efficiency value.

24. The irrigation management system of

claim 11

, further comprising measuring water pressure data that is communicated to the irrigation user by the output device.

25. A method of generating a mathematical relationship between a calculated watering requirement and an applied irrigation amount for use in an irrigation management system, comprising:

determining a calculated watering requirement for a time period for an irrigated site;

determining an applied irrigation amount for a time period for an irrigated site;

determining a mathematical relationship between the calculated watering requirement and the applied irrigation amount; and

providing a result of the mathematical relationship to at least one of an irrigation user and a third party.