TURF MANAGEMENT
First Claim
1. A method of evaluating an irrigation system at a turf site, the turf site including turf, the method comprising:
- segmenting the turf site into a plurality of irrigation management units, wherein each irrigation management unit of the turf site includes at least one sprinkler head; and
for each irrigation management unit, computing with a computing device a value representing a characteristic of the turf within the irrigation management unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A turf management system includes an irrigation system for providing water to the turf at a turf site, and an irrigation evaluation system for evaluating the performance of the irrigation system. The irrigation evaluation system segments the turf site into irrigation management units, where each of the irrigation management units includes at least one sprinkler head. Qualities of the turf are measured to generate collected data points. The data points are used by the irrigation evaluation system to compute a value for the turf in each of the irrigation management units. The values can then be used to identify irrigation management units having common characteristics. The values can be used to define irrigation management zones for controlling the irrigation system.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of evaluating an irrigation system at a turf site, the turf site including turf, the method comprising:
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segmenting the turf site into a plurality of irrigation management units, wherein each irrigation management unit of the turf site includes at least one sprinkler head; and for each irrigation management unit, computing with a computing device a value representing a characteristic of the turf within the irrigation management unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An irrigation system for providing water to turf at a turf site, the irrigation system comprising:
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sprinkler heads; water lines connected to a source of water and to valves that control the flow of water through the sprinkler heads; and at least one control system including a computing device, the computing device operably connected to the valves to selectively open the valves to allow water to flow through the sprinkler heads and onto the turf, wherein the computing device is programmed to commonly control a first plurality of the sprinkler heads within a first irrigation management zone according to a first set of control parameters, and is programmed to commonly control a second plurality of sprinkler heads within a second irrigation management zone according to a second set of control parameters, wherein the first plurality of sprinkler heads are all positioned in turf having a first common characteristic, and wherein the second plurality of sprinkler heads are all positioned in turf having a second common characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of evaluating and controlling an irrigation system at a turf site including turf, the method comprising:
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transporting a data collection vehicle to a turf site, the data collection vehicle including at least a location identification device and at least one instrument adapted to measure a quality of the turf; collecting data points using the data collection vehicle, by moving the data collection vehicle across the turf while operating the instrument, the data points including a value indicative of the measured quality of the turf and a location where the data point was obtained; identifying areas of the turf site having similar qualities using the data points; and defining irrigation management zones, wherein each irrigation management zone includes areas of the turf site having similar qualities. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification