IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT

• US 20130310992A1
• Filed: 05/21/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Rain Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Smart Rain Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Larsen, Rudy Lars
• Granted Patent: US 9,307,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering

Abstract

A system and method for providing irrigation management services is disclosed. The system may include a plurality of controllers, where each controller controls application of water by an irrigation system associated with the controller. A central computer that is remote from each of the controllers may be configured to implement an irrigation management plan that is individualized to each location and based, at least in part, upon one or more characteristics of the location as determined by an on-site visit. The irrigation manager may guarantee that the system will provide a return on investment within a predefined period of time. The system may also detect faults in the irrigation systems using water usage data from the controllers and diagnose the faults. A technician may be notified and dispatched to repair the faults.

Claims

1. A method for providing irrigation management services, the method comprising:

visiting a first property having an irrigation system;

identifying one or more characteristics of the first property affecting water usage on the first property;

developing an irrigation management plan for the first property using the one or more characteristics, the irrigation management plan being applied by the irrigation system;

determining a value of irrigation management services at the first property, determining the value comprising;

an irrigation manager charging a fixed amount for the irrigation management services over a predetermined period of time;

calculating an irrigation water cost savings for the predetermined period;

determining a guaranteed maximum charge for the predetermined period of time by multiplying the irrigation water cost savings by a guaranteed rate;

if the fixed amount exceeds the guaranteed maximum charge, having the irrigation manager refund or credit a difference between the fixed amount and the guaranteed maximum charge;

communicatively connecting a controller controlling application of water by the irrigation system with a central computer at a remote location, the central computer being communicatively connected with a plurality of second controllers associated with a plurality of second irrigation systems installed at a plurality of second properties;

implementing the irrigation management plan for the first property from the central computer;

continually monitoring the water usage at the first property and at the plurality of second properties using water usage data communicated to the central computer from the controller and from the plurality of second controllers;

in response to the water usage data from the controller indicating a fault in the irrigation system, diagnosing the fault using the water usage data; and

dispatching a technician to the first property to repair the fault in the irrigation system, the technician being provided with a diagnosis of the fault in the irrigation system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more characteristics of the first property comprise one or more of:

plant material at the first property;

soil composition at the first property; and

climate at the first property.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting a master valve between a main water line for the first property and the irrigation system;

installing a flow sensor at the main water line for the first property.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the water usage data comprises the flow of water as measured by the flow sensor at the main water line.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending one or more commands that shut the master valve, preventing flow of water from the main water line into the irrigation system, from the central computer in response to detecting a break in a pipe of the irrigation system.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the fault is a broken irrigation component within a station of the irrigation system.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending one or more commands to the controller causing the controller not to use the station comprising the broken irrigation component.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the technician providing a repair notification to the central computer in response to repairing the fault in the irrigation system.

9. The method of claim 8, the central computer further configured to resume the irrigation management plan in response to receiving the repair notification.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the irrigation water cost savings comprises comparing irrigation water costs after implementing the irrigation management plan to irrigation water costs prior to implementing the irrigation management plan.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the guaranteed maximum charge comprises multiplying the irrigation water cost savings by guaranteed maximum percentage.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the guaranteed maximum charge comprises multiplying the irrigation water cost savings by 90%.

13. A system for providing irrigation management services, the system comprising:

a plurality of controllers, each controller controlling application of water by an irrigation system associated with the controller;

a central computer that is remote from each of the plurality of controllers and that is in communication with each of the plurality of controllers;

the central computer configured to;

for each location associated with each irrigation system, implement an irrigation management plan that is individualized to the location and based, at least in part, upon one or more characteristics of the location as determined by an on-site visit;

wherein the irrigation management plan is guaranteed by an irrigation manager to provide a return on investment within a predefined period of time;

detect one or more faults in the irrigation systems using water usage data from the controllers associated with the irrigation system; and

run one or more user-defined tests to diagnose the one or more faults in the irrigation systems; and

notify a technician of the one or more faults, the technician being dispatched to repair the one or more faults.

14. The system of claim 13, the central computer disabling one or more stations in the irrigation system in response to detecting the one or more faults and enabling the one or more stations in the irrigation system in response to the technician repairing the one or more faults.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a fee charged by the irrigation manager is determined by:

estimating a water cost savings over the predetermined period of time;

allocating between two-thirds and one-third of the estimated water cost savings over the predetermined period of time to the client; and

setting the fee equal to the remaining water costs savings over the predetermined period of time.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising a mobile device in communication with the central computer, the mobile device configured to:

receive notifications from the central computer; and

remotely control operation of one or more of the plurality of controllers through the central computer.

17. The system of claim 13, the central computer further configured to provide a report for each client associated with one or more of the plurality of controllers, the report comprising water usage data for controllers associated with the client.

18. A method for providing irrigation management services, the method comprising:

managing a plurality of irrigation systems installed at separate properties owned by separate entities, and for each property;

visiting the property;

identifying one or more characteristics of the property affecting water usage on the property;

developing an irrigation management plan using the one or more characteristics for the property, the irrigation management plan being applied by the irrigation system;

communicatively connecting a controller for the irrigation system with a central computer at a remote location;

implementing the irrigation management plan for the property from the central computer;

monitoring effectiveness of the irrigation management plan using the central computer;

adjusting the irrigation management plan from the central computer to improve the effectiveness of the irrigation management plan;

continuously monitoring the water usage at the property using water usage data communicated to the central computer from the controller;

in response to the water usage data indicating a fault in the irrigation system, identifying a fault type using the water usage data; and

dispatching a technician to the property to repair the fault.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, for each property, determining an estimated savings associated with the irrigation management plan.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, for each property, guaranteeing a property manager for the property a return on investment within a predefined time period as a result of implementing the irrigation management plan from the central computer.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising identifying a location of the fault in the irrigation system using the water usage data.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising identifying the water loss caused by the fault in the irrigation system using the water usage data.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising assigning a severity to the fault.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising assigning a time frame for response to the fault.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the time frame is determined using at least one of:

the severity of the fault;

the location of the fault; and

a weather forecast for the area comprising the irrigation system.