Method and system for controlling an irrigation scheduling engine using computed evapotranspiration values

• US 7,216,020 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HydroPoint Data Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: HydroPoint Data Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Marian, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard; Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US10/977,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 700 17- 20, 700282-284, 702/3, 702/16, 731/701.6, 137/78.2, 137/78.3
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/10 in agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1866 For controlling soil irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

A system for providing irrigation control is provided. The system includes a number of non-local data sources for providing data, a processor and an irrigation system. The processor is configured to receive data from one or more of the non-local data sources and calculate an evapotranspiration (ET) value for an irrigation area that is non-local with respect to the non-local data sources. The processor is further configured to create or alter an irrigation program based on the ET value. The irrigation system is configured to receive the irrigation program from the processor and provide appropriate irrigation control for the irrigation area using the irrigation program.

Claims

1. An irrigation control system comprising:

a plurality of data sources for collecting weather data at a plurality of areas;

a processor receiving the weather data;

the processor calculating a completely populated 4-D grid of weather parameters from the weather data, the 4-D grid comprising x, y, z and time locations;

the processor calculating an ET value at a target location by extracting x, y, z and time locations from the 4-D grid of the weather parameters, the processor further configured to create or alter an irrigation program based on the ET value; and

an irrigation system receiving the irrigation program from the processor, wherein the irrigation system provides irrigation control based on the irrigation program.

2. The irrigation control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of areas are all located outside of an irrigation region in which the irrigation control is being provided, and the target location is located within the irrigation region.

3. The irrigation control system of claim 1, wherein the 4-D grid of the weather parameters are calculated using a numerical weather model.

4. The irrigation control system of claim 1, wherein the 4-D grid is fully bounded in space and time with known starting and ending conditions.

5. The irrigation control system of claim 1, wherein the 4-D grid of weather parameters are calculated using a modified modeling program.

6. An irrigation control system comprising:

a processor retrieving the weather data from a plurality of data sources that collect weather data at a plurality of areas;

the processor calculating a completely populated 4-D grid of weather parameters from the weather data;

the processor calculating an ET value at a target location by extracting x, y, z and time locations from the 4-D grid of the weather parameters, the processor further configured to create or alter an irrigation program based on the ET value; and

the processor providing the irrigation program to an irrigation system located at the target location, thereby allowing the irrigation system to provide irrigation control based on the received irrigation program.

7. The irrigation control system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of areas are all located outside of an irrigation region in which the irrigation control is being provided, and the target location is located within the irrigation region.

8. The irrigation control system of claim 6, wherein the 4-D grid of the weather parameters are calculated using a numerical weather model.

9. The irrigation control system of claim 6, wherein the 4-D grid is fully bounded in space and time with known starting and ending conditions.

10. The irrigation control system of claim 6, wherein the 4-D grid of weather parameters are calculated using a modified modeling program.

11. A method of providing irrigation control comprising:

collecting weather data from a plurality areas;

calculating a completely populated 4-D grid of weather parameters from the weather data;

calculating an ET value at a target location by extracting x, y, z and time locations from the 4-D grid of the weather parameters;

creating or altering an irrigation program based on the ET value; and

controlling irrigation at the target area based on the irrigation program.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of areas are all located outside of an irrigation region in which the irrigation control is being provided, and the target location is located within the irrigation region.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the 4-D grid of the weather parameters are calculated using a numerical weather model.

14. The irrigation method of claim 11, wherein the 4-D grid is fully bounded in space and time with known starting and ending conditions.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the 4-D grid of weather parameters are calculated using a modified modeling program.

16. A method of providing irrigation control comprising:

retrieving weather data from a plurality areas;

calculating a completely populated 4-D grid of weather parameters from the weather data;

calculating an ET value at a target location by extracting x, y, z and time locations from the 4-D grid of the weather parameters;

creating or altering an irrigation program based on the ET value; and

controlling irrigation at the target area based on the irrigation program.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of areas are all located outside of an irrigation region in which the irrigation control is being provided, and the target location is located within the irrigation region.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the 4-D grid of the weather parameters are calculated using a numerical weather model.

19. The irrigation method of claim 16, wherein the 4-D grid is fully bounded in space and time with known starting and ending conditions.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the 4-D grid of weather parameters are calculated using a modified modeling program.