Smart Irrigation Navigating the Market for your Facility

Transcription

1 Objectives and Outcomes: Smart Irrigation Navigating the Market for your Facility Ben Polimer Fields & Grounds Coordinator Town of Weston, MA Better understanding of the decision making process to install smart irrigation systems Understanding smart control versus central control Inventorying your systems Learn about developing bid specifications and budgeting Case Study Town of Weston install 1 2 Do we need a Smart Irrigation Controller? How many controllers do you have? Multiple sites? Multiple locations? Do they function correctly? What are you irrigating? Sportsturf? Lawn? Landscape? All 3? Can we save money, time and manpower with updated systems? Site analysis Photo Courtesy of: Kyle McNerney cf= 7.48 gallons Stuck zone 4 heads ( gallons/min 10pm 6am = 8 hours 8 hours= 480 mins 57,600 gallons= 77 cf 1 cf =$9.84 $

2 $ Multiple Controllers/Locations Current Controller Single Location, Single Controller ex. Stadium Single Location, Multiple Controllers ex. High School/Middle School Complex Multiple Locations, Multiple Controllers ex. Town Wide Irrigation Smart Control versus Central Control One site remote access, flow, etc. Multiple sites remote access, flow, etc. Does it work? Functions you need? New functions? 9 10 Smart Functions? Remote Functions Flow Sensing Rain/Freeze/Wind Shut Off ET Master Valve Tracking & Graphing Reporting Personal Assistant Enabled

3 Remote Functions Remote Functions Mobile Access Desktop Access Ethernet/Wi Fi or Cellular We do cellular: Ethernet not accessible in many locations but has faster responses Cellular hosting= another set of eyes on our systems Yearly reoccurring costs Subject to cellular signal External antennas a must! Flow Sensing Flow Sensor Daily/Monthly Totals High Flow broken head, lateral, mainline Low flow Valve Issues Learn Flow with pumps Running stations for flow=optimizing watering window Set flow=multiple running stations=less time! Potentially increasing pump efficiency and pump life A broken 1 1/2 '' PVC pipe running at 50 psi will discharge over 10,000 gallons in 30 minutes or over 168,000 gallons running for 8 hours. Flow sensors are capable of detecting these leaks to prevent water loss. CST Rain/ Freeze/Wind Sensor ET Rain Shut Off Freeze Shut Off Wind Shut Off Full weather station? Daily ET Rain Irrigation Soil Type Plant Type Irrigation Type Spray Rotor Drip

4 Master Valve Electric valve on Mainline Filling Pipe Normally Open or Normally Closed Normally Open does not prevent mainline issue, but can use snap valves Normally Closed prevent mainline issues timed? Tracking & Graphing Daily Reporting Daily s Alarms and Warnings Daily Run Report Live Data? Daily Reporting Summer Night Sports Turf Fields: July 26th 2018 Fields ,659 Fields ,619 Field 11 9,375 Field 12 8,298 Country School 2,093 Woodland School/Pool 5,000 Brook Soccer 4,264 Alphabet Field 13,119 Total: 124,427 gallons or 166 HCF 1 HCF= $9.84 $1,633 that night!

5 System Inventory Site Assessments Nozzles precipitation rates, coverage Heads leaking seals? Valves/Wiring Pressure Pump? Source municipal or well? Assessment Assessment Assessment The baseball field and field 4 require some attention. Zone 19 is not responding on the outside of baseball fence. A head was also installed behind a light tower and spends a considerable time watering directly into the post. Consider relocating this head to the other side of the post. In addition, there is turf stress showing from half circle heads not properly adjusted for watering the field. Alphabet Field is watering correctly. Use similar nozzles and pair heads with similar watering arcs on the same zone. Zone 10 has half circle heads with #10 light green and #15 grey nozzles. This should be addressed unless it is a purposeful response to sun/shade conditions, low lying areas or soil structure

6 Assessment Conclusion Many components factor into a successful irrigation management program and there are a variety of circumstances which can lead to problems that develop as a result of irrigation. Equipment performance, arrangement of sprinklers, water source and programming play a crucial role in determining the health of the turf and safety characteristics of an athletic field. As a result, irrigation is as essential a component of sports field maintenance as aerification, fertilization or mowing. The truth is that while the solutions above will provide water more efficiently there is far less control once the water reaches the soil. Improving the irrigation is a piece of the puzzle and will help you provide a safe, well conditioned field on a regular basis Developing Specifications Developing Specifications Front End Figuring out what system features you want= layout features without naming the brand. Approved equals (are they really equal?) Propriety equipment? Timing of project Recommend not in July or August. Systems can be down for up to 2 days during installation. Installer Do they know the systems? Can they be a resource after install? Can they make recommendations during the install? Have a site walk through to answer questions, tour sites with potential vendors Municipal Bidding Process Invitation for Bids Instructions to Bidders Form for General Bid Schedule C Similar Project Experience Schedule H Project References Tax Certificate Certificate of Authority Bid Bond Form Payment Bond Owner Contractor Agreement Developing Specifications Scope of Services Irrigation Central Control Installation Project Schedule Site Conditions and Details Guarantees Technical Specifications Developing Specifications Scope of Services Installing smart irrigation controllers, including station modules and cellular communication cartridges for remote access, to thirteen (13) different sites across Weston. Existing controllers are to be removed and retained as property of the Town of Weston. All controllers must be setup and accessible through compatible central control software with remote access. Central control software and first year of service must be included in the base bid. Any further service agreement(s) will be subject to appropriation and exercised at the sole discretion of the Town of Weston. Installing normally closed master valves and flow meters including a flow sensing system compatible with the central irrigation system. Installing a solar power supply unit specifically packaged for irrigation systems to the controller at Alphabet Field. Previously installed DC latching solenoids must be removed and regular AC solenoids installed. Alternate No. 1: Furnish and install in line booster pump for HS Fields 7 to 10 and HS Field

7 Developing Specifications Scope of Services Project Schedule: Bid Documents Due Bid Award Date Project Mobilization Substantial Completion Liquidated Damages? Training? Developing Specifications Scope of Services Technical Specifications: Irrigation central control software Master valve Flow sensor Flow sensing system Guarantees: Irrigation system, parts and labor, 1 year from written acceptance. Standard written manufacturer warranty of products and materials Bid Details: Weston Project: Summer Controllers installed with Flow Sensors, Master Valves, Rain/Freeze Sensors, External Antennas, blow out snap valve, 2 systems pumps, 1 solar charging system, eliminate 1 controller, pull wire to close controller reduced equipment Encourage bidders to walk sites better understanding of logistics Contract Cost: Base Bid $59,860 Pump Alternate $13,000 CO1 $3,980 Project Total $76, Weston Project: Change Order #1 12 Controllers: 7 Sports Turf Fields 1 Sports Field/ Town Pool Lawns 1 Lawn/Landscape Community Center 1 Lawn/Landscape High School Courtyard 1 Lawn/Landscape Police Station 1 Landscape Only Department of Public Works Adding 4 QC to large systems for blowout: $875 Wireless Rain/Freeze Sensors: $1650 External Antenna: $1450 Total: $3,980 *Added in 2018 Large Sports Turf Field/ Lawns Decoder System

8 As Builts Maps As Builts Binder and Digital

9 How do we use our system? Had some previous experience with central control before this project. This is not typical. Weather based irrigation on landscape areas. Not sports turf! Central control for 1 click shut off. Daily s can pinpoint issues in field (valves), can send crew to problem. Water Window reduced 6 to 7 hours with multiple zones running. Use municipal water town wide can give town officials up to the minute water usage info No more driving around town changing controllers on Friday s for weekend watering. Rain/freeze sensors work! No more stuck valves system based on flow will shut down system. No public perception issues with flooded fields. I do not have enough data yet 1+ years in to say if we have saved water This year? Adding remote quick disconnects to each strong box. Quicker than iphone. Better on startup in spring. Irrigating around new synthetic field landscape and JV Football Field 26 zones, drip for landscape beds, sprays for lawns, large rotors for JV football field, 2 wire decoder system with central control. 15 controllers! What did we learn? Better understanding of the decision making process to install smart irrigation systems Understanding smart control versus central control Inventorying your systems Learn about developing bid specifications and budgeting Case Study Town of Weston install

10 Questions & Thank You! 55 10