HydroPoint WeaterTRAK ET plus - Appendix C: Site Data Gathering; Introduction

Site Data Gathering
Appendix C: Site Data Gathering
Introduction
HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc. manufactures a line of ET-based
irrigation controllers that allow the user to enter details about their
landscape. The WeatherTRAK Scheduling Engine applies this data to
calculate an efficient irrigation program.
Important:
As with any irrigation schedule, an initial calculation of the schedule
is performed and then adjustments are made to fine-tune the amount
of water used to properly maintain the landscape. These adjustments
may require follow-up visits to a site in order to monitor the
landscape and adjust the controller settings. These visits are vital to
obtaining a proper and efficient schedule for the landscape.
The schedule adjustment process requires a base program calculated
on as much information about the landscape as possible. It is then
adjusted up or down according to the landscape response. The goal is
to adjust the program to the point of slight stress in the landscape
and then adjust if back up slightly to keep the landscape green. This
allows a green landscape while using only enough water to keep it
that way.
One of the parameters a user must enter to calculate an efficient
schedule is a precipitation rate (PR). The following outlined processes
enable a user to gather site information to determine a base
precipitation rate for each station. Fine-tuning this precipitation rate
may be necessary if the irrigation system was not installed to exact
manufacturer standards.
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Appendix C
C
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