This is a guest blog post written by Alfred Dilluvio. Having held conservation positions in both the Klamath and Daniel Boone National Forests, Alfred has a deep appreciation for the natural world. Joining Aqua Turf in 2014, his chief objectives are the introduction of smart irrigation controllers and the development of more sustainable business practices.
Alfred Dilluvio
Aqua Turf Irrigation Systems LLC
Evolve or perish has long been the overarching mandate for all living things. When an organism develops characteristics which enable its survival, usually as a result of environmental pressure, other species occupying similar ecological niches are forced to develop new traits. It is this constant changing, or adaptation, which often drives evolution and specialization. Companies and businesses are not all that different; especially when it comes to new technology or the introduction of new products. If something is introduced that works very well, other companies will often produce something with similar design and functionality. Sometimes, a product (or group of products) will reign at the top for many years before another one is engineered to challenge it. That is precisely what is happening in the irrigation industry, especially in the realm of system control. Wi-Fi based smart irrigation controllers and intuitive applications are challenging the biggest names in the Irrigation Industry. One small company from Colorado is leading the way, introducing features designed to save water, money, and time. Rachio has effectively engineered a device that I believe will become the benchmark for all subsequent irrigation controllers. Additionally, it is my hope that this innovation will kick start an industry that has long remained dormant, content to introduce so much of the “same old thing.”
The intent of this piece is not to slam the irrigation industry, as the methods for delivering water to landscapes have certainly been improved since the start of automated irrigation. On site soil and moisture sensors have long been used to save both water and money by interrupting regularly scheduled irrigation events. Additionally, different types of emitters have been both redesigned and enhanced to water more efficiently. It is really just the controllers that have been without significant improvement. And this lack of development has certainly not been limited to the controller’s functionality. I am most frustrated by the fact that they have remained, for the most part, an unnecessarily complex interface of dials and buttons. It should therefore come as no surprise that people don’t like touching their controllers, and usually avoid doing so at all costs. There is no reason, at this point in time, for someone to be intimidated by the technology keeping watch over their homes or properties. The interfaces pioneered by tech companies like Apple have set the standard for user friendliness and intuitiveness. Here is an opportunity for a technology company to introduce a new species of controller, and by doing so, hopefully spur a reaction by the entire industry, to evolve or perish.
Let’s take a moment to examine the ways in which new smart controllers will change the game. By providing friendly applications and remote scheduling from any web enabled device, users are empowered to get involved with their irrigation systems without spending an inordinate amount of time or money doing so. And why not get involved with your lawn sprinklers? Mismanagement can result in costly water bills or a dry, brown, lawn. The major players in the irrigation industry have never given users or contractors a controller that is “easy” to use. And no one has ever given people the ability to manage their systems from anywhere with a free application that is brilliantly designed. It is my sincere hope that the irrigation industry reacts to this new technology by making it the new standard and incorporating it in high profile system design. It is also my hope that traditional controllers lacking this technology be phased out, similar to the extinction of species no longer capable of survival.
If the convenience and user friendliness of this device is not enough to inspire a change from the status quo, let’s consider that it is specifically designed to save both water and money, both things we all could use a little more of. Traditional controllers know nothing about your landscape, and they leave irrigation totally up to the knowledge or guesswork of whoever is taking care of the lawn or plantings. New smart controllers have developed different ways to generate watering schedules based on landscape profiles which are created during configuration. They aim to put back only as much water is lost by the soil and plant life. Irrigation should be a sustainable practice, and one that doesn’t break your bank. If traditional irrigation timers, which require changes to be input at the controller site, were all replaced by this new breed of smart controllers, we would be saving water, fuel, and money, effectively putting the “green” back in the green industry.
Rachio and other companies coming out with similar technology realize that the best way to make automatic changes to irrigation schedules is to connect the device to local weather. By inputting a zip code during wifi configuration, the controller knows where it lives. This allows it to regularly suspend or vary irrigation schedules as needed according to the local weather. Also, the use of regular push notifications can alert property managers or homeowners when irrigation schedules have been altered. The peace of mind afforded by such a feature cannot be discounted. Once again, this new breed of controller communicates what is going on with your lawn/garden and presents you with an ability to manage it more effectively.
Everything costs more nowadays. Water is no longer cheap or abundant. Efforts for conservation and preservation are omnipresent. With issues like this effecting humanity on a global scale, we have to rely on the brightest minds and the best technology to give us the best products. I believe the Rachio Iro, and other controllers like it, are a monumental step in the right direction, and I hope they inspire a dramatic shift in thought. Evolve or perish; it’s as simple as that.
Evolve or perish has long been the overarching mandate for all living things. When an organism develops characteristics which enable its survival, usually as a result of environmental pressure, other species occupying similar ecological niches are forced to develop new traits. It is this constant changing, or adaptation, which often drives evolution and specialization. Companies and businesses are not all that different; especially when it comes to new technology or the introduction of new products. If something is introduced that works very well, other companies will often produce something with similar design and functionality. Sometimes, a product (or group of products) will reign at the top for many years before another one is engineered to challenge it. That is precisely what is happening in the irrigation industry, especially in the realm of system control. Wi-Fi based smart irrigation controllers and intuitive applications are challenging the biggest names in the Irrigation Industry. One small company from Colorado is leading the way, introducing features designed to save water, money, and time. Rachio has effectively engineered a device that I believe will become the benchmark for all subsequent irrigation controllers. Additionally, it is my hope that this innovation will kick start an industry that has long remained dormant, content to introduce so much of the “same old thing.”
The intent of this piece is not to slam the irrigation industry, as the methods for delivering water to landscapes have certainly been improved since the start of automated irrigation. On site soil and moisture sensors have long been used to save both water and money by interrupting regularly scheduled irrigation events. Additionally, different types of emitters have been both redesigned and enhanced to water more efficiently. It is really just the controllers that have been without significant improvement. And this lack of development has certainly not been limited to the controller’s functionality. I am most frustrated by the fact that they have remained, for the most part, an unnecessarily complex interface of dials and buttons. It should therefore come as no surprise that people don’t like touching their controllers, and usually avoid doing so at all costs. There is no reason, at this point in time, for someone to be intimidated by the technology keeping watch over their homes or properties. The interfaces pioneered by tech companies like Apple have set the standard for user friendliness and intuitiveness. Here is an opportunity for a technology company to introduce a new species of controller, and by doing so, hopefully spur a reaction by the entire industry, to evolve or perish.
Let’s take a moment to examine the ways in which new smart controllers will change the game. By providing friendly applications and remote scheduling from any web enabled device, users are empowered to get involved with their irrigation systems without spending an inordinate amount of time or money doing so. And why not get involved with your lawn sprinklers? Mismanagement can result in costly water bills or a dry, brown, lawn. The major players in the irrigation industry have never given users or contractors a controller that is “easy” to use. And no one has ever given people the ability to manage their systems from anywhere with a free application that is brilliantly designed. It is my sincere hope that the irrigation industry reacts to this new technology by making it the new standard and incorporating it in high profile system design. It is also my hope that traditional controllers lacking this technology be phased out, similar to the extinction of species no longer capable of survival.
If the convenience and user friendliness of this device is not enough to inspire a change from the status quo, let’s consider that it is specifically designed to save both water and money, both things we all could use a little more of. Traditional controllers know nothing about your landscape, and they leave irrigation totally up to the knowledge or guesswork of whoever is taking care of the lawn or plantings. New smart controllers have developed different ways to generate watering schedules based on landscape profiles which are created during configuration. They aim to put back only as much water is lost by the soil and plant life. Irrigation should be a sustainable practice, and one that doesn’t break your bank. If traditional irrigation timers, which require changes to be input at the controller site, were all replaced by this new breed of smart controllers, we would be saving water, fuel, and money, effectively putting the “green” back in the green industry.
Rachio and other companies coming out with similar technology realize that the best way to make automatic changes to irrigation schedules is to connect the device to local weather. By inputting a zip code during wifi configuration, the controller knows where it lives. This allows it to regularly suspend or vary irrigation schedules as needed according to the local weather. Also, the use of regular push notifications can alert property managers or homeowners when irrigation schedules have been altered. The peace of mind afforded by such a feature cannot be discounted. Once again, this new breed of controller communicates what is going on with your lawn/garden and presents you with an ability to manage it more effectively.
Everything costs more nowadays. Water is no longer cheap or abundant. Efforts for conservation and preservation are omnipresent. With issues like this effecting humanity on a global scale, we have to rely on the brightest minds and the best technology to give us the best products. I believe the Rachio Iro, and other controllers like it, are a monumental step in the right direction, and I hope they inspire a dramatic shift in thought. Evolve or perish; it’s as simple as that.
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