WO2009049361A1

WO2009049361A1 - Water resource management system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2009049361A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/001523
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nigel Hennessey; Peter Carl Moller
Original assignee: Aquaspy Group Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-16
Filing date: 2008-10-16
Publication date: 2009-04-23

Abstract

A system for managing a water resource for irrigating a region is disclosed. An embodiment of the system includes plural soil moisture content sensors, a communications network and a system controller. Each soil moisture content sensor provides a sensed signal encoding moisture content information for a soil medium at a respective irrigated area of the region. The communications network communicates with the soil moisture content sensors to receive one or more of the sensed signals. The system controller is in communication with the communications network and processes the moisture content information encoded in one or more of the received sensed signals with other sensed information to provide, for one or more of the irrigated areas, a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation.

Description

WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

This international patent application claims priority from Australian provisional patent application 2007905656 filed on 16 October 2007, the contents of which are to be taken as incorporated herein by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly relates to a system and method for managing an available water resource for irrigation applications, such as applications involving providing irrigation to a population of resource consumers. In a typical application the system may be used to manage a water resource by managing water demand for irrigating a populated region, such as a city, a council area or a suburb, or the like.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The impact of climate change and growing populations is expected to increase demand on available water resources, such as dams and river systems. However, in the future it is expected that, in many regions, the availability of water resources for utility purposes, such as irrigation, will be reduced and become more unreliable as average rainfalls reduce, but demand on the resource increases.

In some regions, authorities have imposed conservation measures, such as restrictions on the amount of water available for irrigation use, or restrictions on the times during which water may be used for irrigation. However, such measures typically lead to inefficient use of the available water resources since the times when irrigation is allowed may not correlate with a need to apply irrigation. In addition, such measures may lead to consumers saturating (in other words, over irrigating) an irrigated area, such as a garden or lawn area, even though the area may have adequate moisture levels as a result of recent rainfall.

In addition to applying conservation measures at an authority level, consumers often apply conservation practices at a lower level to reduce their demand for water, or to comply with restrictions. For example, a consumer, such as a resident, may install and operate an automatic irrigation system which is programmed to irrigate an area, such as a garden or lawn areas for specified periods, such as during a particular day and duration. More sophisticated automatic irrigation systems may include rain sensors, or a "rain switch", for sensing recent rainfall proximate to an irrigated area. Such systems may include an automatic controller which disables or interrupts an irrigation cycle in the event that rainfall is detected by the rain sensor immediately before or during a programmed irrigation period. Such systems may improve the efficiency of water usage. However, because the rain sensor provides a sensed value which is independent of the soil moisture of the soil medium at the irrigated area, such systems typically do not provide a direct or reliable indication of the need for irrigation. Thus, for example, such systems may prevent irrigation during periods where irrigation should have been applied, even though rainfall has been detected, or conversely allow irrigation when irrigation should not have been applied because of adequate soil moisture.

Recently, irrigation management systems have been developed which estimate evapotranspiration (ET) for an irrigated area(s) or region. Such systems model evapotranspiration based on sensed or measured environmental parameters such as solar radiation, wind, and humidity, and then determine an irrigation requirement based on the processing of those parameters. Although such systems provide a more sophisticated approach over rain sensor based systems, evapotranspiration systems provide questionable accuracy since they rely on a modelled, rather than actual, irrigation measures. In addition, such systems do not validate the accuracy of the model.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a system and method for managing a water resource, particularly in the context of an irrigation system, which is provides an improved indication of an irrigation requirement.

There is also a need for a system which provides a user or authorities with information which is indicative of irrigation water usage for an area(s) or region so that the user or the authority can make informed decisions concerning that use. The discussion of the background to the invention herein is included to explain the context of the invention. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in any country as at the priority date of the application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides system for managing a water resource for irrigating a region, the system including: plural soil moisture content sensors, each soil moisture content sensor for providing a sensed signal encoding moisture content information for a soil medium at a respective irrigated area of the region; a communications network for communicating with the soil moisture content sensors to receive one or more of the sensed signals; and a system controller in communication with the communications network, the system controller for processing the moisture content information encoded in one or more of the received sensed signals with other sensed information to provide, for one or more of the irrigated areas, a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation. The system may further include one or more environmental sensors located in or near the one or more the irrigated area(s). Each environmental sensor may communicate to the system controller a sensed signal encoding environmental information. The one or more environmental sensors may include one or more of: a. a temperature sensor; b. a humidity sensor; c. a wind speed sensor; d. a wind direction sensor; e. a rainfall sensor; f. a barometric pressure sensor; and g. a leaf wetness sensor. In an embodiment that includes one or more environmental sensors, the other sensed information may include the encoded environmental information received from a respective environmental sensor.

In another embodiment, the system further includes one or more utility sensors arranged to sense an operating parameter having a value attributable to the operation of a water supply system for supplying water to the irrigated area(s). The supply system may include, for example, one or more water pumps and a water distribution network, in which case the one or more utility sensors may include one or more of: a. a water flow sensor for sensing a water flow at a location within the distribution network; b. a mains pressure sensor for sensing a mains pressure at a location within the distribution network; c. a pump pressure sensor for sensing a pump pressure of a water pump in the distribution network; and d. an engine speed sensor for sensing the engine speed of a pump in the distribution network.

In an embodiment that includes one or more utility sensors, the other sensed information may include the sensed value of the operating parameter received from a respective utility sensor.

In yet another embodiment, the system further includes one or more soil condition sensors for sensing a condition of the soil medium at the irrigated area(s). In such an embodiment each soil condition sensor may communicate to the system controller a sensed signal encoding soil condition information. The one or more soil condition sensors may include one or more of: a. a soil temperature sensor; b. a salinity sensor; and c. a soil pH sensor.

In an embodiment that includes one or more soil condition sensors, the other sensed information may include the encoded soil condition information received from a respective soil condition sensor.

In an embodiment, the system further includes one or more demand sensors for sensing the demand on the water resource for irrigating the irrigated area(s). Each demand sensor may communicate to the system controller a sensed signal encoding demand information. The one or more other demand sensors may include one or more of: a. a water meter sensor for providing a sensed value indicative of the water use at the irrigated area(s) for irrigation; and b. a water meter sensor for providing a sensed value indicative of the total water use at the irrigated area(s), the total water use including use for irrigating an irrigated area and use for another application at that irrigated area.

In an embodiment that includes one or more demand sensors, the other sensed information may include the encoded demand information received from a respective demand sensor.

An embodiment of the system may also include a valve controller for controlling the supply of water to the irrigated area(s). The valve controller may be configured to communicate with the, or another, communications network to receive a respective control output from the system controller so that the valve(s) can be operated in accordance with a respective control signal to control the supply of water to the irrigated area(s).

The present invention also provides a method of managing a water resource for irrigating a region, the method including: providing plural soil moisture content sensors, each soil moisture content sensor for providing a sensed signal encoding moisture content information of a soil medium at a respective irrigated area of the region; communicating with the soil moisture content sensors to receive one or more of the sensed signals; and processing the moisture content information encoded in one or more of the received sensed signals with other sensed information to provide, for one or more of the irrigated areas, a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation. The present invention also provides an irrigation controller, including: an input interface for communicating with plural soil moisture content sensors to receive, from each soil moisture content sensor, a sensed signal encoding a value of soil moisture content information; a processing means for processing the moisture content information encoded in one or more received sensed signals with other sensed information; and an output interface for outputting a separate control signal associated with each of at least one of the soil moisture content sensors, each control signal depending on the processing.

The present invention also provides a computer programmed with a software program in memory, the software program including instructions which are executable by the computer to cause the computer to: receive, from plural soil moisture content sensor, a sensed signal encoding a value of soil moisture content information associated with one or more irrigated areas; process moisture content information encoded in one or more sensed signals with other sensed information to provide, for the one or more irrigated areas associated with the sensed signals, a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation.

The present invention also provides a software system embodied in a software system architecture, the architecture including: a data layer for obtaining and processing encoded information from plural sensors, the plural sensors including soil moisture content sensors and other sensors associated with an irrigated area; a management layer for manipulating the encoded information and/or the processed encoded information and applying heuristics to the manipulated information to execute at least one action, the at least one action including providing a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation; a presentation layer for supporting user interaction with outputs of the data layer and the management layer. Embodiments of the present invention may improve water resource management, or at least provide an improved understanding of efficient irrigation approaches. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in relation to various examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it must be appreciated that the following description is not to limit the generality of the above description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1A is a simplified block diagram of a system for managing a water resource for irrigating a region according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1 B is a more detailed system block for a system for managing a water resource for irrigating a region according to an embodiment of the present invention which incorporates features of the system of Figure 1 A; Figure 2 is a block diagram for an example connectivity scheme between a cluster of soil moisture content sensors and a communications network suitable for incorporating in the system embodiment shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of another example connectivity scheme between a cluster of soil moisture content sensors and a communications network suitable for incorporating in the system embodiment shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing various functional elements of the system of Figure 1 A and Figure 1 B in block form;

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example configuration of an irrigated area suitable for an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example configuration of an irrigated zone according to an embodiment of the present invention and that includes multiple irrigated areas of the type shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a diagram showing a region comprising multiple irrigation zones;

Figure 8 shows another example configuration of an irrigated area;

Figure 9 is a display of a region including an overlay identifying zone boundaries for different irrigation zones within the region;

Figure 10 is an example of a display output indicating the status of the distribution of soil moisture content for the irrigation zones shown in Figure 9; Figures 11 to 14 are block diagrams for systems according to embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 15 is an architectural diagram of a software application suitable for incorporating in a system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 16 is a block diagram of a module of the software application of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a block diagram of another module of the software application of Figure 15; Figure 18 is a block diagram of yet another module of the software application of Figure 15;

Figure 19 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with a embodiment which incorporates the software application of Figure 15; and

Figure 20 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a local controller suitable for incorporating in a system embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1A and Figure 1 B show block diagrams for an embodiment of a system 100 for managing a water resource 102 (ref. Figure 1 B) for irrigating a region. The system 100 includes plural soil moisture content sensors 105, a communications network 106, and a system controller 108 (shown here as a centralised management system).

In the present case, each soil moisture content sensor 105 provides a sensed signal encoding moisture content information of a soil medium at respective irrigated areas 110a, 100b, 100c of the region. In the illustrated example, soil moisture content sensors 105 are provide for a region including irrigation areas 110a, 110b, and 110c.

The region may include, for example, a city, a town, a community, an estate, a council area, a county, a municipality, or the like. Alternatively, the region may include a sparsely populated region such as an irrigation district, a farm, an agistment, a catchment area, or the like.

Any suitable soil moisture sensor 105 may be used. One example of a suitable moisture sensor 105 is described in International Patent Application PCT/AU2007/001348, the contents of which are to be taken as herein incorporated by this reference.

Multiple soil moisture content sensors 105 may be arranged, or packaged, in a single soil moisture "probe" which provides a sensed signal encoding soil moisture level information for multiple soil moisture content sensors. Such a soil moisture "probe" may be inserted into the soil medium so as to obtain values of soil moisture for different levels, or soil depths.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the soil moisture content sensors 105 are geographically dispersed throughout a populated region, such as a city, a town, a suburb, a district, or a council or municipality. However, as previously explained, the region may be an unpopulated region, such as a water catchment area, or a sparsely populated region, such as an irrigation district.

As shown in Figure 1A, plural sensors 105 may be arranged in an array, cluster, network, or group of sensors 105, such as group 200, with each arrangement located at a respective irrigated area of the region, which in this example is irrigated area 110b. Such an irrigated area may include, for example, a residential location (such as a house), a recreation park (such as a sports field, a golf course, or a park). Each irrigated area will typically include one or more irrigation devices, such as sprinklers, sprayers, drippers, taps, or the like which are controlled by an actuator 114, such as a valve controller.

The communications network 106 will be suitable for communicating with each sensor 105 so as to receive one or more sensed signals. Each sensor 105 will preferably include suitable communications hardware and/or software which support data communication with the communications network 106. International Patent Application PCT/AU2007/001348 describes an example of suitable communications hardware and/or software.

As shown in Figure 1A and Figure 1 B, the communications network 106 may include a wired communications network, or a wireless communications network, or a combination of wired and wireless communications networks. Suitable examples of communications networks include a mobile telecommunications network (such as a GSM network, a CDMA network, or a 3G network), a switched data packet network such as an TCP/IP network (such as the Internet, a Wide Area Network, or a Local Area Network), a radio network (such as a AM wireless network, an FM wireless network, a UHF network or the like) or a or satellite communications radio and system. In the example depicted in Figure 1A, the communications network 106 includes a wireless communications network including communications infrastructure 120, which may include, for example, a GRPS base station, a 3G base station, a WiFi "hotspot", or the like. Figure 1A and Figure 1 also depict one example of a wired communications network for irrigated area 110c. The wired communications network between the system controller 108 and a local controller 116 having an associated sensor 105. In the example shown in Figure 1 B, the local controller 116 may perform similar functions to that of a system controller 108 in that it may receive other sensed information stored on the database 124 (or another external data source) via, for example, the communications network 106 (including the internet 122), and process that information with soil moisture information from the associated sensor 105 to provide a control output to an associated actuator 114. It will of course be appreciated that the depicted example is exemplary and any suitable wired or wireless communications network may be used.

Turning now to Figure 2, as previously described the soil moisture content sensors 105 may be arranged individually or as a group or cluster 200 of soil moisture content sensors 105. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the soil moisture content sensors 105 are arranged as a group or cluster 200 of soil moisture content sensors 105 which communicate with the data node 202, in a similar manner to the arrangement depicted for irrigated area 110c of Figure 1A. In the illustrated example, the data node 202 may provide or support connectivity with a local computer 204 (such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, or the like) equipped with a suitable operating system and application software. It is possible that the local computer 204 may also serve as the system controller 108 or indeed as a local controller 116 embodying the functions of the system controller 108 (in which case the local controller 116 may be regarded as the system controller 108).

In an embodiment, the data node 202 includes a data logger which captures and records, in real-time, or near real time, the sensed signals from the soil moisture content sensors 105 and stores information encoding the soil moisture values in a memory which is accessible to the local computer 204 for processing.

The local computer 204 may be configured to display, in a graphical form, information indicative of, or derived from, each soil moisture sensor 105 of the group or cluster 200 of soil moisture content sensors 105. The local computer 204 may be used to program operating parameters of the soil moisture content sensors 105, or to conduct diagnostic tests of each soil moisture sensor 105.

In the present example, the local computer 204 is a client computer in data communication with a computer network, such as the internet 122, to thereby form the communications network 106 for communicating the sensed signals encoding soil moisture content information to the system controller 108 (ref. Figure 1 B) via the internet 122 in the event that the local computer 204 is not also the system controller 108. Alternatively, the local computer 204 may obtain other sensed information from an external source, such as the database 124, via the internet 122 (ref. Figure 1 B).

Still referring to Figure 2, each of the soil moisture content sensors 105 is connected to the data node 202 via a cable using a suitable communications protocol. Examples of suitable communications protocols may include a serial interface protocol, such as RS232, RS422, RS-485, or USB, or a switched data packet based protocol such as IEEE802.3 Ethernet. It will of course be appreciated that the connection between the soil moisture content sensors 105 and the data node 202 need not be a wired connection. Indeed, in other embodiments the connection between the soil moisture content sensors 105 of the and the data node 202 is provided by a short range wireless communications interface such as a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, IrDa or the like. Other communications interfaces may also be suitable.

It will also be appreciated that the communications network 106 may include other computers or communications equipment for communicating sensed signal to the system controller 108. For example, and as shown in Figure 3, the communications network 106 may include mobile computers 300, 302 (such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant, or laptop computer) that support wired or wireless data communication with the data node 202. Referring now to Figure 1 B, the system controller 108 may include a server computer (shown as the centralised management system) or a "local" controller 116 equipped with suitable hardware and software items for receiving, from the communications network 106, the sensed signals encoding soil moisture content information and for processing the encoded soil moisture content information with other sensed information. As shown In Figure 1A and Figure 1 B, the other sensed information may be derived from other types of sensors 107 located at the irrigated area (such as irrigated area 110b) or region, or from a database 124, or other external data source, containing stored sensed information, such as historical meteorological information for the region. One example of a suitable system controller is an IBM compatible desktop computer equipped with a Windows based operating system and suitable application software. An example architecture for a suitable application will be described in more detail later. The processing of the soil moisture content information and the other sensed information, provides, for the one or more of the irrigated areas 110, a control output 112 for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource 102 for irrigation purposes. In this respect, an embodiment of the present invention may provide a "decision support system", in the form of a closed loop system, which processes sensed data from multiple sources to form irrigation control decisions automatically, or ask the user for input when necessary. Consequently, some embodiments of the present invention are expected to reduce the reliance on specialised personnel, such as agronomists, to monitor data. By way of an example, and with reference again to Figure 1A, in one embodiment the control output 112 may include an alarm which is generated (or triggered) in response to a sensed value of soil moisture content falling outside a predefined range or set point associated with a particular soil temperature value sensed by a temperature sensor (such as temperature sensor 107) located at an irrigated area, such as irrigated area 100b. In other words, an embodiment of the system 100 may store predefined relationships between a range of values of soil moisture content and a range of soil temperature values so that the control of the control 112 output depends on the sensed value of soil moisture content and the sensed value of temperature.

A control output 112 in the form of an alarm may be generated in response to the soil moisture content value from a soil moisture content sensor 105, or a set of soil moisture content values from a cluster 200 of soil moisture content sensors 105, exceeding a predefined set point for a particular sensed soil temperature value. Such an embodiment may improve the management of the water resource by using the control output 112 to trigger, for example, a programmed irrigation cycle to be interrupted in response to sensing a soil temperature at which the effectiveness of irrigation may be reduced by evaporation effects.

The predefined relationships between the range of values of soil moisture content and the range of soil temperature values may vary according to different soil types, profiles and the like. The alarm may include, for example, a visual alarm (such as a graphically displayed alarm) or an audio alarm, or a combination of a visual and an audio alarm.

In an embodiment in which the system controller 108 outputs a control output 112 in the form of an alarm, the system controller 108 may include suitable hardware and software for accepting predefined parameter values, such as predefined relationships between values of soil moisture content and values for one or more other types of sensed information, and for processing the soil moisture content information with other sensed information to provide, for the irrigated area(s), the control output 112 for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource 102 for irrigation.

Typically the predefined parameter values will be entered into the database 124 which may also contain operational or configuration information for each sensor 105. The predefined parameter values may indicate, for example, a maximum soil moisture content value above which irrigation to an irrigated area should be disabled or interrupted (for example if an irrigation cycle is already in progress) for a particular value (or values) of other sensed information. Controlling the demand for the utility water resource for irrigation based on the control output 112 may involve an automatic or manual control process. For example, for a control output 112 in the form of an alarm, the control output 112 may be electronically communicated to a user, such as a resource consumer, via any suitable means, to notify the resource consumer to manually disable an irrigation system. The resource consumer may include, for example, a residential home occupier, a farmer, a sports field manager, a grounds keeper, a gardener, a green keeper, a property manager or the like.

Communication of the control output 112 to a user may involve electronically communicating the control output 112 to a communications device (such as a mobile phone, a mobile computer, a desktop computer, a PDA, a laptop computer or the like) associated with or accessible to the resource consumer in the form of an electronic text message (such an SMS message, an eMail message, an Instant message, an MMS message or the like). Alternatively, as shown in Figure 1 B, the control output 112 may be automatically communicated to the local controller 116, such as an irrigation controller, which then receives and processes the control output 112 and takes an appropriate action. For example, the local controller 116 may be responsive to the control signal 112 to operate an actuator 114, such as a valve controller, which interrupts or disables an irrigation cycle that has been initiated by the local controller 116.

Thus, in the present invention controlling demand for the water resource 102 for irrigation is achieved by regulating access to the water resource 102 based on the soil moisture content of the soil medium at the irrigated area(s) and other sensed information.

Regulation may be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, and with reference again to Figure 1 B, the control output 112 may be in the form of a control signal encoding control information which is communicated to a device, such as an actuator 114 (for example, a valve controller), which regulates supply of water from the water resource 102 to an irrigated area 110. Such an embodiment may be suitable, for example, for a "retrofit" type installation to an irrigation system which includes an existing irrigation controller configured to operate valves in accordance with a conventional time-based irrigation schedule. In such an embodiment, the control output 112 may be used to control a "switch" (such as a relay) which can be activated to isolate the valve from the irrigation controller and thus interrupt, or prevent commencement of, an irrigation schedule which would otherwise occur. In another embodiment, the control output 112 may be in the form of a signal encoding control information which is communicated directly to the local controller 116 so as to provide the local controller 116 with information associated with the irrigation cycle. For example, the control output 112 may "program" the local controller 116 with information specifying optimum irrigation times, set-points, or thresholds (such as soil moisture content thresholds) defining limits for interrupting a programmed irrigation cycle.

In some embodiments the control output 112 may be communicated to a pump controller 126 which controls the operation of a pump 126 for distributing the water resource 102 throughout the water distribution network 127. Thus, in some embodiments, the other sensed information processed with the sensed soil moisture content information may be information derived from sensed signals obtained from utility sensors which sense operating parameters of the water distribution network 127. For example, the system 100 may include one or more utility sensors, such as a water flow sensor 130, for sensing water flow 128 at one or more locations within the distribution network 127, and/or mains pressure at one or more locations within the distribution network 127, and/or pump pressure of a water pump in the distribution network, and/or an engine speed sensor for sensing the engine speed of a pump in the distribution network 127. It will be appreciated that other operating parameters may also be sensed and processed with the sensed soil moisture content information.

The system 100 may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or processing systems. In particular, the functionality of the system controller 108 (ref. Figure 1 ), in either the form of a centralised management system, such as a server computer, or a local controller 116 may be provided by one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the above described functionality, either separately or in a networked arrangement. One embodiment of a suitable computer system is show in Figure 4. The computer system 400 includes one or more processors, such as processor 410. The processor 410 is connected to a communication infrastructure 420. The computer system 400 may include a display interface 430 that forwards graphics, texts and other data from the communication infrastructure 420 for supply to the display unit 440. The computer system 400 may also include a main memory 450, preferably random access memory, and may also include a secondary memory 460.

The secondary memory 460 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 470, magnetic tape drive, optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive 480 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit 490 in a well known manner. The removable storage unit 490 represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc.

As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit 490 includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software in a form of a series of instructions to cause the processor 410 to carry out desired functionality. In alternative embodiments, the secondary memory 460 may include other similar means for allowing computer programs or instructions to be loaded into the computer system 400. Such means may include, for example, a removable storage unit 500 and interface 510.

The computer system 400 may also include a communications interface 520. Communications interface 520 allows software and data to be transferred between the computer system 400 and external devices. Examples of communication interface 520 may include a modem, a network interface, a communications port, a PCMIA slot and card etc. Software and data transferred via a communications interface 520 are in the form of signals 530 which may be electromagnetic, electronic, optical or other signals capable of being received by the communications interface 520. The signals are provided to communications interface 520 via a communications path 540 such as a wire or cable, fibre optics, phone line, cellular phone link, radio frequency or other communications channels.

An advantage of the present invention is that it may provide a means for improving the management of a water resource. In particular, it is expected that the present invention will result in improved demand side management of a water resource for irrigation applications. Use of a water management system and method according to the present invention is thus expected to result in water savings compared to existing approaches. Moreover, since a reduction in water demand also leads to a reduction in the volume of water which is moved from the water resource 102 to the irrigated areas 110 (ref. Figure 1 ), the present invention may also result in a reduction in energy use, and thus also a reduction in green house gas emissions.

In view of the above, an embodiment may generate output information which is indicative of a volumetric water saving or usage resulting from the operation of the system 100, and compare that information with an allocation of a water, such as an irrigation budget. The output information may be generated by the system controller 108, or another computer having access to the database 124. An embodiment may calculate a volume of water saving and correlate that value with a value of energy use. For example, the system 100 may calculate the amount of energy used in pumping water throughout the water distribution network and then compare the resultant value with an energy allocation. In the present example, the system 100 converts the difference between the allocated and actual energy use, or indeed the budgeted and actual water use, into an economic value which can be used as an instrument of trade. For example, the instrument of trade may be a carbon credit. However, it is also possible that the system may convert a water saving into an instrument of trade in the form of a transferable water right.

Having converted the energy or water difference value to an economic value which can be used as an instrument of trade, the system 100 may then automatically or manually trade the instrument of trade using an exchange 132 so as to convert the instrument of trade into currency, stock, or carbon exchange. Alternatively, the instrument of trade may be provided to an entity (such as a partner organisation), that requires carbon credits to offset against carbon credit deficits they may have. As described earlier, the irrigated areas 110 of the region may include homes, sports fields, recreational parks and garden and the like. Each irrigated area 110 may include a single soil moisture content sensor 105 or it may include multiple soil moisture content sensors 105. By way of example, Figure 5 shows an example installation 500 including three soil moisture content sensors 105 for a home garden. An example of a region 600 (which in this example is an estate) containing multiple installation 500 is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 7 shows an example of a city region 700 including multiple irrigated areas. In the illustrated example, the region 700 includes multiple irrigated areas 500 which are located in irrigation zones 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712 of the region 700. An embodiment that arranges irrigated areas in zones is expected to provide further advantages in that it may allow parameter thresholds or predefined ranges to be defined for each zone. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may enable demand control at different levels, namely:

• Domestic - by controlling the operation of irrigation systems, such as automatic irrigation systems;

• Zonal - by monitoring of soil moisture levels in a zone;

• Local - by monitoring and optimising irrigation requirements and forecasts covering a domestic and zonal areas;

• Regional - by monitoring and control over a city suburb; and

• City wide - by providing monitoring and control at City Level.

In addition, since each of the irrigated zones 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712 may have different irrigation requirements, embodiments may provide flexibility in operation.

For example zone 712 may include multiple irrigated areas 500 comprising residential home gardens, each of which may include an associated arrangement of plural soil moisture content sensors. On the other hand, irrigation zone 706 may comprise a single irrigated area having an associated arrangement of plural soil moisture content sensors 105 (such as an arrangement of the type depicted in Figure 8), such as a recreational park and garden. Thus, a region such as a city may be segmented as multiple irrigation zones, each of which may include one or more irrigated areas. By way of example, Figure 9 shows a region 700 divided into multiple zones 900, 902, 904, 906, 908, 910, 912. Each zone may be defined so as to include similar types of irrigated areas, or they may be defined on the basis of existing boundaries, such as roads, natural boundaries (such as a river or creek), suburb boundaries, council boundaries and the like. As described earlier, each zone may have an associated set of predefined ranges or thresholds for the sensed information.

In an embodiment, the system controller 108 (ref. Figure 1 ) processes the soil moisture content information for each zone 900, 902, 904, 906, 908, 910, 912, and processes that information with the respective set of predefined ranges or thresholds to provide a graphical display (on a computer graphics display terminal or the like) mapping the status of the soil moisture content for each of the zones.

Figure 10 shows one example of a suitable graphics display output mapping sets 1000, 1002, 1004, 1006, of predefined ranges or thresholds. In the illustrated example, zone 908, for example, has been identified as having a distribution of soil moisture content indicating that the irrigated areas of the zone 908 are "over wet". Such a graphical display may be provided by a viewing application (herein after the "viewer") provided by the system controller 108, or another computing device (such as a laptop computer) having access to the database 124 and including suitable hardware and software.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, an embodiment of the present invention may provide some or all of the above-described functionality. For example, the complexity of a system according to an embodiment may be tailored to a particular requirement. By way of example, Figure 11 shows a relatively low complexity implementation of a system 1100, in accordance with an embodiment. As shown, the illustrated embodiment includes environmental sensors 1104 which may include, for example temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, wind direction sensors, rainfall sensors, barometric pressure sensors, leaf wetness sensors, or the like. In such an embodiment, the environmental sensors may be located within or in the vicinity of the irrigated area 110 (ref. Figure 1 ) containing one or more of the soil moisture content sensors 105 (ref. Figure 1 ). Each environmental sensor 1104 may communicate to the system controller 108 a sensed signal encoding information for an environmental parameter. In such a case, the encoded information for the environmental parameter is processed with the soil moisture content information. Figure 12 shows a more complex system 1200 in accordance with another embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, an enterprise resource planning application 1202, a property tax application 1206, a water utility application and a cadastral mapping application 1208 have been provided, each of which may be implemented using suitable computer hardware and software. Such an embodiment may be useful, for example, for a council or other authority to calculate property tax based on irrigation water resource usage using, for example, property tax application 1206, and water utility application 1206.

Cadastral mapping application 1208 may be used to register the location of the real property within the region 700, and may include details such as ownership, tenure, location, dimensions and the value of individual parcels of land within the region 700.

Figure 13 shows an embodiment of a system 1300 in accordance with another embodiment. The embodiment illustrated in Figure 13 includes water meters 1302 including communications interfaces (such as a RFID communications interface 1304). Collection of water use data from water meters may be used to generate data for water bills without using agents or collectors. The local controller 116 may include a regulator which can be adjusted to adjust irrigation cycles or set points. It is possible that the system controller 108 may include software for linking water usage/meter readings to the ERP application 1202.

The embodiment shown in Figure 13 may be useful, for example, for a council or other authority to calculate property tax based on total water resource usage using, for example, property tax application 1206, and water utility application 1206, and may also assist in determining the distribution of water usage in terms of the amount of the water resource used for irrigation applications compared to the amount used for other purposes. Figure 14 shows an embodiment of a system 1400 in accordance with another embodiment. The illustrated embodiment is similar to system 1300, but additionally includes a carbon model 1402, and a carbon credit exchange 134.

Such an embodiment may be useful, for example, for implementing a method for carbon trading based on water resource usage. Thus, the illustrated embodiment may link water savings to a model that develops the equivalent

"carbon savings" that could be applied in carbon trading. The illustrated embodiment may also provide links, for example, to a National and International

Carbon Credit Exchange. Figure 15 is a software architecture diagram 1500 for an embodiment of the application software based on a SQL database structure and a .Net framework.

As shown, in this example the application software is structured using a layered approach which provides modularity and openness. The depicted structure may permit, for example, third party developers and customers to create customised extensions to the system, whilst still retaining the core architecture.

In the present case, the application software includes a protected database which is accessible via a common application interface. The common application interface allows the different layers of the software architecture to concurrently read or write to the database without a reduced risk of data corruption.

As shown in Figure 15, the layers include a data layer 1502, a business and management layer 1504, and a presentation layer 1506. In the present example the data layer 1502 obtains and processes data, such as the encoded information from the different sensors. As shown in Figure

15 and Figure 16, the illustrated data layer 1502 includes a communication interface functional module 1508, a data collection and management functional module 1510, and a control functional module 1512. In the present example, the communication interface functional module

1508 is generally responsible for receiving the sensed signals encoding soil moisture information (that is, the "raw data") from the soil moisture content sensors 105 (ref. Figure 1 ) and communicating the control output 112 to actuators (in control applications) as "commands".

The data collection and management functional module 1510 shown in Figure 16 communicates with the communication interface functional module 1508 to collect the raw data, which it then organises into the database 124. It is possible that the data collection and management functional module 1510 may be used, for example, to associate "raw data" with particular users of the system or group the data by irrigated areas or regions. It is also possible that the data collection and management functional module 1510 may be able to collate data from different data sources (including external data sources) for the production of more specific information for, for example, a specific type of user.

An embodiment of the data collection and management functional module 1510 may include an evapotranspiration component or module for collating weather station "raw data" captured from the irrigated area or region, and possibly also data from an external source (such as a "Bureau of Meteorology").

The control functional module 1512 shown in Figure 16 is a common module for outputting the control output 112 to send commands to actuators (such as a relay) and the like via the communications interface functional module 1508. It is possible that the control functional module 1512 may be used, for example, to modify the configuration of telemetry devices or the sensors 105 (such as measurement polling periods) remotely.

Turning now to Figure 15 and Figure 17, the business and management layer 1504 may manipulate the "raw data" and apply heuristics to execute actions automatically, or simply request the user for an action. More specifically, the business and management layer 1504 uses information stored in the database 124 in raw or processed state, and possibly also external data sources, to build more complex data structures or to perform actions. Such actions may involve generating alarms or notifications, or triggering control commands to the telemetry/sensors or actuators.

As shown in Figure 17, in the present example the business and management layer 1504 includes a processing functional module 1514, and an automation and analysis functional module 1516. The processing functional module 1514 may manipulate raw data managed by the data collection and management functional module 1510 and generate new data, such as a water saving estimation based, on valve running time, or volumetric soil measures. In other words, the processing functional module 1514 may use data already stored in the database 124 (or in an external source) to generate a different data set. By way of an example, the processing functional module 1514 may convert soil moisture scaled frequencies from a "probe" into volumetric soil moisture, which depends on soil classification. The automation and data analysis functional module 1516 may perform actions based on the raw data and processed data, and assist in decisions that require user interaction. The automation and data analysis functional module 1516 may capture, for example, specialist knowledge for particular domains, such as Agronomists for Agricultural Research and Development. The automation and data analysis functional module 1516 will typically use processed data to identify important occurrences or events and then notify the user or other software systems, or performs a pre-defined action, or requests a decision from user.

It is possible, for example, that the automation and data analysis functional module 1516 may be used, for example, to automatically decide whether irrigation of a particular irrigated area(s) is necessary or not based on the collected/aggregated data, or if soil conditions in an irrigated area(s) are changing more dramatically than in a closely-located one.

It is also possible that the automation and data analysis functional module 1516 may calculate a value of evapotranspiration for an irrigated area or region automatically based on environmental raw data captured from the irrigated area or region, and possibly also data from an external source which has been collated by the data collection and management functional module 1510. Indeed, in some embodiments a value of evapotranspiration may be calculated for multiple irrigated areas or regions, and used by the automation and data analysis functional module 1516 to automatically identify irrigated areas or regions not following expected patterns for the particular type of crop/soil. Such information may be used in conjunction with sensed soil moisture information from different irrigation area to identify specific areas requiring attention, and thus minimise user involvement.

Having identified an irrigated area requiring attention the system may then communicate an alarm to a user, via a suitable communications scheme, such as SMS.

Turning now to Figure 15 and Figure 18, the presentation layer 1506 may support one or more methods of communicating with users which may include, but not be limited to, web browsers 1800 (ref. Figure 18), mobile phones 1806, emails 1804, a personal digital assistant (PDA) and the like. Other suitable communications methods would also be well known to a skilled addressee.

In general terms, the presentation layer 1506 uses information, events, and data from the business and management layer 1504, and the data layer 1502 to present information to the user, or perhaps other software systems.

The presentation layer 1506 may permit, for example, user access for viewing a variety of information such as, current and historic levels of soil moisture at a particular irrigated area(s), information relating to the data fusion of data from multiple sources (for example, the plural soil moisture content sensors and environmental sensors), spatial analysis and charting, soil moisture analysis (such as a graphical display comparing actual soil moisture with an irrigation template), statistical analysis and charting, weather data and analysis, benchmarking and indicators, reporting, and dashboards and alarms.

In some embodiments, the presentation layer 1506 may permit may permit a user to allocate and/or modify a relationship between a sensor 105 and a valve controller 114. In the present example, the presentation layer 1506 includes a

"presentation interface module" 1808 which provides a consistent programmatic access mechanism to the presentation functions. An advantage of this approach is that different software applications, including those developed by a third party, may be able to use and present the same data in different ways, such as graphs, gauges, text, traffic lights and the like. The presentation interface module 1808 may also provide secure authentication services so that non-authorized access may be denied. Figure 19 shows a block diagram which depicts interfaces between the above described software functional modules of the application software.

Turning now to Figure 20 there is shown a block diagram of an irrigation controller 116 which maybe also be able to operate as a system controller 108. As shown, the irrigation controller 116 includes an input interface 2000

(shown as sensor interface) in communication with plural soil moisture content sensors to receive, from each soil moisture content sensor, a sensed signal encoding a value of soil moisture content information. A processing means 2002 (shown as processing module) is provided to process the moisture content information encoded in one or more received sensed signals with other sensed information. An output interface 2004 (shown as comms. interface) outputs a separate control signal associated with each of at least one of the soil moisture content sensors, each control signal depending on the processing. However, in the present case, the output interface 2004 provides a formatted data signal for communication to the system controller 108 (ref. Figure 1 ), being a signal encoding sensed soil moisture information. The illustrated irrigation controller 116 also includes a memory 2006 for storing executable program instructions and a real time clock 2008.

In view of the above, it will be appreciated that the present invention will provide systems and methods for managing the demand on a water resource for irrigation applications by regulating the supply based on information which is indicative of soil moisture for an irrigated area and other sensed information. However, not only is it expected that the present invention may provide water resource savings, but it is also expected that the present invention will result in a reduction in the energy demands associated with distributing the water resource, and thus also a reduction in green house gas emissions. Thus, it is expected that present invention will have economic and environmental benefits.

Although in the above described embodiments the invention is implemented primarily using computer software, in other embodiments the invention may be implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASICs). Implementation of a hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art. In other embodiments, the invention may be implemented using a combination of both hardware and software.

In conclusion, it must be appreciated that there may be other various and modifications to the configurations described herein which are also within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS

1. A system for managing a water resource for irrigating a region, the system including: plural soil moisture content sensors, each soil moisture content sensor for providing a sensed signal encoding moisture content information for a soil medium at a respective irrigated area of the region; a communications network for communicating with the soil moisture content sensors to receive one or more of the sensed signals; and a system controller in communication with the communications network, the system controller for processing the moisture content information encoded in one or more of the received sensed signals with other sensed information to provide, for one or more of the irrigated areas, a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the plural soil moisture content sensors are geographically dispersed throughout the region.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the system controller includes a data store storing a data structure containing predefined relationships between one or more ranges of soil moisture content values and the other sensed information, and wherein the control output depends on the predefined relationships.

4. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further including one or more environmental sensors located within or in the vicinity of the irrigated area(s), each environmental sensor communicating to the system controller a sensed signal encoding environmental information for an environmental parameter, the one or more environmental sensors including one or more of: a. a temperature sensor; b. a humidity sensor; c. a wind speed sensor; d. a wind direction sensor; r. a rainfall sensor; f. a barometric pressure sensor; and g. a leaf wetness sensor; wherein the other sensed information includes the encoded environmental information received from a respective sensor.

5. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further including one or more utility sensors arranged to sense a parameter having a value attributable to the operation of a system for supplying and/or distributing the water resource to the irrigated area(s), the supply and/or distribution system including a water pump and a water distribution network, each utility sensor communicating to the system controller a sensed signal encoding operating information for an operating parameter, the one or more utility sensors including one or more of: a. a water flow sensor for sensing a water flow at a location within the distribution network; b. a mains pressure sensor for sensing a mains pressure at a location within the distribution network; c. a pump pressure sensor for sensing a pump pressure of the water pump in the distribution network; and d. an engine speed sensor for sensing the engine speed of the water pump in the distribution network; wherein the other sensed information includes the encoded operating information received from a respective utility sensor.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 further including one or more soil condition sensors for sensing a condition of the soil medium at the irrigated area(s), each soil condition sensor communicating to the system controller a sensed signal encoding soil condition information for a soil condition parameter, the one or more other sensors including one or more of: a. a soil temperature sensor; b. a salinity sensor; and c. a soil pH sensor. wherein the other sensed information includes the encoded soil condition information value from a respective soil condition sensor.

7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further including one or more demand sensors for sensing the demand on the water resource for irrigating the irrigated area(s), each demand sensor communicating to the system controller a sensed signal encoding demand information, the one or more demand sensors including one or more of: a. a water meter sensor for providing a sensed value indicative of the water use at the irrigated area(s) attributable to irrigation; and b. a water meter sensor for providing a sensed value indicative of the total water use at the irrigated area(s); wherein the other sensed information includes the encoded demand information received from a respective demand sensor.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 further including a valve controller for controlling the supply of water to the irrigated area(s), the valve controller in communication with the, or another, communications network to receive a respective control output provided by the system controller.

9. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 further including a processing unit for determining an actual amount of water usage for irrigating the irrigated area(s) or region based on the soil moisture sensor information or water meter readings.

10. A system according to claim 9 further including a converter for converting a difference between a budgeted amount of water use for irrigating the irrigated area(s) or region, and the actual amount of water use into an economic value for use as an instrument of trade.

11. A system according to any one of claims 1 or 10 further including a converter for converting a difference between a budgeted amount of energy use for pumping water for irrigating the irrigated area(s) or region and an actual amount of energy used for pumping water for irrigating the irrigated area(s) or region into an economic value for use as an instrument of trade.

12. A system according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the instrument of trade is a carbon credit.

13. A system according to claim 10 or 11 wherein the instrument of trade is a transferable water right.

14. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the system controller further includes a data store for storing soil moisture content set points for each soil moisture sensor, and wherein the set points are programmable by a user.

15. A system according to claim 8 or any one of claims 9 to claim 14 when appended to claim 8 further including an input means for modifying or allocating relationships between the soil moisture content sensors and the one or more valve controllers.

16. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the system controller receives additional data from one or more external data sources and wherein the system controller processes data from one or more external data sources with the moisture content information encoded in one or more of the received sensed signals and the other sensed information to provide, for one or more of the irrigated areas, a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation.

17. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the system is a closed loop system.

18. A method of managing a water resource for irrigating a region, the method including: providing plural soil moisture content sensors, each soil moisture content sensor for providing a sensed signal encoding moisture content information for a soil medium at a respective irrigated area of the region; communicating with the soil moisture content sensors to receive one or more of the sensed signals; and processing the moisture content information encoded in one or more of the received sensed signals with other sensed information to provide, for one or more of the irrigated areas, a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation.

19. A method according to claim 18 further including determining an actual amount of water usage for irrigating the irrigated area(s) or region based on the soil moisture sensor information or water meter readings and converting a difference between a budgeted amount of water use and the actual water use into an economic value for use as an instrument of trade.

20. A method according to any one of claims 1 or 19 further including converting a difference between a budgeted amount of energy use for pumping water for irrigating the irrigated area(s) or region and an actual amount of energy used for pumping water for irrigating the irrigated area(s) or region into an economic value for use as an instrument of trade.

21. A method according to claim 19 or 20 wherein the instrument of trade is a carbon credit.

22. A system according to claim 19 or 20 wherein the instrument of trade is a transferable water right.

23. An irrigation controller, including: a input interface for communicating with plural soil moisture content sensors to receive, from each soil moisture content sensor, a sensed signal encoding a value of soil moisture content information; a processing means for processing the moisture content information encoded in one or more received sensed signals with other sensed information; and an output interface for outputting a separate control signal associated with each of at least one of the soil moisture content sensors, each control signal depending on the processing.

24. An irrigation controller according to claim 23 further including an actuator in communication with the output interface, the actuator being operatively responsive to the control signal.

25. An irrigation controller according to claim 24 wherein the actuator includes a relay module having a switch which is responsive to the control signal to interrupt a signal path between the valve controller and a control system connected to the valve controller.

25. A computer programmed with a software program in memory, the software program including instructions which are executable by the computer to cause the computer to: receive, from plural soil moisture content sensor, a sensed signal encoding a value of soil moisture content information associated with one or more irrigated areas; process moisture content information encoded in one or more sensed signals with other sensed information to provide, for the one or more irrigated areas associated with the sensed signals, a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation.

26. A computer according to claim 25 wherein the computer is a server computer.

27. A computer according to claim 25 wherein the computer is a client computer.

28. A software system embodied in a software system architecture, the architecture including: a data layer for obtaining and processing encoded information from plural sensors, the plural sensors including soil moisture content sensors and other sensors associated with an irrigated area; a management layer for manipulating the encoded information and/or the processed encoded information and applying heuristics to the manipulated information to execute at least one action, the at least one action including providing a control output for controlling, or which is interpretable by a user to control, the demand for the water resource for irrigation; a presentation layer for supporting user interaction with outputs of the data layer and the management layer.

29. A software system according to claim 28 wherein the presentation layer permits the user to allocate and/or modify a relationship between the soil moisture content sensors and valve controllers associated with the irrigated areas.

30. A system for managing a water resource for irrigating a region substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.