The Future Of Agriculture, Computer Irrigation

By Scott White


Irrigation is something that will remain stable for all the years to come. Unlike the other trappings of human civilization, this one seems to be the latest in catching up. Well, of course, you get innovated drainage channels and culverts, but automation seems a little slow in coming. That is about to change, though, with Computer Irrigation.

This one is also alternatively called irrigation informatics, and it is just what it sounds like. It involves the discipline of irrigation, and it modernly uses data systems and information technology. It also has to do with data management and information science and technology, all through the use of computer systems. That can be an incongruous arrangement by itself because it seems that irrigation and computers dont go together. Thats no longer the case, of course.

It can be subsumed under many headings. It may be the operation by itself or else a discipline and academic field. This kind of informatics, as you may guess, is quite a newfangled field. It has multiple, crisscrossing branches as well. It deals with a lot of data and information that are greatly and remotely related to agriculture. It manages these snippets of information while at it.

All in all, it involves automating the whole shebang. It aims to zoom down on the minute details of the operation of the system. There are many components in this system, from the drips to the sprinkles to the surface components, and all these have to be perfectly coordinated. That can be made possible with the help of sensors, timers, and other relevant mechanical and electrical appliances. In this way, the whole operation may be made more efficient.

Technicalities aside, when certain factors and elements are not optimized to their fullest extent, then some resources tend to be wasted. Productivity is also adversely affected, and that can trickle down to other corollaries, such as customer supply shortage, economic losses, and so on and so forth. Therefore, its kind of no wonder how productivity increases are chased by multifarious industries and governments.

General technology aside, we are mostly talking about a control system that is nearly wholly computer based. That means it meshes well both software and hardware. It can be toggled to be fully automatic or just merely interactive. More and more innovations are being created by the day, which allow the operations of these proffered methods without some sort of energy supply. Thats optimization at its finest.

The advantages are literally filled to overflowing here. Because of the nifty automation option, then tedious, manual operation is done away with. Processes are better optimized, and the irrigation frequency and processes are just streamlined, all for the best. Although the knobs and dials can be pretty much complex, it has to be noted that manual operation is a pain in the neck too. New technologies and systems are all leaning towards user friendliness, so in the offing, precluding complexity may be the outstanding boon.

Skilled laborers have to spearhead the operations of the systems, since they can be complex at first, especially with the new developments. And, of course, when not handled properly, then they can malfunction. The repair work has to be carried out properly, or else risk damaging the whole system. Consider how the system works, whether its mechanical or electrical, and then hire the specialists from there. Also, get an estimate on the adequacy or capacity of the system, so that you can use it even more efficiently.

Well, the digression aside, it is still to be owned up to that although irrigation is a mature yet growing and also stable field, theres considerable room for improvement. Its pinpointed that there are gaps in efficiency, and it would be in everyones best interest if these are all filled in. However, theres a limit in which a certain field can improve in a particular area, which is why scientists and innovators are now looking to improve the various disciplines subsumed under it so as to vamp up informatics, production, and in general, gains.




About the Author: