Heuristic simulation software

Presented at Meeting irrigation demands in a water-challenged environment: SCADA and technology: tools to improve production: a USCID water management conference held on September 28 - October 1, 2010 in Fort Collins, Colorado.Includes bibliographical references.A modern computer-based simulation tool in the form of a game for on-farm water management has been developed for application in training events for farmers, irrigators, irrigation extension specialists, and students. This training tool can be used to analyze both strategic and operational issues related to the management of on-farm water resources, and automatic analysis of the results to provide feedback to the trainees. It utilizes an interactive framework, thereby allowing the trainee (or player) to develop scenarios and test alternatives in a convenient, risk-free environment. It employs heuristic capabilities in a simulation approach for modeling all of the important aspects of on-farm water management that are essential to effective planning. The daily soil water balance, crop phenology, root development, and a seven-day weather forecast, can be monitored by the player throughout the simulated growing season. Different crop types, water delivery methods, and irrigation methods are made available to the player. Random events (both favorable and unfavorable) and different strategic decisions are included in the game for more realism and to provide potentially more challenging game play. Scoring and recommendations are provided at the end of the game, based on the management decisions made by the player

USCID fourth international conference

Presented at the Role of irrigation and drainage in a sustainable future: USCID fourth international conference on irrigation and drainage on October 3-6, 2007 in Sacramento, California.Includes bibliographical references.New and detailed hydraulic laboratory measurements for a 3-foot Cutthroat flume with four different throat widths were collected and analyzed. It was found that there is no definitely observable transition submergence at which the regime changes from free to submerged, and vice versa. It was also found that no hysteresis effect on the calibration is observable in the 3-ft Cutthroat flume when moving from low to high submergence, or from high to low submergence. The laboratory data demonstrate that previously published transition submergence, St, values do not accurately describe the hydraulic behavior of this Cutthroat flume because St is not constant for given flume dimensions — it varies with flow rate. Various criteria were applied to the laboratory data to define the curvilinear relationship of St with flow rate, thereby providing a more accurate application of the traditional free- and submerged-flow equations, in those cases where their continued use is desired. The observed St at the maximum discharge in each of the four throat widths was strongly correlated with the previously published St values

Micro-irrigation manifolds

Presented at Upgrading technology and infrastructure in a finance-challenged economy: a USCID water management conference held on March 23-26, 2010 in Sacramento, California.Includes bibliographical references.A completely numerical design procedure for micro-irrigation manifolds was developed based on a variation of the hydraulic grade line method. The procedure determines pipe diameters and lengths for telescoping manifolds to minimize pressure variations and improve discharge uniformity. A computer program which implements the procedure is a free download from a web site. The software can accommodate a list of available pipe diameters and other parameters and options to constrain the design results within feasible limits, and it produces a graphical display of the design

BIE6300 - Irrigation & Conveyance Control Systems, Spring 2004

This is a course regarding measurement of flow rates and water levels. Calibration, design, and selection of open-channel flow measurement structures. Design of irrigation conveyance and distribution system infrastructure

BIE6110 - Sprinkle & Trickle Irrigation, Fall 2003

This is a course regarding technical design and evaluation of pressurized agricultural irrigation systems, including system layout, pipe sizing, water applicator selection, pumping system hydraulics, water filtration requirements, and water application uniformity and efficiency

Water reuse model development and application

Supporting the water demand for various water users, in the growing world is a big challenge in many parts of the world, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. To address this problem different techniques are being investigated and practiced. Reuse of treated wastewater for agriculture is one of these techniques that is considered in many countries. However, reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation can be challenging and many factors should be considered in any reuse project. Water reuse effects on soil salinity, crop yield, and environment (pollution of ground water and surface water) are some of the important factors that should be considered. A new user-friendly mathematical model was developed in VB.NET to address some of the challenges of reuse of treated wastewater. The new model is developed for comparison of various scenarios of water reuse, in aspects such as crop yield, surface and groundwater pollution due to phosphorus and nitrogen, as well as water conveyance and pumping requirements. This model is composed of three sub-models: the first sub-model calculates the daily water and salt balance considering factors such as irrigation and rainfall, deep percolation, runoff, groundwater contribution and ponded water based on irrigation method and crop yield. The second sub-model calculates the nitrogen and phosphorus balance in the root zone area. The third sub-model estimates the pumping and conveyance requirements based on the land topography. The feasibilities of various water reuse projects in Cache County, Utah were studied, using this new model. The details of the model, input and output data as well as the results from the case study in Utah and how they could benefit the user, are described in this study. The model described herein is a useful and convenient tool to help decision makers analyze various aspects of reuse of treated wastewater. An important conclusion from the results analysis of the model is, even though reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation and uptake of nutrients by the crops could result in less water pollution, without good management a large amount of nutrients will be released into the surface waters

Review of Planning Distribution Model (PDM) status and application possibilities for the Egyptian irigation system

The comprehensive water management Planning Distribution Model, or PDM, was developed by the Biological and Irrigation Engineering Department, Utah State University (USU), under contract with the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). Most of the work was carried out in the Planning Sector, Ministry of Public Works and Water Resources (MPWWR) , in Cairo, under the Planning Studies and Models Component of the USAID funded Irrigation Management Systems Project

Cutthroat Measurement Flume Calibration for Free and Submerged Flow Using a Single Equation

A series of detailed laboratory measurements were made under steady-state flow conditions through a 0.914-m (3-ft) Cutthroat flume in an attempt to more accurately define transition submergence for four standard throat widths. It was found that the change from free to submerged flow, and vice versa, is gradual and that there is no easily observable transition point. The gradual transition between the flow regimes suggested a new calibration approach in which a single equation could more elegantly and more accurately fit the laboratory measurements, eschewing the need for separate free- and submerged-flow equations, and obviating the need to define transition submergence. Such an equation was found, providing greater calibration accuracy up to 95% submergence in 0.914-m Cutthroat flumes

USCID fifth international conference

Presented at the fifth international conference on irrigation and drainage, Irrigation and drainage for food, energy and the environment on November 3-6, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah.Includes bibliographical references.The Logan and the Blacksmith Fork irrigation systems in the Cache Valley, Utah, convey water distribution through earthen canals. Previous researchers and local water masters reported the existence of seepage problems in these canals, but there is very little knowledge of the amount of seepage, and of the spatial locations and temporal variation of these losses. The present study provides a better understanding of the seepage behavior within and between these canals throughout the irrigation area, as these canals pass through a varying landscape, including agricultural fields, steep slopes, marshes, and residential areas. Measurements of the canal seepage were performed from June to October, 2008. The inflow-outflow method was used to measure steady-state seepage loss rates in selected canal reaches, using an acoustic flow meter. As a result, seepage gaining streams, losing streams, and gaining-losing streams were identified. Spatial and temporal variation of the seepage was observed. In this regard, spatial variation was observed along the canals whereby a descending trend of the mean seepage loss was found in the downstream direction. Spatial variation was also found between canals because the reaches on canals located in the eastern part of Logan City presented higher seepage losses than those of the canal reaches in the western part of the city. Moreover, temporal variations were identified in that a monthly comparison of seepage losses within reaches indicated higher seepage losses in late July and August. Additionally, comments about the performance of the acoustic flow meter are presented in this paper