TWDB Inovative Tecnologies for Agriculture - ITA
The Harlingen Irrigation District has received a $249,000.00 grant from the Texas Water Development Board under the Innovative Technologies for Agriculture (ITA) program to develop low cost automatic canal gates, low cost canal water level sensors and low cost soil moisture sensors. The project is a two year project witch began in October 2008. Below is a list of the tasks associated with the project.
Task 1 - Low Cost Automatic Gates for Irrigation Canals
The control system hardware and software will be developed based on readily available electronic and mechanical components. The electronic and hydraulic components of the system will be tested at Harlingen Irrigation District’s FMC and modified accordingly, using test software developed for the purpose. Quality assurance and quality control will be verified. Five gates will be installed in the field and the SCADA system software will be modified accordingly. Data will be collected on the operation of the gates in regard to number of operation to failure, changes in power required to operate, failure mechanisms, and other applicable measurements. Documentation, including manuals and drawings, will be prepared and presented at one or more public meetings. The proposed activities under this task are listed below.
- Prototype Design
· System Design and Engineer Drawings for Gates and Control System
· Part Specifications and Purchasing
· Hydraulic and Electronic Testing at FMC Facility
· Development of Test Software (software programming)
· Development of Control Software (hardware programming)
· Actuator Failure Testing
· Electronic Testing of Control System
· Test Analysis and Changes to Prototype
· QA/QC and Verification
· Field Installation, Assessment of Performance, and Field Modifications
· Installation and Testing of 5 Gates
· SCADA System HMI Software Modifications Required for Communication with Device, Data Recording, and Display of Measured Information
· Documentation, Meetings, Administration
· Final Drawings, Specifications, Installation Manual, etc.
· Meetings and Presentations
· Administration, Reproduction, Misc.
Task 2 - Low Cost Water Level Measurement using RF Telemetry
The proposed water level measurement device will be based on RTU/PLC that uses one or more industry standard communication protocol such as MODBUS or DNP. This device will be used as the automatic gate controller for Task 1 and the field level soil moisture transmitter for Task 3. Quality assurance and quality control will be verified. Ten devices will be installed in the field and the associated SCADA system software will be modified accordingly. Data will be collected on the operation of the device in regard to power required to operate, failure mechanisms, and other applicable measurements. Documentation, including manuals and drawings, will be prepared and presented at one or more public meetings. The proposed activities under this task are listed below.
· Prototype Design
· System Design and Engineer Drawings for Device
· Part Specifications and Purchasing
· Hydraulic and Electronic Testing in Lab
· Development of Test Software (Software Programming)
· Development of Software to Control Processor (Hardware Programming)
· Environmental Test (Temperature)
· Electronic Testing of RF System
· Test Analysis and Changes to Prototype
· QA/QC and Verification
· Field Installation, Assessment of Performance, and Device Modifications
· Installation and Field Test of 10 Devices
· SCADA System HMI Software Modifications Required for Communication with
Device, Data Recording, and Display of Measured Information
· Documentation, Meetings, Administration
· Final Drawings, Specifications, Installation Manual, etc.
· Meetings and Presentations
· Administration, Reproduction, Misc.
TASK 3 - Soil Moisture Management using RF Telemetry
There are a number of commercially available soil water sensors based on the resistance, thermal, or dielectric (capacitance) properties of water in soil. These sensors are available either singly or as multi-sensor probes (MSP) that simultaneously measure soil water at a number of depths. A prototype circuit board that can read a number of different sensors, including the SDI-12 protocol, has been developed as part of a funded project at University of Delaware. Software, RF transmission and a graphical touch-screen interface has also been developed. This prototype system will be modified to incorporate the RF technology developed for water level measurement in this proposal and adapt it to irrigation methods used within the region. A system will be installed and used to monitor soil water content at various depths under typical grower management. The data will be displayed on a conveniently located touch-screen display and also made available over the internet so that it can be viewed elsewhere. Feedback will be solicited from growers to determine the type and format of information that would be of most benefit to them as they make irrigation decisions. The proposed activities under this task are listed below.
The proposed tasks are:
- Prototype Design
· System Design and Engineering Drawings
· Development of New or Modification of Existing Software to Control Processor
· Part Specifications and Purchasing
- Electronic Testing in Lab
· Development of Test Software (software programming)
· Thermal Testing
· Test Analysis and Changes to Prototype
· QA/QC and Verification
- Field Installation, Assessment of Performance, and Device Modifications
· Installation of Test Unit
· SCADA System HMI Software Modifications Required for Communication with
Device, Data Recording, and Display of Measured Information
· Incorporation of Recommendations from Agricultural Producers
- Documentation, Meetings, Administration
· Final Drawings, Specifications, Installation Manual, etc.
· Meetings and Presentations
· Administration, Reproduction, Misc.