WO2005069177A1

WO2005069177A1 - Method of resource management

Info

Publication number: WO2005069177A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000025
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Dunstone Townsend
Original assignee: Irrigation Control Networks Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Irrigation Control Networks Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-01-13
Filing date: 2005-01-12
Publication date: 2005-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2006-07-13

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of managing the supply of a resource to a site, comprising estimation of a maximum quantity of a resource to be supplied to s site based on an assumed pattern of use of the resource at the site during a first time period; and monitoring and controlling supply of the resource to the site during the first time period based upon the estimated maximum quantity.

Description

Method of resource management.

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method and system of management of resources in order to provide particular resource management outcomes. The present invention has particular application with respect to management of water resources for applications such as irrigation using a combination of agronomic and non-agronomic factors including, but not limited to, financial considerations.

Background of the Invention

In this specification where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

While the present invention is discussed with reference to management of water resources, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited but extends to the management of other types of resources. Furthermore the present invention is discussed with reference to irrigation and again, it is not so limited but extends to other resources and applications such as, the supply of fertiliser and insecticide to crops.

As the world's population increases, there is increasing pressure on supply of certain resources, both natural and manufactured. Accordingly it is necessary to find better, more efficient ways to use and conserve these resources.

Publications such as US 2002/0103688 teach farm management based principally on customisation of crop selection and acreage allocation. US 2004/0073556 teaches resource management planning systems based on the use of geospatial information and dividing a site to be managed into separate planning units then concentrates on the characteristics and concomitant needs of that unit. These publications focus on achieving a management of a site, but not management of the resource to be supplied.

Water is a precious resource in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world due to lack of rainfall and inadequate artesian supplies. Furthermore, even in temperate and tropical regions where rain is regular, water shortages can occur due to inadequate storage. In virtually all areas of the world, irrigation of crops is practiced and constitutes a heavy demand on water supplies.

In respect of irrigation control technology, devices to start and stop irrigation cycles without human intervention (generally known, and referred to hereinafter as "controllers") are well known and are the subject of numerous patents and patent applications. These devices send an electric current (usually 24vAC in horticultural, agricultural or domestic use) to a remote solenoid valve causing the valve to open. Closure of the valve is usually effected by discontinuing the supply of electric current to the solenoid of the valve whereupon the valve is closed by a variety of means not material to the present invention. Most controllers are able to accommodate a number of such valves; opening and closing them in a specified sequence at times and days specified by a user in a procedure generally referred to as a "program" or an "irrigation program". Many of the known devices are capable of storing and executing more than one such "program", thus adding a degree of flexibility into what may be accomplished.

Some controllers are supported by control systems which may involve remote computers and specialist software programs. These control systems are able to impart considerable additional flexibility into the operation of the controllers.

Some of these controllers and their support systems are able to take account of plant water requirements and the meteorological factors determining the rate and amount of water use by the plants being managed. For example, in cool temperate regions these controllers reduce the supply of water during late winter and early spring when rainfall supply to the plants is comparatively high. They may also limit supply of water to the early morning or late evening when plant stomata are open for respiration, but there is no direct sunlight to speed evaporation of water from leaves.

The support systems for controllers may incorporate software that can receive limited input on which to base certain calculations. The purpose of these calculations is to generate a water supply program that effectively minimises water use yet still achieves a required result. For example the result may be a desirable growth rate or appearance in the case of ornamental plants grown for the domestic market, or maintenance of a surface suitable for life-style related areas such as a garden lawn. An adequate water supply program is essential for providing a desirable surface for sporting activities such as tennis (particularly clay court and lawn tennis), golf and cricket where the surface condition has a direct effect on the bounce and spin of the ball, and thus on the quality of the game.

For example, US-6,453,216 relates to a method of controlling an irrigation system that calculates the start time for a watering event based on measuring the rainfall since a prior watering event, and the water requirements of the plants and soil being irrigated.

The effect of using controllers and support systems is that they produce an outcome that, includes increased efficiency of water consumption, but which is almost exclusively centred on the requirements of the plants being irrigated. However, in view of resource shortages, management situations are now being encountered which require the best outcome reasonably possible to be produced in circumstances in which one (or more) of the input resources are in less than optimal supply; or in circumstances in which a manager stipulates the maximum amount of resource to be expended on a particular site over a stipulated period of time. In these circumstances the management system must calculate applications of the limiting resource so as to produce the best outcome reasonably possible. This can be conveniently done in at least two ways:

1. Compare inputs to a template of inputs and prohibit applications in excess of template inputs 2. Allow inputs depending on a number of factors including time remaining in defined time periods during which "ceiling" input is not to be exceeded. This "feedback" method requires the management system to iterate on a set time basis (frequently daily) to decide whether to respond to apparent resource requirement with an actual input of the required resource.

In this way (It has now been found that) more efficient resource management, and concomitant resource savings can be achieved by consideration of other factors both agronomic and non- agronomic. This leads to better management of the resource as a whole, not just management of individual sites or groups of sites that use the resource.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a method of managing the supply of a resource to a site, comprising the steps of:

(a) estimating a maximum quantity of a resource to be supplied to a site based on an assumed pattern of use of the resource at the site during a first time period; and, (b) monitoring and controlling supply of the resource to the site during the first time period based upon the maximum quantity.

The monitoring and supply of the resource according to step (b) may be based upon the maximum quantity and the actual pattern of use of the resource or the assumed pattern of use of the resource. Preferably no more than the maximum quantity of the resource is supplied during the first time period although this is not essential and the maximum may be exceeded.

The method may comprise the additional steps of:

(c) estimating a maximum additional quantity of the resource to be supplied to the user based on an additional assumed pattern of use during a second time period,

(d) controlling supply of the resource to the user during the second time period such that the total quantity of the resource supplied does not exceed the sum of the maximum quantity and the maximum additional quantity.

Typically the resource is a natural resource or a commercial resource. For example the natural resource may include water or phosphate for use on plants. The manufactured resource may include for example, a manufactured substance such as fertiliser or herbicide, or a financial resource. Most typically the resource is water.

Responsibility for management may rest with the user or a larger concern such as a company or government authority responsible for storage, sourcing or producing the resource. For example, water supply may be controlled by private concern or local, regional or national authorities. A regional authority responsible for supply of river water to irrigation farmers, could for example generate the estimates of maximum quantities and additional maximum quantities to be used by farmers.

The present invention allows authorities to manage the resource as a whole, rather than simply periodically allocating quantities of the resource to users with no idea (and no control) of their actual usage patterns and needs.

When the resource is supplied by a private concern or government authority, the present invention may include the additional step of: (e) invoicing or debiting the user with the cost of the total quantity of the resource supplied.

The site supplied may include more than one locale. When the resource is water for irrigation, the user (a farmer) may require the resource for a single field on a farm, multiple fields on a farm, or even multiple farms at different locations.

The first time period and second time period typically correspond to discrete seasons, but may alternatively correspond to calendar months or any other convenient division of time.

The estimated maximum quantity and additional maximum quantity are based on an assumed pattern of use. Typically the assumed pattern would reflect the pattern of use for a 'normal' season. An upcoming season might not be considered normal due to a number of reasons such as predictions of drought or flooding due to the El Nino effect. A number of different parameters can also influence the assumed pattern, including,

• the season,

• local rainfall patterns, • stage of crop development, and

• type of crop.

Other non-agronomic factors include,

• the cost of the resource, and

• an amount of money budgeted for purchase of the resource.

For example, the maximum quantity of water to be supplied for irrigation or crop watering during the first time period, and possibly the second time period would typically be based on the user's normal pattern of water use on a day-by-day, week-by-week or month-by-month basis, appropriate to the time period to be covered. Most farmers would have a recollection or even a record of the pattern of water usage on a particular crop in previous years.

The supply of the resource during the first time period may terminate early due to reaching the estimated maximum quantity before the end of the first time period. In one embodiment of the present invention, once the user has been supplied with the maximum quantity of water estimated for the first time period, the supply of water ceases. The user must then estimate the maximum additional quantity of the resource to be supplied over a second time period. Clearly, this embodiment contemplates the maximum quantity being reached prior to the end of the first time period. The second time period may commence immediately an additional maximum quantity is estimated, that is, before the intended end of the first time period, such that the two time periods overlap.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the user reaches the end of the first time period without having used the estimated maximum quantity of water. This can be taken into account when estimating the additional maximum quantity of water to be used during the second time period. For example, if there was unexpected rainfall during the first time period this could lead to an expectation of further unseasonable rainfall during the second time period, reducing the estimate of the additional maximum quantity.

The monitoring and control of supply of the resource to the site may be based on other inputs which prompt adjustment of the pattern of resource supply during the first time period or the second time period. For example, with respect to irrigation if detectors indicate to the controller that there is heavy rainfall on the crop or that the ground moisture level is very high, the valves will not turn on, even if an irrigation event is due. Alternatively if the ground moisture level is unacceptably low the valves will turn on and an extra irrigation event is initiated over and above the normal pattern of irrigation. In a further embodiment the present invention provides a system for resource management comprising:

(a) a server,

(b) one or more remote terminals in communication with the server, (c) one or more controllers in communication with the server and located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied,

wherein the server,

(i) receives user information relating to a first time period from the one or more remote terminals, (ii) calculates and/or records and estimated maximum quantity of the resource to be supplied to each site in the first time period, and

(iii) monitors and communicates with one or more controllers to control application of the resource for the first time period based upon the user information and/or the estimated maximum quantity.

In addition, preferably the server:

(iv) receives user information relating to a second time period from the one or more remote terminals,

(v) calculates and/or records an estimated maximum quantity of the resource to be supplied to each site in the second time period, and (vi) monitors and communicates with one or more controllers to control application of the resource during the second time period, such that the total quantity of resource supplied to the one or more sites does not exceed the sum of the maximum quantities for the first and second time periods. The server may also have the capability to:

(vii) communicate to the one or more remote terminals information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time.

The information relating to the first time period and second time period typically includes an estimated maximum quantity or an additional maximum quantity respectively. Alternatively, the software may calculate these values from the information provided by the user or other sources.

Typically the software and hardware associated with the on-site controller has the means to store and manipulate information including but not necessarily limited to the following data types:

• chronological data including calendar functionality suitable for recording the first and second time periods and resource supply programs, such as programs for opening and closing valves in a specified sequence at specified times on specified days for watering crops,

• financial data such as the cost of the resource from different sources,

• budgetary data such as the total amount of money to be expended on supplying the resource to the one or more sites,

• agronomic data such as the normal pattern of use of the resource at the one or more sites on a day-by-day, week-by-week or month-by-month basis.

This data may be supplied by the user, or from other data sources, such as a Bureau of Meteorology for weather information, resource suppliers for resource cost data or banks for budgetary data relating to the user. Typically, once in possession of data of this type the controller (or its associated hardware and software) may control applications of the resource such that during the first time period the controller does not supply the user with more than the estimated maximum quantity of the resource, and during the second time period the controller does not supply the user with more than the additional maximum quantity.

This outcome may be achieved by the controlling the supply of the resource in several ways. For example, with respect to supply of water for irrigation, the activities of the on-site controller can be pre-set, or reviewed and updated in real time. Assuming that the controller has received information to supply a maximum quantity of water during a first time period according to a normal pattern of use the controller can manipulate supply by various means to avoid exceeding the maximum quantity. For example the controller can:

• reduce the number of irrigation events and/or reduce the amount of water used in each irrigation event,

• increase the number or irrigation events while reducing the amount of water applied each irrigation event, the mathematical relationship between the number of events and the amount being applied such that it does not exceed the estimated maximum quantity

• decrease the number of irrigation events while increasing the amount of water in each irrigation event, the mathematical relationship between the number of events and the amount being applied such that it does not exceed the estimated maximum quantity, • diverge from the normal pattern or use by varying the number or irrigation events and the amount or water in each irrigation event over the course of the first time period,

• replace the input normal pattern of use with a pattern controlled by any one of a variety of mathematical formulae well known in the technology which manage water expenditures based on a graph of water use, howsoever derived. In a further embodiment the present invention provides a method for resource management comprising:

(a) communicating user information relating to a first time period from one or more remote terminals to a server, (b) communicating control signals based upon the user information from the server to one or more controllers located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied, the controllers supplying the resource until an estimated maximum quantity of the resource has been supplied or until the end of the time period,

(c) communicating user information relating to a second time period from one or more remote terminals to a server,

(d) communicating control signals based upon the user from the server to the controllers located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied, the controllers supplying the resource during the second time period, such that the total quantity of resource supplied does not exceed the sum of the maximum quantity and an additional maximum quantity estimated for the second time period.

The method may also include:

(e) communicating information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time from the one or more controllers to the server, and (f) communicating information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time from the server to the one or more remote terminals.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a system for resource management comprising: (a) a server,

(b) one or more remote terminals in communication with the server,

(c) one or more controllers in communication with the server and located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied,

wherein the server,

(i) receives user information relating to estimated resource use during a first time period from the one or more remote terminals,

(ii) communicates with the one or more controllers based upon the user information to control application of the resource for the first time period, (iii) receives user information relating to estimated resource use during a second time period from the one or more remote terminals, and

(iv) communicates with the one or more controllers based upon the user information to control application of the resource during the second time period, such that the total quantity of resource supplied to the one or more sites does not exceed the sum of the maximum quantity and the additional maximum quantity.

the system including programming code for communicating user information relating to a first time period from one or more remote terminals to a server, - programming code for communicating the user information relating to the first time period from the server to one or more controllers located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied, the controllers regulating the supply of the resource until an estimated maximum quantity of the resource has been supplied or until the end of the time period, programming code for communicating user information relating to a second time period from one or more remote terminals to a server, programming code for communicating the user information relating to the second time period from the server to the controllers located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied, the controllers regulating the supply of the resource during the second time period, such that the total quantity of resource supplied does not exceed the sum of the maximum quantity and an additional maximum quantity estimated for the second time period.

The method may also include: (e) communicating information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time from the one or more controllers to the server, and

(f) communicating information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time from the server to the one or more remote terminals,

and programming code for execution of these steps.

The server for use with the method and system of the present invention may be part of a computer network such as a local area network, a wide area network, a metropolitan area network or a home area network.

Examples

Two embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the following non- limiting examples illustrated by the flow chart in Figure 1.

Example 1 In this example the resource is water, provided to irrigate three tomato crops (sites 1, 2 and 3) at a single farm. The water is drawn from a river that is administered by a government instrumentality responsible for management of the river and its catchment area. The farm owner constitutes the user of the water resource, and intends to use the water to irrigate the tomatoes during summer and autumn.

According to the present invention, the farmer advises a water supplier of his normal pattern of water usage for irrigating equivalent sized tomato crops, including details of the number and timing of irrigation events and the quantity of water used for each irrigation event during summer and autumn. The water supplier enters the information for the summer irrigation into a remote terminal where purpose written software records the normal pattern of irrigation, and based on the assumption that this pattern will be followed in the upcoming summer months, calculates an estimate of the maximum quantity of water to be used during a first time period corresponding to the summer months.

From the remote terminal the information relating to the first time period is forwarded through a server to three controllers each one located at the site of a tomato crop. The information forwarded includes the normal pattern of irrigations, dates and times for each irrigation event and the maximum quantity of water to be used during the summer months. Software associated with each of the controllers initiates opening and closing of water supply valves in accordance with the normal pattern of irrigation. The controller also accepts other inputs and adjusts the pattern accordingly. For example if detectors indicate to the controller software that there is heavy rainfall on the crop or that the ground moisture level is very high, the valves will not turn on, even if an irrigation event is due. Alternatively if the ground moisture level is unacceptably low the valves will turn on and an extra irrigation event is initiated over and above the normal pattern of irrigation. When the quantity of water supplied reaches the estimated maximum quantity for the first time period, the controller maintains all valves in the closed position halting supply of water. The controller also sends a signal back to the remote terminal, via the server, advising the water supplier that the estimated maximum quantity has been supplied plus a record of the pattern of irrigation that was in fact followed. In this example, the supply of water reaches the estimated maximum quantity right at the end of the first time period. The farmer and water supplier can then repeat the method over again for the autumn time period.

Example 2

In a further example, the method above is followed by the farmer and the water supplier but due to unfavourable rainfall the estimated maximum quantity is reached two weeks before the end of the first period that is, two weeks before the end of summer.

The water supplier then enters details of the normal pattern of irrigation for the last two weeks of the summer period and the entire autumn season into the remote terminal. The water authority also inputs further information including forecast weather conditions for the following 14 weeks (last 2 weeks of summer and 12 weeks of autumn) and the actual pattern of irrigation followed during the first period. Software uses this information to calculate a pattern of irrigation appropriate to the second time period and an additional maximum quantity of water to be used during this period.

From the remote terminal the information relating to the second time period is forwarded through the server to the controllers at each of the three tomato crops. The information forwarded includes the new calculated pattern of irrigation, dates and times for each irrigation event and the additional maximum quantity of water to be used during the second period of time. Software associated with each of the controllers initiates opening and closing of water supply valves in accordance with the normal pattern of irrigation. As for the first time period, the controller also accepts other inputs and adjusts the pattern accordingly, but this time it takes into account the quantity of water supplied during the first time period so that the total quantity of water supplied does not exceed the sum of the estimated maximum quantity and the additional maximum quantity. The controller also sends a signal back to the remote terminal, via the server, advising the water authority in real time of the pattern of irrigation that was in fact followed.

The word 'comprising' and forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this description does not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions.

Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1 A method of managing the supply of a resource to a site, comprising the steps of: (a) estimating a maximum quantity of a resource to be supplied to a site based on an assumed pattern of use of the resource at the site during a first time period; and

(b) monitoring and controlling supply of the resource to the site during the first time period based upon the maximum quantity.

2 A method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) the monitoring and supply of the resource is based upon at least the maximum quantity and the actual pattern of use of the resource already supplied during the first time period.

3 A method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) the monitoring and supply of the resource is based upon at least the maximum quantity and the assumed pattern of use of the resource.

4 A method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) no more than the maximum quantity is supplied to the site during the first time period.

5 A method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) the supply of the resource is adjusted progressively during the first period so that no more than the maximum quantity is supplied to the site during the first time period.

6 A method according to claim 1 wherein step (b) more than the maximum quantity is supplied to the site during the first period.

7 A method according to claim 6 comprising the additional steps of: (c) estimating a maximum quantity of the resource to be supplied to the site based on an additional assumed pattern of use of the resource at the site during a second time period; and

(d) controlling supply of the resource to the user during the second time period such that the total quantity of the resource supplied to the site at the expiration of the second time period does not exceed the sum of the estimated maximum quantities for the first and second time periods.

A method according to claim 1 wherein the resource is a natural resource or a commercial resource.

A method according to claim 1 wherein the resource is water.

A method according to claim 1 or claim 7 including the additional step of:

(e) invoicing or debiting the user with the cost of the total quantity of the resource supplied to the site.

A method according to claim 1 or claim 7 wherein the estimated maximum quantity for a site is calculated based on a parameter chosen from the group comprising, seasonal meteorological patterns, local rainfall patterns, stage of crop development, type of crop, cost of the resource, and the amount of money budgeted for purchase of the resource and combinations thereof.

A system for resource management comprising:

(a) a server,

(b) one or more remote terminals in communication with the server,

(c) one or more controllers in communication with the server and located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied, wherein the server,

(i) receives user information relating to a first time period from the one or more remote terminals,

(ii) calculates and/or records an estimated maximum quantity of the resource to be supplied to each site in the first time period, and

A system according to claim 12 wherein the server monitors and communicates with the one or more controller to control application of the resource for the first time period based additionally upon the actual pattern of use of the resource already supplied during the first time period.

A system according to claim 12 wherein the server monitors and communicates with the one or more controller to control application of the resource for the first time period such that no more than the maximum quantity is supplied to the site during the first time period.

A system according to claim 12 wherein the server monitors and communicates with the one or more controller to control application of the resource for the first time period such that the supply of the resource is adjusted progressively during the first period so no more than the maximum quantity is supplied to the site during the first time period.

A system according to claim 12 wherein the server monitors and communicates with the one or more controller to control application of the resource for the first time period such that more than the maximum quantity is supplied to the site during the first time period.

A system according to claim 12 where in the server additionally:

(v) calculates and/or records an estimated maximum quantity of the resource to be supplied to each site in the second time period, and

(vi) monitors and communicates with one or more controllers to control application of the resource during the second time period such that the total quantity of resource supplied to the one or more sites does not exceed the sum of the maximum quantities for the first and second time periods.

A system according to claim 12 wherein the server, (vii) communicates to the one or more remote terminals information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time.

A system according to claim 12 which further comprises software and hardware associated with the on-site controller which has the means to store and manipulate information chosen from the group comprising chronological data, financial data, budgetary data, agronomic data and combinations thereof.

A system according to claim 12 wherein the controller controls supply of the resource such that during the first time period the controller does not supply the user with more than the estimated maximum quantity of the resource, and during the second time period the controller does not supply the user with more than the additional maximum quantity.

A method for resource management comprising:

(a) communicating user information relating to a first time period from one or more remote terminals to a server,

(b) communicating control signals based upon the user information from the server to one or more controllers located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied, the controllers supplying the resource until an estimated maximum quantity of the resource has been supplied or until the end of the time period,

(d) communicating control signals based upon the user information from the server to the controllers located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied, the controllers supplying the resource during the second time period, such that the total quantity of resource supplied does not exceed the sum of the maximum quantity and an additional maximum quantity estimated for the second time period.

A method according to claim 21 which further includes:

A system for resource management comprising:

(a) a server,

(b) one or more remote terminals in communication with the server,

wherein the server,

(ii) communicates with the one or more controllers based upon the user information to control application of the resource for the first time period,

(iii) receives user information relating to estimated resource use during a second time period from the one or more remote terminals, and

the system including programming code for communicating user information relating to a first time period from one or more remote terminals to a server, programming code for communicating the user information relating to the first time period from the server to one or more controllers located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied, the controllers regulating the supply of the resource until an estimated maximum quantity of the resource has been supplied or until the end of the time period, programming code for communicating user information relating to a second time period from one or more remote terminals to a server, programming code for communicating the user information relating to the second time period from the server to the controllers located at one or more sites to which the resource is supplied, the controllers regulating the supply of the resource during the second time period, such that the total quantity of resource supplied does not exceed the sum of the maximum quantity and an additional maximum quantity estimated for the second time period.

A system according to claim 12 wherein the server:

(e) communicates information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time from the one or more controllers to the server, and

(f) communicates information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time from the server to the one or more remote terminals,

and the system includes: programming code for communicating information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time from the one or more controllers to the server, and

programming code for communicates information regarding controller activities and the pattern and quantity of the resource used as a function of time from the server to the one or more remote terminals.