The HOA Board Quarterly Winter 2013 Issue #8 | Page 8

Web Based Smart Controllers-Irrigation Timers
By Steve Economou

Benefits to HOAs
Increasingly, HOAs are turning to web-based irrigation controllers,
also called timers, as a streamlined way to save significant amounts of
water and money. Web-based controllers give precision information,
flexible scheduling and extensive alerts that get delivered to and
from centralized systems and can even deliver information to smart
phones for remote operation. A professional landscape maintenance
company should be expected to understand, control and manage this
technology.
Capabilities
Web Based Smart Controllers are remote, wireless irrigation products
that use the power of the Internet and mobile devices. Most systems
consist of the following:
• Wireless Network Units - handheld devices for field work
• Sensors - for flow and water level information
• Software - on the Internet, plus there may be apps to install on
mobile devices
• Support - professional support to install and maintain your system
How it works
Most smart irrigation solutions employ a weather and evapotranspiration
formula to apply water. You define information such as plant type,
soil, sprinkler head precipitation rates and sun exposure, and then
the system software automatically recommends the best watering
schedule for your landscape. The success of the system and the
amount of water saved is closely, perhaps most importantly, tied to
how well your landscape company inputs, updates and manages this
information.
Central Management Using Web or Cloud Based Technology
A smart irrigation system will manage your site without requiring a
dedicated computer. You will be able to alter irrigation schedules,
control and change water zones, and program irrigation stops and
starts. You will be able to track water consumption through detailed
statistical reports and charts. Being able to export this information to
spreadsheets then allows further capabilities.
Remote Access from smart phones
You can also access and manage your irrigation from a smart phone.
Vendors provide free apps for most popular brands, like iPhone,
Blackberry, and Android.
Changing conditions
As weather cycles through seasonal rain patterns and through multiyear periods of wet and dry, your system will continue to give you
feedback about the effect on your water use. Having this information
allows you to fine-tune the management of your HOA water usage.
If you re-landscape an area, you will update the conditions in the
software and the program will change watering times, etc.
Weather data sources
Smart irrigation depends on having accurate weather sources in order
to function properly. Most vendors partner with organizations, such as
NOAA and Weather Underground, to gain access to forecasting as
well as the extensive network of weather stations. This data is part of
the calculations used to create watering schedules, then to close the
loop by using feedback on actual events.
Automatic Failure Alerts and Notification
The systems can automatically detect faults in pipes, valves,
solenoids, and sprinkler heads. A smart controller should notify the
user of detected malfunctions via email and text messages. The best
smart irrigation solutions may even automatically detect and manage
events by shutting off zones in case of a broken sprinkler head.

8 | The HOA Board Quarterly | Issue #8 | Winter 2013

Evaluation Points
Ease of Use
Every company develops what they think is an easy-to-use system.
Explore this yourself. Any new system will take some education so
take your time. What you are looking for is telltale signs that this
software was developed without an “end-user” perspective. Look for
places where there seem to be too many buttons pushed, or too many
steps to make changes to the alerts and controls.
Ease of Maintenance
There are three areas to consider: how much time does system
maintenance require, who can do it and will the vendor do it? Upon
installation, there will be an intense period of adjustment and a
learning curve. Be prepared for it. Ask about what level of expertise is
required to maintain the system and ensure that someone within your
vendor’s organization is well trained.
Remote Access
Create a typical scenario and find out if t