Reducing Water Consumption and Improving Operations for Farms
Project Context
From the city: “Prior to SFpark…parking rates and fines were used to achieve turnover goals through short time limits as well as, often, to increase revenues to balance budgets. Rates were not tied to transportation policy goals, and rates at on-street meters were the same all day every day, regardless of demand. Meter rates were set lower than the rates at municipal garages, giving drivers financial incentive to circle to find on-street parking. The historical approach…has been reasonably effective, but it is not convenient for drivers, nor does it explicitly manage towards creating parking availability and thereby achieving broader goals for the city or its transportation system.”
“How cities manage parking really matters, as how we manage parking can help us be more successful as a city. When parking is difficult to find, many people double park or circle to find a space. This circling doesn’t just waste time and fuel—it’s also dangerous. Circling drivers are distracted drivers making lots of right and left turns who are more likely to hit someone crossing the street, a cyclist, or another car.”
“Parking also affects economic competitiveness—if very few spaces are available, fewer people can access our commercial districts. The reality or even just the perception that it is hard to find a parking space in a particular area can hurt its economic vitality.”
Project Goals and Strategies
Reducing Water Consumption and Improving Operations for Farms
Project Context & Goals
Monarch Valley Farm wanted a wireless solution that would automatically deliver water to their crops, control irrigation, test soil moisture at multiple depths, protect against water leaks, and develop a continuous feedback loop telling them how much water was being delivered to the roots.
Fybr’s Role
Fybr partnered with this 1,250-acre farm in California to test and demonstrate how innovative technology could help the world’s largest producer of plums improve operations, reduce costs, and improve crop yield.
Fybr designed, manufactured, installed, and maintained the farm’s agricultural IoT solution —including a low-powered wireless network and multiple types of sensors to collect data in real-time and provide control of irrigation systems. The sensors and software intelligently analyzed the data via algorithms that interpreted how much water is being absorbed and signal actuators in irrigation valves to open or close based on the current conditions.
Project Outcomes & Reflections
Highly accurate soil moisture data showed that a lot of water was going beyond the root system and being wasted.
With the ability to more efficiently monitor water usage, consumption was reduced by up to 50%.
The farm’s irrigation system was able to be easily managed via an iPad utilizing Fybr’s user interface.
Yield increased due to the ability make faster and better informed decisions based on real-time data.
The project showcases how IoT can be applied to farming and agriculture.