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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />irrigation system vendors. Information was gathered from several product <br />vendors and existing system users to help shape the design as it developed. <br /> <br />The completed design included a central computer system with a <br />communications system interface and field satellites (from three to six depending <br />on vendor) to allow field control of approximately 80 watering zones. System <br />features included the ability to communicate with field satellites via hard wired <br />connection, telephone lines, or trunked or point-to-point radio. An additional <br />requirement was that the system interface with a local weather station <br />automatically and use the weather station information to automatically calculate <br />the irrigation requirement for the next watering cycle based on <br />evapotranspiration. We also asked for a remote dial-in capability and for the <br />ability to access the system from the field using either two-way radio or cellular <br />phone. <br /> <br />The bidding process involved vendors representing the two major manufacturers ' <br />in the market, MotorolaIToro and Rainbird. The successful bidder for the project <br />ended up being a Rainbird vendor, Turf Irrigation Systems, Incorporated. They <br />were very helpful in working through the pitfalls of trying to integrate the latest in <br />"cutting edge" technology for this project. The Rainbird system was assembled <br />using six field satellites with 8 to 21 zones associated with each satellite for a <br />total of 82 zones under computer control. The communication system selected <br />was point to point radio from the field satellites to the central computer and <br />telephone modem from the central computer to the weather station. This still left <br />the capability to also communicate with future off-site field satellites via <br />telephone and with closer future field satellites via a hard wired connection. <br />This also made available the capability for remote access to the system by dial- <br />up modem for convenience of checking problems or operating the system <br />without having to be physically present at the keyboard. ' <br /> <br />Due to the potential for damage to system components both by CMHIP patients <br />and by community school kids who cross through the campus, we had to specify <br />that the field satellites be protected by a sturdy stainless steel NEMA enclosure <br />with locking capability. We also protected the weather station by surrounding it <br />with a 6 foot high chain link fence at an appropriate distance away to avoid <br />interference with the weather station sensors. <br /> <br />The most difficult part of the project was the installation of the system which was <br />done by CMHIP facilities maintenance staff. Reductions in staff and an increase <br />in project workload from the time the grant was received to the time that <br />installation could take place made timely scheduling of the installation difficult. <br />The individuals that were involved with the project from the CMHIP Grounds <br />Maintenance, Electrical Maintenance and Mechanical Maintenance shops <br />realized the significance of the project and the potential for savings in labor as <br />well as water when implemented and undertook a heroic effort to get the system <br /> <br />2 <br />