Irrigation Design Outline Procedures

 

The following is a guideline for the sequential steps necessary for an irrigation design. While it is not necessary to follow these steps precisely, it is best for the User to follow this sequence of design until they are more familiar with the process of Land F/X.

 

Step 1 – Project Irrigation Manager

When the site is ready for an irrigation plan, use the Project Manager to open an existing project or create a new one. With the appropriate project active, open the Irrigation Manager.

 

Step 2 - Source Data

If the source for the irrigation system is a given, such as a specific water meter size with no options, enter the Source Data.

 

If the source for the irrigation system is flexible, it is best to enter the source data when all the heads are laid out, and a Flow Total is run.

 

Step 3 – Pipe Data

Enter the Pipe Data for the type of lateral line and mainline pipe, and the design requirements for the pipe.

 

Step 4 – Add Components to the Project

Add the Irrigation Components to the project, including the heads, valves, and auxiliary equipment.

 

Step 5 – Place Heads into the Drawing

Place the heads into the drawing.

Watch the video on placing heads.

Watch the video on placing spray heads.

Watch the video on placing rotors.

F Remember: Do NOT use the AutoCAD Copy command to copy a head after you have piped to it.

 

Step 6 – Flow Total

Use the Flow Total function to determine the Flow Total required for the heads placed. Compare this requirement with your Source Data to determine the size and number of Zones and Circuiting.

 

Step 7 – Circuit and Zones

Use the Circuit function to divide the heads placed into logical zoned areas.

 

Step 8 – Initial Mainline and Service Layout

To help determine to locations of the control valves for each zone, layout a schematic mainline. This process includes:

§	Placement of quick couplers or hose bibs as desired throughout the site.

§	Approximate schematic layout of the mainline from the point-of-connection location to the quick couplers, and where valves are generally intended. This is done with the LI‑PIPE-MAIN‑NPLT layer.

§	Placement of a control valve for each zone.

§	Placement of water meter (or Point of Connection) and the backflow device.

F Remember: Do NOT use the AutoCAD Copy command to copy a valve after you have piped to it or labeled it.

 

Step 9 – Lateral Line Piping

Pipe the lateral lines to connect the heads within a particular zone to the related valve for that zone.

Watch the video on piping.

 

After piping the heads for a particular zone, use the Highlight Station function at the valve to verify that the desired heads are correctly piped and connected to the valve.

Watch the video on Highlight Station.

 

Step 10 – Verify Lateral Piping

After piping all of the heads to their related valves in the project, use the Verify Piping function to ensure that you have not missed any heads.

Watch the video on Verify Piping.

 

This function can also highlight “apparent intersections” which will require the Insert Pipe Arc function to insert arcs into the piping.

Watch the video on inserting pipe arcs.

 

Step 11 – Sizing the Lateral Lines

Size the lateral lines either one valve at a time, or all valves at once.

Watch the video.on lateral line sizing.

 

Step 12 – Pipe Label Organization

After sizing the lateral lines, start at each valve and organize the pipe labels that need to be moved, added, or deleted.

Watch the video on organizing pipe labels.

 

Step 13 – Mainline Piping

Draw the mainline from the water meter, or point-of-connection, to the backflow device, and generally along the schematic mainline layout path, connecting the mainline to each valve and quick coupler (or hose bib).

 

Step 14 – Verify the Valves

Verify that the valves and quick couplers are correctly connected to the mainline. This function also checks to see if all valves are called out.

Watch the video on verifying valves.

 

Step 15 – Label the Valves

Use the Valve Callout function to label the valves as required.

Watch the video on labeling valves.

 

Step 16 – Size the Mainline

Size the mainline at the water meter or point-of-connection. A Critical Analysis Report is generated after sizing the mainline, which reports on the pressure and flow requirements of the system.

 

If the mainline cannot size because some of the valve stations require more flow or pressure than is available, either add a booster pump, change a head type, or re-design some of the lateral systems as required. If a booster pump is added, delete the mainline around where it is going, then re-pipe the mainline in each direction as required.

Watch the video on sizing the mainline.

 

Step 17 – Label the Mainline

When Land F/X sizes the mainline, the pipes are sized and color coded, but no pipe labels are automatically placed by the program. This is purposely done to allow the Designer to add the mainline sizes manually where they think is best. Use the pipe label tools to add labels as required.

 

Step 18 – Cleanup the Mainline

The mainline drawn will be plotted as a heavy dashed line. As it is drawn, it may interfere with some of the lateral piping, heads, or other equipment. Use the Mainline Break function to break the mainline at places where it interferes with other items.

 

Step 19 – Associate Details with Irrigation Components

If you wish the Irrigation Schedule to refer to a detail for each irrigation component, associate a detail with the various irrigation components.

 

Step 20 – Irrigation Schedule

Place an Irrigation Schedule where required.

Watch the video on creating an irrigation schedule.