GWDeveloper Irrigation

Total Landscape Care | Pro Publication

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:01:00 +0000

Total Landscape Care magazine contacted me for a few quotes, photos and drawings for an article on creating As-Built Irrigation Drawings. The web version is linked here.

" 1. Map the property.

Obtain a copy of the property survey, or use Google Earth with SketchUp Pro or the web service GoiLawn, to create the basis of your schematic plan. “GPS devices are used to list valve locations, and these can be imported to Google Earth, as well,” says Greg Whitmore, an irrigation system designer and owner of GWDeveloper in Austin, Texas. " -totallandscapecare.net

MP Rotators and Drip Irrigation | Austin, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 23:03:00 +0000

The landscapers for this project firmly believe in conservation. Irrigation for the lawns will use Hunter MP Rotators. Most beds will use drip irrigation while a terraced bed will use MP Rotators again. These are a very versatile sprinkler head.

Coinservative Watering Setup

Commercial Irrigation | Austin, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:39:00 +0000

Commercial properties in Austin, TX need irrigation whether a building is being constructed or not. The lot was cleared and quite dusty. A temporary, above ground irrigation system was needed. These are quick to design. The lot was gps mapped and all trees located as well. The sprinklers used are RainBird Maxi-Bird impact rotors.

Temporary Commercial Irrigation

Full Plan for Permit | Austin, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:23:00 +0000

Areas near Lake Austin and Lake Travis generally require a Reduced Pressure Zone backflow preventer. This design incorporates a Febco 860. The additional loss of pressure will need to be accounted for when running hydraulic calculations.

Simple 6 zones of Irrigation

Hydraulic data for 6 runsets.

A Large Lot | Schertz, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 02:17:00 +0000

This was a really nice property. The backyard was large and used rotors for proper head to head coverage. There is a small vegetable bed along with all flower beds on drip irrigation.

26 Zones in Schertz, TX

Xeriscaping for Conservation | Austin, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 02:31:00 +0000

Xeriscaping is becoming more popular in the Austin area. It's a great way to achieve a nice looking property while conserving the maximum amount of water. The xeriscaped areas are laid with well draining soil, usually tilled with compost, pea gravel, decomposed granite and heavily mulched. Drought tolerant plants, usually succulents, are planted sparsely. Plants with heavier water usage can be planted near gutter downspouts. This way the sprinkler system only needs to run a few minutes occasionally to keep the plants growing properly.

6 zones of Xeriscaping

Quick and Easy Irrigation Plan | Austin, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:17:00 +0000

One of the easier systems for drawing a plan. Only 6 zones and light on the landscaping.

6 zones, quick and easy

Irrigation As-Built | Austin, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:21:00 +0000

Here is a completed as-built cad drawing for a place in Austin, TX. Plenty of shade and minimal landscaping makes for great water conservation.

8 zone sprinkler system

Irrigation As-Built | Blanco, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 01:55:00 +0000

It seems there has been a run of installations in Blanco County that need follow up as-built drawings. Lots of driving and a lot of drawing to get these all completed. 18-24 zone as-built drawings can usually be turned around in 24-48 hours including trip times.

23 Zones, As-built drawing.

Irrigation As-Built | Henly, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:49:00 +0000

As-built drawings are becoming more common. The TCEQ guidelines have changed in recent years and more homeowners and landscapers are calling for as-built drawings. I'll come out to your property and use gps to locate and measure locations of irrigation components. If you're a landscaper or irrigator in Texas, contact me to get updated as-built drawings for you site. It can save a ton of time and trouble later instead of breaking pipes and paying for repairs.

Follow up as-built irrigation design.

Full Design with Landscaping Suggestions | Bastrop, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:30:00 +0000

This was a nice installation in Bastrop, TX. One area of grass was in between a mix of trees. Before sod was laid, we used sub-surface drip irrigation. I'm interested in trying a product from KISSSUSA on my next sub-surface drip grass installation. I'm sure it will work well in high-wind areas.

Irrigation Design for new home.

Irrigation: Concept to Completion | Bee Cave, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 01:48:00 +0000

This plan was completed this week. 15.5 hours start to finish.

The concept begins with locating the property lines, house, beds and distintive features. GPS coordinates are collected as well as relative locating notes.

Irrigation System is designed around landscaping with water conservation as the top priority. Rotor zones use precipitation matched nozzles. Drip irrigation is used whenever possible for flower and vegetable beds. All systems are built to meet local code requirements as well. Backflow prevention devices, filters and moisture sensors are required in most areas now.

Hydraulic data is calculated for each zone, accounting for elevation and friction losses. Pipe sizing is designed to keep costs low while allowing for proper flow with minimal loss. This system uses a looped mainline to decrease expenses and allow for future expansion.

The final plan and parts list is presented to the customer. Drop off service for permitting is also available in most districts.

Scale Model?

Hand Sketch (page of gps coordinates not shown)

Updated and GPS points located

Finishing Lateral Piping and Drip Irrigation

21 Zones , Rotors for the Grass and 5,101 ft of Drip Tubing for Beds

21 Zones, Hydraulics with Parts List

A Tough District | Austin, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:35:00 +0000

Some of the water districts around Austin can be a bit tough to get a plan through. Here's an example showing all they require. The drip zones were split which caused an increase in the number of zones. Drip irrigation is a very efficient, inexpensive method to hydrozone your landscape and gardens.

Plan with Zone Hydraulics

District Water Budget based on Evapotranspiration Rates

Just the Grass | Burnet, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:13:00 +0000

Here's a quick, progressive irrigation plan. The landscaper is only laying grass as this time. Valves and mainline will be installed for irrigation garden beds in the near future.

Just the Grass

Zone Maps | Spicewood, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:50:00 +0000

Managed to finish up two Zone maps for properties in Spicewood, TX. Sure makes it easy when both locations are within a mile of each other. The first is a residential community park and the second is for a home within the community.

16 Zones with mainline and valve locations

30 Zones with Valve Locations

Plan Completion | Austin, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:45:00 +0000

Finished a 21 zone irrigation design for a place in Austin,TX. The landscaping for this plan wasn't too complex. Scanned the hand drawing and used SketchUp to get the property and landscape ready for CAD.

GW

21 Zones Irrigation Design

The hydraulic data was simple to calculate for this one -No drip zones at all.

Hydraulic Data

Full Color Plan | Round Rock, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:50:00 +0000

The City of Round Rock permitting office requires a full plan for irrigation permits. The plans must meet all TCEQ guidelines and include hydraulic data for each zone. Printing the lateral pipe in color makes the zones easier to identify.

Full Color Plan

Full Color Legend

3D Sample | Rollingwood, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:15:00 +0000

While working on an irrigation zone map, I decided to tweak the drawing a little bit. Started with a Google Earth snapshot, quickly surveyed the landscaping and finished the drawing in Sketchup. The lens flare was a quick addition in Photoshop.

3D Sample drawing

Home Builder Plan | Pflugerville, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:01:00 +0000

A local home builder needed a quick, simple 5 zone system for a demo home. These plans usually have generic planting beds and no driveways.

Simple 5 Zone system

9 Zone Irrigation System | Austin, TX

noreply@blogger.com (GWDeveloper) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:37:00 +0000

9 Zone Irrigation System for a property in Austin, TX. Simple and to the point using Hunter Parts.

9 Zones, Some Drip Irrigation

Hydraulics for 9 Zone System