ESTRON runs in Fatih Millet Bahçesi and Atatürk Havalimanı Millet Bahçesi in Istanbul, and in İskenderun Sahil Parkı and Emek Parkı in Hatay. The sites differ; the problems are alike. The lessons below are what these sites have in common. Every site is planned at the survey.
Why is public garden irrigation different?
- Scale. Hectares of lawn, trees, shrubs and flower beds in one area. Each plant group wants its own line.
- Scattered valves. Valve boxes spread along the paths, hundreds of metres apart. Pulling cable means digging, trenching and re-laying.
- Constant use. The area is open day and night. Watering must not coincide with walking hours; it should finish before dawn.
- Public accounts. The water bill and the maintenance budget belong to the institution; the answer to "why did so much water go" must be on record.
Line plan: how many lines, which mode?
A line is a group of sprinklers that open together. In a public garden the line count depends on the site; dozens of lines are normal. Three principles help:
- Split by plant. Lawn, trees and shrubs on separate lines. The AI decides per line; the lawn may get 70% while the tree belt is skipped that day.
- Split by flow. Do not open more sprinklers at once than the main line can supply. The panel sequences the lines; pressure does not drop.
- Separate new planting. A newly planted zone stays on a fixed schedule in its first season; mature zones run in AI mode. The mode is per line.
A battery controller is fitted to the solenoid valve at the head of each line. One controller drives two valves; two lines in the same box share one controller.
Where does the gateway go?
The LoRaWAN gateway links the site to the cloud. One gateway is usually enough for a public garden. Placement follows three rules:
- A high, open point: the roof of the administration building, a lighting mast or a lookout tower.
- A point with line of sight to most valve boxes. Dense trees and earth fill shorten the range.
- A point with power and internet; 4G, Ethernet or a solar panel option.
On very long or obstructed sites a second gateway is added. Range is measured at the survey. See how far does LoRaWAN reach?
Leak alarms: the biggest gain of the first season
On a large site a leak is not seen; the lawn is green anyway and the water runs under the path. On main lines with a flow sensor the system catches three cases: flow while the valve is closed (valve not shutting or a leaking pipe), flow higher than expected (broken pipe, missing sprinkler), flow lower than expected (blocked sprinkler, filter). The alarm goes to the mobile app, e-mail and SMS; the crew goes to the right box.
See catch water leaks without going to the field.
The daily decision and the watering hour
The AI decides every morning for every line: full duration, shorter, postpone or skip. Inputs are the weather forecast, satellite data, the water-demand calculation and the irrigation history. The watering window can be set to finish before dawn; no sprinkler runs during visiting hours. On a windy morning sprinkler watering is postponed; water does not drift onto the path. The decision logic: AI irrigation.
Records: what stays with the institution?
Every run is logged with date, time, duration and reason. On a line with a flow sensor, consumption is measured in litres. Reports come from the panel and export to Excel. The record serves three purposes: explaining the water bill, auditing the maintenance contractor, and the yearly report required by the xeriscape decree. See what the xeriscape decree changes in park irrigation.
Installation sequence
| Step | What is done | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Survey | Line list, valve boxes, gateway point, flow sensor locations | Depends on the site |
| Gateway | Mounting, power and internet, coverage test | Depends on the site |
| Controllers | Controller + battery in every valve box; set up over Bluetooth | Minutes per controller |
| Panel | Areas, lines, reference durations, rules; pilot lines in AI mode | Depends on the site |
| Monitoring | Decisions and alarms watched together in the first week | 1 week |
Existing pipes, sprinklers and valves stay; no digging. General steps: how is it installed?
Frequently asked
How many controllers does a public garden need?
Between half and all of the valve count; valves in the same box share a controller. They are counted at the survey.
What if there is no power on site?
The controllers run on batteries; no power is needed in the valve box. For the gateway one power point or a solar panel is enough.
What if the maintenance contractor changes?
The account belongs to the institution. Access is role based; the contractor sees its own area. When the contractor changes, the user changes and the record stays. Details for municipal and TOKİ projects: for municipalities. Sites: references. ESTRON is made in Türkiye; request a quote for your project.