Development of a 'smart' monolayer application system for reducing evaporation from farm dams: introductory paper

Brink, Gavin and Symes, Troy and Hancock, Nigel (2009) Development of a 'smart' monolayer application system for reducing evaporation from farm dams: introductory paper. In: SEAg 2009: Agricultural Technologies in a Changing Climate, 13-16 Sep 2009, Brisbane, Australia.

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Abstract

Chemical monolayer films are potentially an economical low-impact means of reducing evaporative loss from farm water storages. However, their performance can be highly variable as they are affected by climatic and environmental factors: principally wind, wave action and bio-degradation. These limitations must be accommodated for in the management of the applied monolayer by means of appropriate and timely autonomous application and re-application.

Although a number of autonomous application systems for monolayer already exist, none has proved overly successful. It is argued that whilst this is in part due to sub-optimal performance of monolayer materials, it is also due in large measure to inaccuracies and/or inappropriate design in both application systems and particularly application strategies which are not adaptive to the prevailing environmental conditions. Therefore, a control system is being developed to adaptively and spatially vary monolayer application rates according to changing conditions monitored on-site. This will form part of an autonomous electromechanical system for the optimal application and spreading of chemical monolayer.

This paper reports progress towards this objective; firstly by evaluation of the design requirements for automated systems at a range of spatial scales; and secondly via the construction of a first ‘pre-prototype’ to act as an evaluation platform and concept demonstrator.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Commonwealth Reporting Category E) (Paper)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Authors retain copyright.
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited:	16 May 2010 07:52
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 23:35
Uncontrolled Keywords:	chemical monolayer, autonomous, electromechanical, low-impact, water, evaporation reduction, pre-prototype, application, farm dam
Fields of Research (2008):	07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0701 Agriculture, Land and Farm Management > 070107 Farming Systems Research 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 0799 Other Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences > 079901 Agricultural Hydrology (Drainage, Flooding, Irrigation, Quality, etc.) 09 Engineering > 0999 Other Engineering > 099901 Agricultural Engineering
Socio-Economic Objectives (2008):	D Environment > 96 Environment > 9609 Land and Water Management > 960905 Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Water Management
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/6572

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