System and method for calibrating an irrigation system

A method of calibrating an irrigation system having a plurality of mobile towers and a plurality of water emitters supported by the mobile towers, the method comprising:

• operating the mobile towers to move the irrigation system over a ground surface;
• toggling the water emitters as the irrigation system moves over the ground surface;
• determining positions of the irrigation system as the irrigation system moves over the ground surface and as the water emitters are toggled;
• measuring flow rates through the irrigation system as the irrigation system moves over the ground surface and as the water emitters are toggled;
• comparing the measured flow rates to expected flow rates;
• creating a calibration map that reflects differences between the measured flow rates and the expected flow rates at the determined positions;
• and
• calibrating operation of the irrigation system with the calibration map by adjusting an operational aspect of the irrigation system to account for the differences between the measured flow rates and the expected flow rates at the determined positions.

An irrigation system comprising:

• a series of mobile towers each having wheels and a motor for driving the wheels;
• support structure for connecting the mobile towers to each other;
• a water-carrying conduit supported by the support structure;
• a plurality of water emitters connected to the conduit for delivering water to a ground surface;
• a plurality of valves for controlling water flow to the water emitters;
• and
• a control system for controlling operation of the mobile tower motors and the valves, the control system programmed to:
• operate the mobile towers to move the irrigation system over a ground surface;
• toggle the valves as the irrigation system moves over the ground surface;
• determine positions of the irrigation system as the irrigation system moves over the ground surface and as the valves are toggled;
• measure fluid flow rates through the irrigation system as the irrigation system moves over the ground surface and as the valves are toggled;
• compare the measured flow rates to expected flow rates for the determined positions of the irrigation system;
• create a calibration map that reflects differences between the measured flow rates and the expected flow rates at the determined positions;
• and
• calibrate operation of the irrigation system with the calibration map by adjusting an operational aspect of the irrigation system to account for the differences between the measured flow rates and the expected flow rates at the determined positions.