Path-Based Determination of a Nozzle Configuration in an Ancillary Span

A method for determining a nozzle configuration of an ancillary span of an irrigation system, the irrigation system having a central pivot point about which a primary irrigation pipeline swivels and having a hinge point at which the ancillary span is coupled with the primary irrigation pipeline, the method comprising:

• determining a path of travel for the ancillary span;
• defining a plurality of sectors and a plurality of zones within a portion of a field to be irrigated by the ancillary span, the portion of the field corresponding to the path of travel;
• defining a plurality of sections within the portion of the field to be irrigated by the ancillary span, each of the plurality of sections corresponding to one of the plurality of sectors and one of the plurality of zones;
• calculating an area for each of the plurality of sections;
• identifying a section in each of the plurality of zones that has an area of the largest magnitude;
• determining a maximum water capacity of the area of the largest magnitude;
• defining a plurality of nozzle zones along a longitudinal length of the ancillary span, the nozzles zones corresponding to portions of a field to be irrigated;
• and
• determining, for each nozzle zone, a number of nozzles and their respective water capacity based, at least in part, on the maximum water capacity required for the area of the largest magnitude within that zone.