Brand U: A smart approach

In order to manage the irrigation systems at the commercial properties it oversees, Piedmont Landscape Management decided to take a proactive approach by incorporating smart controllers, according to Patrick Wells, president and landscape architect for Piedmont, which is located in Augusta, Ga.

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The company provides landscape design and construction, landscape maintenance, irrigation construction and maintenance and seasonal color services to a primarily commercial clientele, including shopping centers, medical facilities, apartment communities and more.

Piedmont settled on Smart Rain controllers about two months ago after researching several options.

“We felt like Smart Rain’s technology and approach to customer service and dedication to water management was vastly different than other companies,” Wells says. “We have used several other companies on other sites, and where people fail is when there is mismanagement of the controllers, issues with the computer system and poor data taken from weather stations.”

Specifically, Wells says he appreciates the log book feature of the controllers, which shows who made changes to the system, when the controller runs and for how long.

“This helps make sure nothing is changed without permission,” Wells notes. “Also, we save tons of time auditing the system because we can do it from our smart device.”

Smart Rain’s system allows technicians to view irrigation systems from a smart device. (Photo courtesy of Smart Rain)

So far, Wells says the Smart Rain controllers have changed the way his company does business.

“We are able to be more efficient on the job site by not having to walk back and forth to a controller,” Wells says. “We have also been able to keep clients from tinkering in the control box because everything has to be done on the computer or phone.”

For other contractors looking to implement smart controllers, Wells says they should remember that getting employees up to date on the system takes time and training.

“You cannot just set this and forget it,” Wells says. “The world is moving to this type of technology, so it’s important that we be good stewards of our water.”