Recently, students at South Delta Secondary had a behind-the-scenes look at an innovative project being developed by Pierre Ngo, the district's Energy Manager and Project Manager, that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time weather data to conserve water.
"There is nothing more frustrating than seeing automated irrigation systems in full swing when it is raining outside," said Pierre. "It's a waste of water, not to mention a waste of money. I wanted to show students how leveraging cutting-edge technology can help control when and where watering takes place at schools and district sites. Water is our most precious natural resource - it's vital that we make the most efficient and effective use of it."
Pierre is working on a system that taps into AI-generated weather forecasts from OpenWeather. These forecasts are incredibly detailed, offering minute-by-minute updates for specific locations. The idea is to feed this data into a microprocessor that controls irrigation systems across schools and district sites. There are multiple steps involved writing an API (Application programming interface) then translating these into tables and machine language that the microprocessor will be able to understand.
"If the data indicates that it's raining or about to a reprocessed signal will get sent to the irrigation controller to keep the sprinklers off," Pierre explained. "Currently, most irrigation systems in the district run on timers, which means they aren't responsive to actual weather conditions. With my new system, I hope to change that."
Before diving into the technology, Pierre gave students a crash course in weather science explaining how temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind, and rainfall all play a role in forecasting. Then, he explained how the OpenWeather AI platform leverages advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to process and enhance data from various sources such as weather stations, satellites, and radar systems, which can then be used to make smart decisions about when and where to water.
"Pierre's visit gave students a real-world example of how AI can be used to protect the environment. It's inspiring to see our district leading the way in sustainability," said Science teacher Isaac Adams.
And there's another big benefit: cost. Instead of building and maintaining expensive weather stations across Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta, the AI-based forecasts cost a fraction of the price.
This project is a powerful example of how technology and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand and will hopefully inspire today's students to be the innovators of tomorrow.
