Abstract: An irrigation system is provided and includes a main irrigation line, one or more lateral driplines, each lateral dripline being divided into zones and including a plurality of emitters at each zone and a plurality of controllable valves disposed along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders. Each one of the plurality of controllable valves is actuatable to activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone in a zone by zone cycle and each one of the plurality of emitters is replaceable to vary an amount of deliverable fluid by the zone by zone cycle.

Abstract: A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line and a control station configured to control a pressure of pressurized fluid in the drip line is provided. The controllable emitter is disposable along the drip line and includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a piston, including a magnetic element, disposed at least partially in the container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid and a sensor configured to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station.

Abstract: An irrigation system including a diverter line is provided. The system includes drip irrigation lines, T-junctions interleaved between adjacent drip irrigation lines, each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines. The controllable valve is operable to permit fluid flow in only the forward direction and to prevent the fluid flow.

Abstract: A method of operating an irrigation system is provided and includes coupling one or more lateral driplines to a main irrigation line, dividing each lateral dripline into zones and providing each lateral dripline with a plurality of replaceable emitters at each zone, disposing a plurality of controllable valves along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders and actuating each one of the plurality of controllable valves to thereby activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone.

Abstract: An irrigation system is provided and includes a main irrigation line, one or more lateral driplines, each lateral dripline being divided into zones and including a plurality of emitters at each zone and a plurality of controllable valves disposed along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders. Each one of the plurality of controllable valves is actuatable to activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone in a zone by zone cycle and each one of the plurality of emitters is replaceable to vary an amount of deliverable fluid by the zone by zone cycle.

Abstract: A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line having pressurized fluid therein is provided. The controllable emitter includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a magnetic stopper, which is normally disposable in a first position such that the magnetic stopper prevents a flow of the pressurized fluid through the outlet and which is actively disposable in a second position such that the magnetic stopper permits the flow and a controllable actuator configured to generate a magnetic field operable to urge the magnetic stopper to move from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: Techniques for acquiring and analyzing environmental and personnel presence, location and identification data from a health care facility to manage operations of the health care facility with regards to personnel tracking, patient comfort and/or enforcement of hygienic protocols are provided. In one aspect, a method of managing operation of a health care facility is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring data regarding i) environmental factors in the health care facility and ii) a presence, a location and an identity of personnel in the health care facility using a sensing platform system having a plurality of sensing points throughout the health care facility, wherein the sensing platform is configured to identify the personnel in the health care facility via radio-frequency identification (RFID); and analyzing the data to provide real-time analytics for managing operation of the health care facility.

Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.

Abstract: An imaging system and use thereof for large-area monitoring with very high temporal resolution are provided. In one aspect, an imaging system includes a camera equipped with curved optics having a field of view of from about 0.01 miles to about 1.5 miles; and interchangeable light filters positioned in front of the camera configured to change one or more of an intensity and an amplitude of light captured by the imaging system. The curved optics may include a hemispherical mirror configured to reflect an image of objects in front of the mirror, and the camera may be positioned facing a reflective surface of the hemispherical mirror so as to capture the image reflected in the hemispherical mirror. Alternatively, the curved optics may include a fisheye lens mounted to the camera. An imaging network of the present imaging systems and a method for use thereof for thermal monitoring are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically and efficiently controlling air conditioning units (ACUs) in a data center are provided. In one aspect, a method for controlling ACUs in a data center is provided. The method includes the following steps. It is identified which of the ACUs in the data center comprise base ACUs and which of the ACUs in the data center comprise redundant ACUs. Output from one or more of the redundant ACUs is increased in response to one or more control events. Output from the redundant ACUs is decreased once a predetermined period of time has elapsed without a new control event occurring.

Abstract: Techniques for managing and forecasting power from renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are provided. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for managing power from at least one renewable energy source is provided. The method includes the following steps. A list of tasks to be performed within a given timeframe is created, wherein a power load is associated with performing each of the tasks. Performance of the tasks is prioritized based on the power load associated with each of the tasks and an availability of the power from the renewable energy source during the given timeframe.

Abstract: An irrigation system including a diverter line is provided. The system includes drip irrigation lines, T-junctions interleaved between adjacent drip irrigation lines, each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines. The controllable valve is operable to permit fluid flow in only the forward direction and to prevent the fluid flow.

Abstract: A method of operating an irrigation system is provided and includes coupling one or more lateral driplines to a main irrigation line, dividing each lateral dripline into zones and providing each lateral dripline with a plurality of replaceable emitters at each zone, disposing a plurality of controllable valves along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders and actuating each one of the plurality of controllable valves to thereby activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone.

Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.

Abstract: An irrigation system is provided and includes a main irrigation line, one or more lateral driplines, each lateral dripline being divided into zones and including a plurality of emitters at each zone and a plurality of controllable valves disposed along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders. Each one of the plurality of controllable valves is actuatable to activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone in a zone by zone cycle and each one of the plurality of emitters is replaceable to vary an amount of deliverable fluid by the zone by zone cycle.

Abstract: A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line and a control station configured to control a pressure of pressurized fluid in the drip line is provided. The controllable emitter is disposable along the drip line and includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a piston, including a magnetic element, disposed at least partially in the container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid and a sensor configured to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station.

Abstract: A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line having pressurized fluid therein is provided. The controllable emitter includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a magnetic stopper, which is normally disposable in a first position such that the magnetic stopper prevents a flow of the pressurized fluid through the outlet and which is actively disposable in a second position such that the magnetic stopper permits the flow and a controllable actuator configured to generate a magnetic field operable to urge the magnetic stopper to move from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: Techniques for modeling a data center are provided. In one aspect, a method for determining data center efficiency is provided. The method includes the following steps. Target parameters for the data center are obtained. Technology pre-requisite parameters for the data center are obtained. An optimum data center efficiency is determined given the target parameters for the data center and the technology pre-requisite parameters for the data center.