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This story reminds me of the central WA state where I grew up. They had a similar network of canals. It's the largest irrigation network in the US (according t
by supercoffee 5y ago
This story reminds me of the central WA state where I grew up. They had a similar network of canals. It's the largest irrigation network in the US (according to the internet). Unlike the one in the article, most farmers in central WA aren't flooding their fields directly from the canals. Many of the farmers running at any sort of scale opt for a center-pivot (circle) to water their field. These machines end up being the most water (and labor) efficient way to water a field of 100+ acres.
I worked at for an irrigation supplier for a few years and got to see all the ins-and-outs of how these machines work. The supporting infrastructure is pretty impressive too. The pumps, pipes, valves, and electrical panels that drive these machines is an engineering marvel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Basin_Project https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Basin_Project
- codesnik 5y agoI always wanted to ask, why such circle-crop formations are usually in a square greed, instead of hexagonal? is it because it's easier to move tractors and other stuff between them, or is it because land isn't that scare resource as I imagine it?
- boccaff 5y agoTL;DR, simpler mechanics for the irrigation system. The circular pattern comes from the area irrigated by the simplest configuration of a center-pivot [0], which is a fixed point in the center to access water. "Non-circular" area require linear/lateral movement "center-pivots" that require a way more complex control system, or some kind of booster to cover the "corners of a square". [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_pivot_irrigation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_pivot_irrigation
- aivisol 5y agoI think this is not what parent asked. The question was why circles are arranged in square grids but not in haxagons. Which is great question, and I would like to know the answer too.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- wiredfool 5y agoI suspect it's because the land ownership is mostly rectangles, as are the adjoining roads.
- danuker 5y agoThe "circular" is clear. But the "square grid" part is not. Why are the circles arranged in a square grid instead of a hexagonal one? Is it property definition difficulty?
- politician 5y agoImagine driving a large heavy vehicle to a hex in the center of the grid: way too many turns.