Magazine - BTLIA revise education programme

By Pitchcare in Training on 7th Jan 2005 11:00

BTLIA revise education programme in 'Irrigation System' usage

The British Turf & Landscape Irrigation Association (BTLIA), the trade organisation acknowledged by the turf industry to be at the forefront of irrigation system provision and use, have revised their education programme aimed at all those involved in the installation, selection and operation of automatic irrigation systems for sport and landscape. The new programme will provide participants with an understanding of irrigation and how to optimise its efficiency.

The course will be of particular benefit to golf club and golf course managers, sports ground managers and Groundsmen, landscape providers and managers, as well as those who work in the amenity irrigation industry.

Benefits of the New Programme

With water becoming a more valued resource and with the potential for greater monitoring of its use, it is essential that irrigation systems be used efficiently. This efficient approach will allow the best agronomic, environmental and financial returns for owners and operators of sports and landscape facilities.

The new programme brings benefits that include:

• · Irrigation and turf management industry personnel with extensive knowledge and experience of their subject teach each module. This ensures that the most current, relevant and accurate insight into efficient water use is offered. It allows participants to assess the efficiency of current systems and provides the knowledge to improve efficiency through good design, operation and management, whether within an existing system or through an upgrade to a higher specification system.
• · Creates the ability to use this knowledge to optimise water use and reduce overall operation and maintenance costs.
• · Provides irrigation industry professionals with the ability to produce systems that can meet the requirements of users and their organisations and ensure that these systems are of the highest standard.

The New Programme

The course comprises five modules, each of one week, covering agronomic, technical, operational, design and management aspects of irrigation provision. The first two modules lead to a Certificate in Turf and Landscape Irrigation, whilst completion of all five modules qualifies for a Diploma in Irrigation Use, Design and Installation.

The general format of the programme is:

Certificate in Turf and Landscape Irrigation:-

Certificate Foundation Module- Improving Water Use

Topics include the assessment of sprinkler application uniformity; determination of sprinkler precipitation rates; biotic and abiotic influences on water availability; identification of deficiencies; data collection and monitoring; production of water balance records.

Certificate Award Module- Improving Irrigation System Efficiency

The completion module for the Certificate in Turf and Landscape Irrigation covers system component types; design base and operation; fault finding, basic maintenance and servicing of automatic irrigation systems.

Both of these modules run in both classroom and field environments and use case studies to support the taught subjects.

Diploma in Irrigation Use, Design and Installation:-

Intermediate Diploma - Part One

Topics include basic system design, including selection of sprinklers, sizing of pipes, cables and pumps. Water requirement sourcing and storage is also covered. The participant will learn to design both a sports field and nine-hole golf course irrigation system.

Intermediate Diploma - Part Two

The second module of the Diploma utilises the knowledge gained in Part One and applies it to advanced design. The participant will undertake the design of an eighteen-hole golf course with greens, tees, approaches and fairway automatic irrigation system.

For those more involved in landscape irrigation design, an alternative module will cater for those particular interests.

Diploma Award Module

The final module covers the processes of system provision, including the production of technical specifications, conditions of contract, Bills of Quantities, Health and Safety, installation method statements, and project management and administration.

Module costs include all administration and tuition fees, course materials, morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea. Overnight costs including dinner, bed and breakfast are not included but competitive rates can be arranged by BTLIA. Costs of the Certificate modules are £375 per person per module; Intermediate Diploma modules are £525 per person per module; and the Diploma Award module is £575 per person.

The Certificate Foundation Module and Certificate Award Module will run weeks commencing 21^st March and 4^th April 2005 respectively at the Garstang Country Hotel and Golf Club.

For more information and booking details contact: The Secretary, BTLIA, 41 Pennine Way, Great Eccleston, Preston, PR3 0YS, Tel. and Fax +44 (0)1995 670675 or email info@btlia.org.uk.

Read more articles in Training, by Pitchcare or from January 2005.