2 Feb 2004 by sean g
research dissertation
I am doing a research dissertation as part of my final year in college. It's on the Construction of All-Weather Pitches with a natural grass surface. I have already done chapters on drainage, maintenance, performance quality standards, specifications. I intend to do more on machinery and the British Standards. These are the obvious chapters, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on any interesting or unusual tpye topics relating to my dissertation that I may include in it. I am also having difficulty in getting info on underground heating and aeration systems, so if anyone has any info, it would be greatly appreciated.
2 Feb 2004 by Mitchell
Research
Additives to the rootzone - rubber crumb, netting, the Desso system. Behaviour in stadiums - shade, air circulation.
dissertation
Hi sean
you can review the history and development of artificials grass systems
There are many different systems, non sand filled, sand filled and sand dressed.
User customer assesments and marketing of the facility
costings Income generation v expenditure.
But the key issue to address will be maintainence, many artificial systems in the past were sold as maintenance free,
The key to the life span of these systems lies in the maintenance of the systems. maintaining the pile and infill materials, little or no maintenance will affect performance and playing characteristics.
dissertation
Sean
Have you read 'The Maintenance of Artificial Sandfilled Turf Used for Sport' by David Rhodes? ISBN 095 295 9100 you might find some useful info there
The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train
3 Feb 2004 by Hipper
Dissertation
Gentlemen, I read the question as referring to 'natural grass' surfaces!
3 Feb 2004 by sean g
research dissertation
Yes, I do mean 'natural grass' surfaces. I should have clarified that. I have been told that I should be careful with the heading of 'The Construction of All-Weather Pitches with a Natural Grass Surface' because they do not exist - even the best pitches would struggle to cope with heavy rainfall and heavy snow ???
3 Feb 2004 by Hipper
Dissertation
The term 'All Weather Pitch' is usually taken to mean artificial pitch, in fact, including artificial grass and redgra.
natural grass pitches
Sean
You need to obtain a copy of Bill Adams Book Natural Turf for Sport and Amenity ( science and Practice)
A very good reference book detailing all you need to know about construction, drainage, maintenance, pests & disease and grass spoecies for natural turf pitches.
reprinted 2000
W A Adams & R J Gibbs published by CAB international ISBN 0 85198 720 6
4 Feb 2004 by BC
pich construction etc
As an aside to construction it would be more interesting to take your title and look at just how playable we can get pitches nowadays under increasing demand. Certainly the 'punter'/user expectation is all weather!
It would seem your title is a little confusing. Of course all winter sports surfaces are in a certain sense all weather, natural, hybrid or completely artificial.
However when do you draw the line on unplayable?(when not at pro level where a ref calls the shots) You can play in bad conditions but at great detriment to both surface(natural) and game (both, artificial surfaces pond as well). And then there's snow which for park type pitches certainly counts them out as all weather. In fact the term all weather is down to the groundstaff and their available resources (such as covers, or even think more laterally, millenium stad roof). So their are many facets outside of construction that determine playability right?
These factors are usually evident when designing new constructions and taken into account. Again as an eg. millenium enviromental considerations proposed events budget etc etc opted for a certain construction.
There is no best construction only one that is suited to each individuals requirements and again as case studies this becomes intersting.
Hope at least given you some thoughts.
I intend to live forever, so far so good...
4 Feb 2004 by BC
from me
Just need to reply to myself as a reminder that pitch is spelt pitch and not pich.
I intend to live forever, so far so good...
4 Feb 2004 by Bob the Builder
book
Is Bill Admas book up to date with new technology and from a practical point of view
4 Feb 2004 by sean g
research dissertation
Matt,
In your message, you said to 'look at just how playable we can get pitches nowadays under increasing demand'.
I was wondering what is the way forward in achieving this.
What new developments are out there. What areas should I be looking in???
4 Feb 2004 by PJ
Pitches
Premier games are rarely called off, unless there is a deluge of rain just before a game, or the stadium and access to the stadium make it dangerous for supporters to attend (in which case H&S makes the decision). The reason for this is because most of these clubs have constructions on gravel carpets with a layer of drainage sand and a re-inforced rootzone top. This is the preferred choice at the top end of the market, that works well.
The games that were called off just before Xmas, such as Birmingham and Wolves were caught under a huge rain storm and although these pitches and other midland pitches were fit for play at 3pm, referees were having to make early decisions on play, based on the experience of the groundsman and the latest weather forecast.
More recently, Middlesboro was called off against Arsenal, the pitch was fit but it was considered too dangerous for supporters to travel by the police and the safety officer.
You should also look at renovation techniques used as well as constructions as there is a good array of modern equipment that has been designed and built for this purpose.
There is continuing research into seed breeding, nutrition, sand particle sizes, soil ammendments, re-inforcements, shade problems and solutions, portable pallet systems, covers, heating, irrigation and above all maintenance techniques are reviewed and improved
5 Feb 2004 by BC
pitch construction thesis
Hi Sean, in regard to your reply firstly you have to cast yourself back in history a little bit and cover exactly why the demand for quality sports surfaces and usage of sports surfaces is so high as a pose to the pre 1950's. (this is covered in brief in 'stabilization of sand surfaces' by James beard)
Secondly you have to ask yourself are turf industry companies, groundsman and machinery manufacture being innovative for the sake of it or because of user/revenue etc demand.
After having covered the first part you will see that innovation is almost always due to demand (its too expensive otherwise in our industry-we are not microsft et al).
You should look at the role of the turf manager in making these constructions work and the additional resources required to make them playabe. (as an example you can biuld a very nice free draining pitch in a stadium but that does not stop it from freezing and thus being unplayable, so additional items are required such as frost covers and within the construction itself undersoil heating which generates extra ongoing costing)
This will lead you nicely into the present and just what is available. You will already have covered why.
You can then have fun dissecting all the current constructions from 70,000 plus National multi sports stadia where pitches can be rotated in 48 hrs to local authority and school playing fields who also have certain criteria to meet.
If you want all the information on constructions a very good starting point is the 'ultimate turf links' page. This has every major company, association etc but best of all links to universities with pages and pages on construction of sports pitches.
As far as what constructions to look at you can choose from basic pipe amended drainage right through to sand carpet with a plethora of variables including palletised, hydraulic, foam banding, stabilisation, vacum assisted drainage etc etc.
However the materials used in these pitches have the same basic genetics and are simply gravity or gravity assisted drained areas. If an area has had no amendment then its not a constructed sports pitch just an area of indigenous soil cut out as one..which has been known to work!
I intend to live forever, so far so good...
5 Feb 2004 by sean g
research dissertation
Thank you Matt for the info.
22 Feb 2004 by Simon
Dissertation
Hi Sean
Is the work you've done so far on your dissertation available to read on-line anywhere??
I'd be interested to see what you have so far - and i'm sure you would get further useful feedback from it.
23 Feb 2004 by sean g
Thesis
Simon,
I'm afraid it's not. It will probably never be available on-line as I'm only a student and I wouldn't know how to put it on-line.
23 Feb 2004 by Editor
Dissertation
Sean,
If you wanted to publish your work in full or in part, we would be happy to do so-after all shared information is what Pitchcare is all about and you would receive in the main, only constructive criticism-Worth thinking about!
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