We've rebuilt how Lumo detects irrigation problems. The new system is designed to catch mild to moderate issues earlier, on blocks of any size, while still ignoring things that aren't real problems.
We're rolling this out gradually to a small group of customers so we can fine-tune it with your feedback. If you're part of that group, this article explains what to expect.
How it works
Lumo watches every irrigation from start to finish. As your devices report flow (and pressure, if your block has a pressure sensor), each reading is compared to what's normal for that block. If something moves outside the expected range and stays there, Lumo flags it.
A few things make it smarter than a simple threshold:
It learns each block. Blocks that run the same way every time are held to a tighter standard. Blocks that naturally vary from run to run get more room, so you aren't alerted about behavior that's normal for them.
It ignores blips. A single odd reading won't trigger an alert. The problem has to persist.
One problem, one alert. When a single failure could trigger several alert types, such as water stopping completely, Lumo reports only the one that best describes what happened.
Alert types
Alert | What it means | What to check |
Flow Above Expected | The block is using more water than it normally does. | Line break, damaged emitters, row-level leak, valve stuck open |
Flow Below Expected | The block is using less water than it normally does. | Partially clogged filter, partly closed valve, other demand upstream |
Flow Step | Flow settled at one level, then shifted to a new level and stayed there. | Valve movement elsewhere on the line, filter backflush |
No Water | The valve is open but water isn't moving. Either water never arrived, or it started and then stopped. | Valve closed early, pump didn't start or tripped |
Pressure Oscillation | Pressure is swinging up and down instead of holding steady. | Pump cycling, air in the line, regulator issue |
Note: Pressure Oscillation alerts are only available on blocks with a pressure sensor installed.
When you get an alert
Open the irrigation in Ops Center and look at the flow chart. You'll see where the flow departed from normal.
Check the likely causes listed above for that alert type.
If something doesn't look right, tell us. We especially want to hear if an alert seemed wrong, or if we missed a problem.
When you contact us, please include the farm, block, and the date and time of the irrigation. That lets us look at exactly what you saw.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get more alerts than before?
Most likely, yes. The new system catches smaller problems that previously went unnoticed. We're tuning how often alerts are sent based on beta feedback, which is why we're rolling out slowly.
Does this mean problems were being missed before?
Our previous alerts worked well on smaller blocks. As farms grew, those fixed thresholds weren't sensitive enough for larger blocks. This rebuild addresses that.
How many alerts are false alarms?
We're measuring that during the beta. If an alert looks wrong to you, let us know and we'll review the reasoning behind it with you.
I got a No Water alert, but the water came back. Why?
It's fairly common for flow to stop and then resume partway through a run, for example if a pump trips and restarts. The alert is still worth a look, because it tells you the block went without water for a period.
Why didn't I get an alert on a short irrigation?
Lumo waits briefly to confirm a problem is real before alerting. On very short runs, that waiting period takes up a larger share of the irrigation. Alerts may therefore arrive late or not at all.
Why doesn't my block get Flow Above/Below Expected alerts?
These alerts compare each run to a reference for the block. That reference is either its learned Smart Baseline or its emitter specifications. Blocks without either one don't get these two alerts yet, but Flow Step and No Water still apply. You can check a block's Smart Baseline status in Ops Center.
Are manual irrigations monitored?
Yes, for No Water. Flow Above/Below Expected alerts don't apply to manual runs.
Can I adjust alert sensitivity?
Not at this time. If alerts on a block feel too frequent or not frequent enough, tell us. Your feedback directly shapes how the system is tuned.
Can I switch back to the old alerts?
Please reach out to our team. We'd like to understand what isn't working for you so we can address it.
When will this be available to everyone?
We're expanding in small groups as we incorporate feedback. Your account team will let you know before it's turned on for your farms.