Turf stress and recovery intelligence tool for sustainable lawn management
A web-based Turf Stress and Recovery Intelligence tool that helps homeowners manage lawns using plant response data to reduce turf damage and water waste. It integrates weather, soil, and plant data to assess stress risk and recovery status, initially focusing on tall fescue.
Overview
The Turf Stress and Recovery Intelligence tool is an innovative solution designed to help homeowners manage their lawns more effectively by focusing on plant response rather than rigid watering schedules. By distinguishing between tolerable stress and stress that threatens turf recovery, this tool aims to reduce both turf damage and water waste. It provides insights into stress risk and recovery status by integrating local weather conditions, inferred root-zone water buffering, and turf species traits. Initially focusing on tall fescue, this scalable framework is designed to support multiple turf cultivars across various regions and seasons, aligning with sustainable lawn performance goals.
Technical specifications
- Stress Risk and Recovery Status Estimation: Determines low to high stress risk and whether recovery is improving or stalled.
- Data Integration: Utilizes local weather demand, root-zone water buffering, turf species traits, and learned soil-canopy relationships.
- Machine Learning Application: Synthesizes aerial and soil-based research data to enhance decision-making.
- Scalability: Designed to expand beyond tall fescue to additional turf types.
- User-Friendly Interface: Web-based format that doesn't require additional homeowner-installed sensors.
Technology readiness level
The Turf Stress and Recovery Intelligence tool is currently at Technology Readiness Level 3. It has undergone initial validation using tall fescue under residential conditions and will be further refined through field experimentation and physiological modeling. This stage includes the integration of various datasets to create a scalable decision-support tool.
About California State Polytechnic University, Pamona
Cal Poly Pomona is a public polytechnic university serving Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, known for learn‑by‑doing at scale. Industry engagement is embedded through co‑located campus labs and Innovation Village, an on‑site research and technology park with corporate tenants and incubation space. A structured co‑op program and wide use of industry‑sponsored capstones build pipelines for talent and collaboration with regional employers. Research is supported by competitive federal and state funding, including the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Office of Research & Innovation provides technology transfer services, managing IP, licensing, and industry agreements.
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