Understanding Basic Irrigation Hydraulics with Cal Poly and the Irrigation Training Research Center

August 27, 2021 12:00 pm
Dr. Peter Livingston P.E., Ph.D.

BRAE Department Head, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Dr. Franklin Gaudi

Project Manager, ITRC, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Properly designed, installed, and maintained irrigation systems save money and water. An understanding of basic irrigation hydraulics is necessary for any water manager. 

Acquiring the knowledge of basic irrigation hydraulics is more complicated than it seems. Math, theory, water at rest, and water in motion are all part of the equation. As a result, the way hydraulics is taught might be more important than what is taught. 

Dr. Franklin Gaudi, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo alumnus and a Project Manager for the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC). Dr. Gaudi is skilled at making irrigation training interesting and will take us through the training. More importantly, he shares some stories about how he gets students to understand basic hydraulics. This will be educational and entertaining as well.

 

As a bonus, Dr. Peter Livingston will join us to discuss opportunities to learn more about irrigation by studying at Cal Poly. Dr. Livingston is the Department head for BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department. Dr. Livingston is the BRAE Department Head. 

He came to Cal Poly from the University of Arizona, Tucson, where he was Associate Professor of Practice in the Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering Department. Peter has more than 35 years of professional experience in agricultural and water resources engineering and natural resources planning. He will provide information on other areas of study at Cal Poly as well.  
 


Dr. Peter Livingston

P.E., Ph.D. BRAE Department Head, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Dr. Livingston is the BRAE Department Head. He came to Cal Poly from University of Arizona, Tucson, where he was Associate Professor of Practice in the Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering Department. Peter has more than 35 years of professional experience in agricultural and water resources engineering, as well as natural resources planning.  

Dr. Livingston earned all his degrees in Agricultural Engineering: B.S. from University of Arizona, M.S. from Colorado State University, and Ph.D. from University of Arizona.

Dr. Livingston has worked for a large international consulting firm, an Indian Nation, and started two firms; left the first to finish his Ph.D. and started Bosquee Engineering to use his experience in agricultural design. 

Dr. Livingston brings experience in attracting industry projects/funds to, as well as mentoring, Senior Design Projects. He also has experience securing USDA grants for research and inter department and university research experience, looking forward to working with centers and departments on campus and with other universities. 

Dr. Livingston is a commissioner for ABET, accrediting entity for engineering programs around the country. With his wife, Sue, they have been raising various exotic animals and brought the alpacas to CA. 

Dr. Franklin Gaudi

PROJECT MANAGER, ITRC, CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO

Dr. Gaudi holds certifications through the Irrigation Association (IA) as a Certified Irrigation Designer (CID) in surface, drip/micro, and sprinkler, as a Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC), and as a Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist (CAIS).  He is a former member of the Irrigation Association Certification Board where he assisted with maintaining existing certifications and developing new certifications.  Dr. Gaudi is also recognized through the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) as a Certified Crop Advisor.  

Dr. Gaudi’s current areas of interest are utilizing domestic wastewater for agricultural forage crops and landscape irrigation design and auditing.  Through research and projects at the ITRC, Dr. Gaudi is able to bring experience including real-world problems and solutions into the classroom. 

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