لخّصلي

1. The irrigation project authorities are not committed to maintaining
their canal infrastructure, as evidenced by a quick fi eld tour that
clearly indicates extensive deferred maintenance. This lack of maintenance is due to the lack of accountability and fi nancial transparency, lack of a maintenance plan, and other reasons.
2. Budgets are inadequate to sustain the automation project. This is
especially common in some projects in which donors fund theautomation and the government has no commitment to maintaining it. An annual maintenance budget of at least 15% of the cost of
PLC-based automation components is a good starting point.
3. There is a rush to design and install a large modernization project
within a few years, although the project staff does not have adequate experience with modernization concepts, much less with
modern SCADA and automation equipment.
4. The project staff is not qualifi ed to operate and maintain the equipment, and the project authorities are unwilling to spend enough
money to train the staff properly in advance for many months or
years.
5. There is a problem obtaining suffi cient electronic diagnostic equipment and spare parts before the modernization is implemented.
6. There are unreasonable expectations of massive water conservation
and easy operation.
7. There is a high turnover rate among irrigation project staff.
8. There is not a clear, advanced delineation of responsibilities among
the designers, builders, operators, SCADA, integrators (see Glossary), and others.
9. The irrigation project managers want to use inexpensive PLCs and
sensors, regardless of the requirements and capabilities.
10. There is not a clear understanding that there will inevitably be
setbacks with implementation.
11. The project managers want to invent, develop, or construct their
own sensors and actuators.
12. There are no qualifi ed local integrator companies or organizations
in the area.
13. There is no well-defi ned operational objective.
14. The people who ultimately operate and maintain the new system
are not brought into early and continued discussions as important
participants. Instead, all the planning and design meetings are
limited to designers and high-level irrigation project offi cials and
economists.
15. The designers have little or no experience with modern irrigation
system design.
16. Hardware manufacturers promote a system based on available
hardware. The common saying is then true: “When all you have is
a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.