Put Water Conservation, Environmental Information at Industry’s Fingertips
Feb 10, 2009 — UgMO knows, and now, so does the golf world. The more than 25,000 visitors to golf’s mega-show, the GIS in New Orleans, were on hand to see UgMO – Advanced Sensor Technology’s (AST) patented, wireless, underground soil monitoring system with the most advanced and intuitive software available – make its debut in a big way.
Last week, AST’s brand new generation of wireless sensor technology and fully interactive software platform were introduced by golf’s most successful international champion and conservation advocate, Gary Player.
UgMO is a new generation of wireless soil monitoring technology with an in-ground system that operates via a wireless mesh network and an unrivaled software package, which leverages the latest agronomic research on the relationship between moisture, temperature and salinity in the soil’s root zone. By bundling the wireless hardware, analytic software and ongoing agronomic consultations, UgMO users experience water savings, reduced use of fertilizers and pesticides, and optimal playing conditions. “UgMO puts the smartest, most intuitive information available in the industry directly at our customers’ fingertips,” said Walt Norley, Founder and CEO of AST.
Grand Slam Champion Gary Player agrees: “This is no ordinary technology. This is must-have, breakthrough, environmental technology that gives golf course superintendents, property owners, architects, designers and others in this business the information that’s always been missing.”
“When does your turf need water? How much does it need? When and what type of fertilizers are necessary? How can you eliminate disease before it happens? UgMO knows, and UgMO users will, too,” said the Black Knight.
Player spoke to the environmental significance of that kind of informational intelligence. “Consider UgMO’s water conservation piece. The savings achieved in water, alone, will create not only a return on your investment, but it will also protect the earth’s most precious resource – water. That’s something we all must invest in,” said the environmentally-conscious Gary Player, who is known the world over for a golf course design portfolio of more than 300 golf courses.
Gary Player has personally experimented with cutting-edge conservation techniques on his ranch in the semi-desert Karoo of South Africa. Some years ago, he aspired to build a virtually “waterless” golf course, and to his credit, he has done just that. Player has since invited developers from various parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, to see the finished product which has now become a model for future Gary Player-designed golf courses.
Inspired by his brother and world-renowned conservationist Dr. Ian Player, Gary Player strives to make each golf course “a gift to nature” and believes that saving water is critical in today’s world. Hence, Player has given AST’s UgMO product his nod of approval.
What Does UgMO Know?
A lot. In addition to being the most advanced wireless sensor on the market, UgMO is different primarily because of its software and agronomic service subscription package. Unlike other soil monitoring devices which only focus on hardware, UgMO includes three powerful software components combined with agronomic support.
UgMO Sees – This is the data collection component. Each customer receives precise, highly-reliable data at each sensor location. UgMO has 20/20 vision. Accuracy matters when monitoring soil health.
UgMO Knows – UgMO Knows will interpret the data and advise to establish optimal upper and lower moisture, temperature and salinity thresholds to get into the UgMO Zone. Once the UgMO Zone is established, good things happen – with water savings and increased turf health at the top of the list.
UgMO Says – By analyzing the data and the thresholds for each location 24/7, UgMO Says makes necessary and appropriate suggestions or ‘tips’ to solve problems and enhance soil and turf health.
“Every community in the U.S. and around the world, including golf and sports turf, is increasingly concerned about what we’re putting into the ground,” Norley said. “The soil is the next frontier in the ‘green revolution’ and we are proud to be leading the industry in protecting it. UgMO’s wireless sensor design provides an unparalleled method to capture essential data that no one else can match, and now our UgMO software intelligence gives you absolute and precise indications of how to maximize resources, save money and improve turf health,” he said.
Norley added that with UgMO, clients could expect their water savings alone to be in the range of 10 to 25 percent. “Think of the dollars that can be saved from that and extended to your power, fertilizer and pesticide line items, too,” he said. “Our customers across the country tell us that the return on this system is priceless.
UgMO has been field-tested at some of America’s finest golf courses including Merion Golf Club, Desert Mountain Golf Club and Los Angeles Country Club, among others.
“Golf and Sports Turf is our initial entrance into the soil management world,” said Norley. “However, we roll out our new residential and commercial landscape products this spring, followed by agricultural systems early next year.”
UgMO is available through licensed distributors. For a distributor near you, go to UgMO.com.
About Advanced Sensor Technology, Inc. (AST)
Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pa., Advanced Sensor Technology, Inc. (AST) is a national environmental technology company that designs, manufactures and markets innovative, wireless soil sensor systems and software. This hardware, software and intuitive technology allows users to measure soil conditions in the root zone on a real time basis to optimize their irrigation and fertigation programs. The results include: less water used, less fertilizers and pesticides applied, less stress on supplies of critical natural resources like water and energy, and dramatic cost benefits for users.
For more information on UgMO, visit UgMO.com.
About Gary Player Design
Established in the early 1980s and globally recognized, Gary Player Design has branded over 300 layouts with the mark of a champion. The firm specializes in golf course design services, which revolve around building mutually-rewarding long-term relationships with its clients. Player is actively involved in each Gary Player Signature project. His vast experience in golf course design coupled with over 50 years of experience as a professional golfer have afforded him a unique understanding of the needs of the average golfer, the objectives of the developer and the concerns of the environment. An experienced technical staff works closely with Gary Player to implement his design philosophies into the highly detailed golf course drawings, which ultimately, bring Player’s conceptual ideas to life through the finished project. Gary Player Design is currently involved in over 50 developments in Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For additional information on the three tiers of brands offered – Black Knight™, Player™ and Gary Player Signature™ – as well as a listing of awards, visit www.garyplayerdesign.com.
Contact:
Jay Devine | Devine & Powers | jdevine@devinepowers.com | 215.880.0200
Christine Reimert | Devine & Powers | creimert@devinepowers.com | 610.639.2136
Gida Aden | Black Knight International | gida@garyplayer.com | 561.624.0300
