In this tutorial, you'll create a complete automatic irrigation plan for a 200 m² property (20 × 10 m) step by step. In 10 minutes, you'll have a finished project with sprinklers, zones, pipes, and an equipment list.

Step 1: Draw your property boundary

Open the SmartPluvia planner and select the Boundary tool (B) from the toolbar.

  1. Click on the canvas to place the first corner point of your property
  2. Continue clicking to add corner points around the perimeter
  3. Double-click to close the boundary
  4. Set dimensions in the sidebar: 20 m × 10 m

Tip: you can use the built-in "Rectangle" template instead of drawing manually.

Step 2: Add landscape objects

Select the Object tool (T) and place items that don't need irrigation:

  • House — the main building on the property
  • Trees — large trees with canopy
  • Flower beds — garden areas (you can add drip irrigation later)

These objects automatically create exclusion zones — SmartPluvia won't allow sprinkler placement in these areas.

Step 3: Place sprinklers

Select the Sprinkler tool (S). From the catalog, choose a model — for example, Hunter MP Rotator MP3000 with a 9 m radius.

  1. Click on the plan to place a sprinkler
  2. Adjust the arc angle: 90° for corners, 180° for walls, 360° for the center of the lawn
  3. Follow the head-to-head rule: each sprinkler's radius should reach the adjacent sprinkler
  4. For a 20 × 10 m property, you'll need approximately 6–8 sprinklers

Step 4: Create irrigation zones

The Zone tool (Z) groups sprinklers that will operate simultaneously from one valve.

  • Draw around a group of sprinklers to create a zone
  • Each zone gets its own solenoid valve
  • Watch the sidebar to ensure the zone's total flow doesn't exceed the valve capacity

For a 200 m² property, 2–3 zones are usually sufficient.

Step 5: Route pipes

Select the Pipe tool (P) and connect the system components:

  1. From the water connection point to the valve box
  2. From the valve box to each sprinkler in the zone

SmartPluvia automatically calculates pipe diameter based on flow rate and run length.

Step 6: Review and export

Open the Statistics panel to review:

  • Coverage — percentage of area under irrigation (target: 95%+)
  • Total flow — combined water usage across all zones
  • Equipment list — bill of materials for all components

Use the AI analysis feature for optimization recommendations. Then export your project to PDF or SVG for the installation team.

What's next?

Now that your basic plan is ready, you can add drip irrigation for flower beds, view the project in 3D mode, or share it with friends via link. SmartPluvia guides you every step of the way! For drip irrigation, consider Netafim — the world leader from Israel (since 1965). Standard Generic PE/PVC pipes and fittings are a budget-friendly option for most systems.