At Sherwood Park Golf Course, lush greens and pristine fairways are more than aesthetic, they’re part of the course’s identity. But it lacked smart irrigation maintaining those conditions while managing water consumption and operating costs is no small task.

That’s where Direct Control stepped in.

In a move that highlights our strength in intelligent systems integration, we delivered a smart irrigation solution that seamlessly combined LoRaWAN field sensors, Milesight gateways, Modbus-connected controllers, and the Tridium Niagara platform. The result was a fully connected smart irrigation ecosystem that enables remote control, efficient water use, and data-driven decision-making, all without disrupting day-to-day operations.

 

Understanding the challenge

Sherwood Park needed a smarter way to manage irrigation across their expansive landscape. The old system lacked precision and offered no real-time visibility or automated control. Manual checks and rigid schedules meant water was often overused or applied inefficiently, especially with variable weather.

But deploying a modern system on a golf course presents unique challenges:

•  Long distances between irrigation zones
•  Minimal existing communication infrastructure
•  Demand for seamless user experience with minimal training

These constraints made traditional wired control systems impractical. We needed a wireless, scalable, and robust solution, and that’s where our integration strategy came into play.

 

The integration stack

LoRaWAN sensors for long-range, low-power communication

We began by deploying LoRaWAN-enabled soil moisture and environmental sensors throughout the course. LoRa (long range) technology was chosen for its unmatched ability to transmit small data packets over long distances with minimal power usage, perfect for sprawling outdoor sites with no cabling infrastructure.

These sensors continuously monitor:

•  Soil moisture levels
•  Ambient temperature and humidity
•  Rainfall data

Milesight gateways: Bridging the field to the network

To relay the sensor data back to a central platform, we installed Milesight LoRaWAN gateways in key locations. These devices act as the backbone of the system, collecting data from multiple sensors and pushing it to our control environment.

Why Milesight?

•  Robust IP-rated design for outdoor use
•  High sensitivity and range for reliable communication
•  Easy integration into existing network environments

Modbus controllers: Linking devices with logic

In the field, Modbus capable smart irrigation controllers were used to actuate the valves and manage irrigation cycles. We configured them to receive sensor data and control instructions over the network.

Using Modbus RTU and TCP/IP protocols, we ensured seamless communication between:

•  Controllers
•  Gateways
•  The supervisory control layer

This level of device interoperability is critical to delivering a system that can scale and adapt as needed.

Tridium Niagara: The intelligence layer

At the heart of the system sits the Tridium Niagara Framework, acting as the central hub. It:

•  Aggregates sensor and device data
•  Processes automation logic and schedules
•  Provides remote access via secure cloud interfaces
•  Generates alerts and visual trends for grounds staff

Niagara was the key to creating a user-friendly interface that masked technical complexity, enabling the Sherwood Park team to interact with the system through intuitive dashboards and mobile controls, no deep technical training required.

 

A seamless experience for the client

Thanks to this unified approach:

•  The smart irrigation system automatically adjusts based on real-time soil conditions and weather inputs.
•  Grounds staff can view and control every irrigation zone from a tablet, laptop, or mobile device.
•  The club saves water, lowers energy use, and reduces the risk of overwatering.

And most importantly, the system just works.

We didn’t just deliver hardware and software; we delivered a fully integrated solution that solved real-world challenges through smart engineering and system design.

 

Conclusion

What sets Direct Control apart isn’t just that we work with the best technologies, it’s that we know how to bring them together and our work at Sherwood Park Golf Course is a testament to that capability.

By combining LoRaWAN, Milesight, Modbus, and Tridium Niagara into one cohesive system, we enabled smart irrigation, greater control, and a more sustainable future for the course.

Read the case study here