GrasPro data is a interesting Q+A type blog where we ask GrasPro nine questions on the benifits of using data collection system such as this.
Can you explain briefly what is GrasPro?
GrasPro is an advanced online platform made specifically for turf. It has the most comprehensive data range available for turf managers and aids in data processing, in-depth analysis and visual statistical reports.
Using the system – which can be accessed by multiple people with varying levels of access – you can easily keep track of your daily turf maintenance operations, manage your team, machinery, pitch usage and fine tune your pitch care schedule to lower costs.
How can Turf managers use GrasPro to improve their pitch?
Using GrasPro allows you to analyse your pitch’s reaction to maintenance, training and games, and this can have several benefits.
The system is designed so you can get from it what you need. Whether that’s improving the pitch, working on problem areas or sharing information with coaching staff or management to relay the condition of pitches to prevent overuse.
You can fine-tune irrigation, light or fertiliser programmes to precise amounts, manage wear in any problem areas and understand what the pitch needs and how it reacts.
What sport/sectors of turf managers are using the systems?
GrasPro is used by football clubs, international teams, and federations worldwide. Our clients use it on natural, hybrid and synthetic turf, and there are features allow under soil heating, vacuum and ventilation systems, and light rigs to be tracked.
How can turf managers balance the costs of GrasPro, is it self-funding in a way?
As mentioned above, GrasPro is primarily used to improve pitches and manage pitch maintenance. Often this results in better surfaces that can take more games with fewer or no postponements, and for commercial operations, this generates additional income, while for professional clubs, it avoids cancelled training sessions or lower pitch quality.
Monitoring inputs can also be a money saver. If through tracking the data you find you don’t need your grow lights on for as long or a certain area of a pitch doesn’t need them, then there is a direct saving. The same approach is used for the amount of water to achieve a certain moisture level or the amount of fertiliser and other inputs you might use. But the only way you’ll know definitively is by tracking the data.
The system has been used to assess the number of pitches and stadiums needed for a tournament and reduce it on larger scale events. The saving here is considerably due to stadium rental, in-stadium advertising, pitch maintenance, travel costs and accommodation of the teams, but generally, savings are all relative to the user and their situation.
How can GrasPro be used to make a site more environmentally sustainable?
GrasPro was used extensively at Forest Green Rovers to monitor their maintenance to certify the stadium pitch as a vegan. So, in this case, it was as sustainable as it gets!
Tracking your water usage over a period of time gives a good idea of how much you use and opens up the possibility of making a certain percentage of that recycled rain water.
Generally speaking, monitoring water and light inputs and reducing them where appropriate positively impacts the environment. The use of water is especially important, and making sure you’re only using what you need is vital for the environment because it is a scalable issue. If you’re overwatering on one pitch, it might not seem as bad, but the waste becomes considerable if you’re doing it on an eight-pitch training site. And again, it comes back to money-saving because you are spending money you don’t need to.
How can success of using GrasPro be monitored?
What success looks like is really down to the individual and their aims, but generally, pitch quality is what it’s measured on. You can also base it on increasing pitch usage, lowering inputs or simply figuring out a solution for a problem area.
In the long term, with historical data, success can be noticing a trend where disease has occurred previously and either taking preventative measures or knowing exactly what to do.
What are the top two/three benefits of using the systems?
- Improving your overall pitch quality.
- Saving money and working in an environmentally friendly way.
- Better communication. With reports and detailed data, showing others why you are doing what you’re doing or why you need x, y or z becomes much more straightforward.
- We are completely independent, so our clients use whatever machinery and materials works best for them.
What are the typical costs of such a subscription?
It’s a configuration of the number of pitches, users and other services. It is important that we do not limit the functions or features of the software because we believe that every customer can decide for themselves what they want to use.
Can you give a couple of case studies where the use of the system , is reaping benefits?
FIFA case study. Please find attached below.
Grounds Person Testimonial – Adam Witchell of Idverde
Top tool for anyone who collects data from the pitches they manage. I used it to monitor the feeds I apply to the pitches as I generally use organics so I could see how long it took to kick in and the longevity I got out of it, by taking in account the temperatures and amount of rain/irrigation applied.
I also use to input the temperatures, rain and humidity to put markers for when disease might begin to creep in and l also found it to be useful to look back over the information from previous seasons, to monitor how the pitch is doing and what I did better then or what is working better now.
It also monitors your machinery use so you can count the amount of hours each machine does so you know when to service it or sharpen the units, it will also count the amount of time you use a lighting rig in a certain area.
I always used the data when sending reports to mangers and coaches especially when areas on the pitch are looking more worn as you input the amount of usage it has had in certain areas (usually through the middle of the pitch), it allows you to download pictures as well. These are just a few points but it has so much more.
Brian working alongside GrasPro in the publishing of this blog, if you have any questions on such systems or ideas, please feel free to leave thoughts in the comments box below.
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