Optimising drainage
What is the problem?
Cropping rotations, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent, intense storms in Tasmania are making local farms more vulnerable to waterlogging. Waterlogging can happen when rainfall exceeds your soil’s ability to drain away excess water.
Why is it important?
Waterlogging and poor drainage can increase risk of crop loss and reduce paddock productivity, leading to financial losses. Preventing waterlogging helps you avoid delays in land preparation and spring seeding, reduces the risk of rot diseases, and minimises harvest disruptions.
What does success look like?
Manage areas that are prone to waterlogging due to soil structure, soil texture, and/or topography cost-effectively/Improve your yields and reduce losses through better water management.
Encompassed technologies
Drone technologies
- Drones can be deployed easily, cover relatively large areas quickly and achieve ultra-Innovative resolution image capture.
DroneAg
Collect Innovative-resolution elevation data to support drainage planning and flow modelling.
Use mapped data to evaluate and compare the return on investment of different drainage options — such as deep drains, shallow drains, or subsurface systems — before implementation.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
JB HI-FI
Drones enable precise aerial spraying of pesticides and fertilisers. With obstacle sensors, terrain-following radar, and automated flight paths, they minimise drift and input waste — especially useful for small or hard-to-reach plots.
Ensure appropriate licensing and training prior to purchase.
Estimated Cost
From entry-level mapping drones (≈ $500–3 k) to advanced multispectral units (≈ $5 k–25 k) and large spraying platforms (≈ $25 k–300 k+)
Satellite imaging
- NDVI is useful for identifying crop establishment and growth variability and assess the impact of waterlogging on crop biomass.
Data Farming
Platform provides current and historical satellite imagery showing NDVI, cloud cover.
Autozones pasture with suggested variable rate fertilizer requirements which is compatible with major farm machinery systems, decreases input costs.
Estimated Cost
"AUD 395 / year (Advanced plan)
AUD 795 / year (Pro plan)"
Soil and Topography mapping
- Differentiates soil types and characteristics for consideration in optimal drainage design.
Ag Logic - Precision agriculture services
Leverages EM38 soil mapping and topographic surveys to assess subsurface conditions and landscape variation.
Supports drainage planning through waterflow modelling to design optimal drainage layouts tailored to specific soil and slope profiles.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Soil and Topography mapping
- Accurate elevation data means minimal earth moved to achieve the same water movement outcome.
- Savings in fuel, equipment, labour and time.
- Improves yields and minimises costs by controlling excess water.
T3RRA
T3RRA software leverages elevation data and topographic modelling to optimise field drainage and landforming design.
Compatible with machinery like John Deere’s iGrade, it enables precise surveying, planning, and execution of earthworks to improve water movement and reduce soil disruption.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Trimble FieldLevel II
Trimble FieldLevel II offers an end-to-end solution for land levelling, combining surveying, topographic data collection, and drainage design.
It enables precise control of scraper blades to automate and optimise earthworks for improved water movement and field uniformity.
Estimated Cost
N/A (quote required)
Automated control
- Minimise human error by eliminating manual adjustments.
- RTK-based system works reliably in poor visibility and rough weather conditions including wind, dust and at night.
- Integrate with existing hardware.
- Integrate with contractors offering laser-controlled machinery as a service for smaller farms.
John Deere iGrade
iGrade automates scraper blade adjustments and provides slope and direction calculators to support accurate land levelling.
Used in combination with T3RRA Cutta, it enables advanced planning of levelling operations and even optimised field routing.
Estimated Cost
~ AUD 6,000 – 15,000+
OptiSurface
Optiworks uses RTK-GPS surveys to design drainage and landforming solutions that minimise earthmoving. It integrates with existing tractor hydraulics to automatically control scraper, ditcher, or tile plow implements.
Estimated Cost
From ≈ AUD 297 (for basic design service)