Great majority o mathematical simulation models of water application by sprinkler requires laborious tasks of calibration and validation and high processing power of computers as well. This study was conducted in order to calibrate and validate the SIA - Simulation Model for Sprinkler Irrigation, referring to the operation of rain guns in real field conditions. The Shuffled Complex Evolution (SCE-UA) global optimization method was implemented in the SIA, aiming for adjusting the calibration parameters, based on the semi empirical model of Richards & Weatherhead, using field tests from PLONA - RL250 rain gun. The parameters obtained through calibration, for a given configuration of the sprinkler, were kept constant and, subsequently, used in validation for different wind and operating conditions. The Shuffled Complex Evolution (SCE-UA) method showed high level of adjustment quality and fast convergence. The SIA model was able to predict the rate of a PLONA - RL250 rain gun application and uniformity of water distribution system adequately both in calibration stage as well as in validation stage.
gun sprinkler; uniformity; computational model; wind
