SprinklerMap started from a practical problem: designing irrigation for a residential garden means doing sums nobody wants to do by hand — head-to-head overlap, matched precipitation rate across different sprinklers, pressure loss along the pipes, how many zones the meter's flow can actually carry. Professional software does all of it, but it costs money and assumes you already know what you are doing. Free online calculators stop at the first number.
The tool starts from the perimeter you draw — on a satellite map, from measurements, or surveyed with GPS — and derives: sprinkler placement using four different algorithms (Perimeter priority, Area priority, and the SACO family in its Halton and Voronoi variants), the resulting coverage as a percentage, precipitation rate in mm/h, pressure loss with the Hazen-Williams formula, water demand with the Penman-Monteith method from FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56, the split into hydrozones, and a printable materials list. Every number on screen comes from one of those formulas, not from a guess.
What it does not do: it is not a substitute for a signed hydraulic design, and the materials list is a starting point for requesting a quote, not a bill of quantities. Manufacturer data comes from their public spec sheets and can change without notice. Above all, the tool works on the numbers you give it: if the pressure you enter is not the one measured at the tap with the system running, everything downstream of it is wrong.
SprinklerMap has been online since 2024 and is continuously updated with new features based on user feedback. From the first automatic sprinkler-placement algorithm, the tool has evolved to include GPS mode, water simulation, a printable materials list and multilingual support for users across Europe.
Who is behind SprinklerMap
Giacomo Falaschi — developer and editor
Behind SprinklerMap there is Giacomo Falaschi, who is also responsible for what gets published here. This is not an irrigation design firm: what I do is write and maintain the tool and the guides that go with it, starting from concrete problems — measuring flow and pressure, choosing compatible nozzles, separating hydrozones correctly and producing a useful materials list before digging. I do not offer design services, site visits or installation. About me → · contact form · LinkedIn
Every new feature is exercised inside the tool on cases built for the purpose: small gardens, irregular areas, mixed beds, hedges, slopes and systems with limited flow. Those are tests on the model, not measurements on installed systems. The guides are updated by cross-checking manufacturer data sheets and public technical documentation (FAO 56, EPA WaterSense, ASABE and Irrigation Association guidelines). A group of people who use the tool has formed around it and sends reports, corrections and topic suggestions through the contact page: I discuss and implement them, but responsibility for what gets published stays with me.
How we work
Verifiable numbers
Every figure used on this site has a source stated on the Methodology page: formulas, reference standards, and where the savings percentages come from. If a number has no source, we don't publish it.
The formulas we use — Hazen-Williams for pressure loss, Penman-Monteith (FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56) for water demand and Matched Precipitation Rate for uniformity across zones — are listed with their sources on the Methodology page, along with the origin of every savings percentage quoted on this site.
Free, no account to start
Drawing, GPS survey and the materials list work without signing up. The free account is only needed for automatic placement and soil simulation.
No plugin, no subscription, no installation. The tool runs directly in the browser on any device — smartphone, tablet or computer.
Stated limits
Every guide carries a note at the end on the limits of the values it reports. We would rather say where the tool stops than pretend it reaches everywhere.
Pressure, radius, flow and cost figures are indicative and computed under standard conditions: the real result depends on the pressure available, the meter, the soil and the sprinklers chosen. For complex systems we still recommend having a qualified technician check the design.
The guides published on this site are written and reviewed by me. The method is: read the manufacturers' data sheets and the public technical documentation, check the calculations inside the tool on cases built for the purpose, correct on the strength of reader reports. Where an article compares models, it compares the manufacturers' stated specifications, and it says so. There are no external reviewers: if a piece is reviewed by someone else, I say so in the article.
Technical references: manufacturer data sheets (Hunter, Rain Bird, Irritec, Gardena), FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56 (Penman-Monteith), ASABE irrigation design guidelines, ISPRA hydrological data and ARERA tariffs for the Italian context, EPA WaterSense documentation for water efficiency.
Limitations of the guides: the pressure, radius, flow, cost and savings figures shown are indicative and based on standard conditions. Actual results depend on the pressure available in your system, the meter's flow rate, soil type, terrain slope and the specifications of the chosen sprinklers. For complex or professional systems, verification by a qualified technician is recommended.
Updates: articles are updated when the data sheets of the reference products change or when new regulatory data becomes available. The update date is visible at the top of each article.
Frequently asked questions
Is SprinklerMap really free?
Yes, completely. You can design, save and print the materials list without paying anything. Advanced features such as Google login let you save your projects in the cloud.
Can I use it for a professional project?
Yes. SprinklerMap is used both by homeowners and by professional gardeners and installers. The materials list is designed to be taken directly to your supplier.
How can I contact you with suggestions?
Write to us from the contact page. We read every message and update the tool based on real user feedback.
