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Case IH tractor conducts land forming activities using Trimble VerticalPoint RTK grade control for better water management.

Water management

Whether you are a farmer or an earthworks contractor, Trimble’s innovative land forming and subsurface drainage solutions allow for optimal water distribution on every farm.

A farmer or earthworks contractor uses Trimble water management solutions to make land forming adjustments along the bank of a waterway.

Manage excess water

Move water from where it is to where you need it to be

Improve water use efficiency

Control the water table for ideal root depth and optimized yields

Reduce erosion and runoff

Create more farmable area while minimizing soil disturbance

Build your customized approach to precision

Combine Trimble products and features to design a unique water management solution that fits the needs of your cropping type, equipment mix and operator experience.

Streamlined grading
Land Forming

Streamlined grading

The FieldLevel II system facilitates survey, design and land forming using existing grading equipment.

Maximum vertical accuracy
Land Forming

Maximum vertical accuracy

The VerticalPoint RTK grade control system networks multiple base stations to provide dynamic positioning to multiple vehicles.

Elevated design abilities
Land Forming

Elevated design abilities

WM-Form® design software can help fix underproducing farmland, while also controlling costs and minimizing topsoil disturbance.

Simplified surveying
Water Management

Simplified surveying

The WM-Survey II app makes it easy to create basic field surveys, plus auto-design subscriptions for rice levees, terraces and waterways.
End-to-end workflows
Subsurface Drainage

End-to-end workflows

The WM-Drain® solution is part of a concept-to-completion toolset that streamlines the survey, analysis, design, installation and mapping steps of surface and subsurface drainage.

Optimal drainage placement
Subsurface Drainage

Optimal drainage placement

WM-Subsurface design software works with Trimble’s WM-Drain® solution to ensure optimal placement of tile and drains in both surface and subsurface drainage projects.

Simplified surveying
Water Management

Simplified surveying

The WM-Survey II app makes it easy to create basic field surveys, plus auto-design subscriptions for rice levees, terraces and waterways.
Made for the work you do
Guidance & Steering

Made for the work you do

The TMX-2050 display system is ideal for farmers and earthworks contractors needing water management capabilities, especially those using the FieldLevel II system or WM-Drain solution.

Get accuracy + uptime
Correction Services

Get accuracy + uptime

CenterPoint® VRS correction service provides instant access to RTK-level positioning within a fixed network – ideal for drainage and land forming projects.

Land Forming

Solutions from concept to completion

Some land just won’t cooperate on its own – Trimble can help.

When your land doesn’t drain well or has too many low spots or hills, it can't produce consistently. You either struggle against it year after year or you just let it sit idle. Either way, it isn’t making you money. That's why Trimble has developed an end-to-end approach that farmers and earthworks contractors can use for their land forming projects.

Survey
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Easily collect and import 3D field data with Trimble’s WM-Survey II™ app or WM-Topo™ survey system, FieldLevel™ II system, WM-Form® design software and TMX-2050™ display system.

  • Map your fields with precision RTK measurements to ensure the most accurate field surface designs
  • Use Trimble displays to record boundaries, section line alignments and interior data of the field
  • Use the WM-Survey II app, WM-Topo survey system or the FieldLevel II Survey and Design module on your TMX-2050 display to collect topographic data or section lines in hard-to-reach areas
  • Import topographic surveys into the WM-Form design software for analysis and design
Analyze
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Analyze topographic data in the WM-Form design software to identify surface problems that are limiting yield potential.

  • View the original field topography and slopes in 3D
  • Determine areas that require leveling, surface drainage, furrow irrigation or other sub-designs
  • Use the analysis suite to get a clear picture of drainage issues before you design and validation that design doesn’t highlight any other areas that need further attention before moving soil
Design
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Create an optimal field surface using WM-Form design software that balances your farming practices with water movement requirements and earthworks costs.

  • Produce multi-directional land forming designs
  • Create sub-design areas, including level pads, pipe beds, tail ditches or topsoil
  • Add section lines, hinges and exclusive zones for land leveling
  • Generate furrow irrigation designs that account for row constraint and cross-slope inputs
  • Create full design reports before you ever pay for land forming designs – pay by area only when you need to move dirt and a control file is required
Estimate
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Use your new design to estimate earthworks volumes and costs using WM-Form design software.

  • Provide a design cost estimate that suits your customer’s requirements
  • Set a fixed fee or calculate a fee based on the total volume moved
Form
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Leverage your 3D design to form the field using Trimble’s FieldLevel II system.

  • Import the field design generated in your WM-Form design software into your TMX-2050 display system
  • Use the FieldLevel II system to form the land according to the design
  • Perform earthworks operations using any make or model of tractor or scraper
Verify
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Use the WM-Topo survey system to validate that each design has been accurately completed.

  • Perform spot checks for grade and elevation to validate your land was formed according to the design

WM-Survey II

The only tool you need to start managing your water resources

In addition to creating basic field surveys for use in a variety of applications, the WM-Survey II app becomes even more powerful by adding our advanced feature set for terrace, waterway and rice levee system designs.

Water Management

Resources & tools

Want to learn more about Trimble precision technology? Check out one of our resources or explore additional solution areas such as planting, implement control or land preparation.

Additional solutions
More accurate drainage
Case Study

More accurate drainage

Learn why farmer Andy Zimmerman uses WM-Drain for his subsurface drainage projects.

WM-Survey II ROI
Calculator

WM-Survey II ROI

Discover how surveys can make water management more accurate and effective.

Subsurface Drainage

Take a comprehensive approach to drainage

When you want to make the most of every field, Trimble is up to the challenge.

Soils that are well-drained provide a wide range of benefits for your farm. From start to finish, Trimble's subsurface drainage solutions help you take a more comprehensive approach to your next project, so you can save time and money.

Survey
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Easily collect and import 3D field data with Trimble’s WM-Survey II™ app, WM-Topo™ survey system or your TMX-2050™ display system.

  • Use the TMX-2050 display system to record boundaries, section line alignments and interior data of the field.
Analyze
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Analyze the 3D field data using WM-Subsurface™ design software to make better informed drainage decisions and plans.

  • View data from any angle and exaggerate the vertical to visualize the shape and slopes of the field
  • Determine the various watershed zones of the field to assist with main, sub-main and lateral pipe placement
  • Configure contours at any interval to display the topography and relative elevations
  • Enable flow arrows and tributary lines to assist with tracing the natural surface water flows
  • View the field analysis over the top of aerial images to review your data in another context
Design
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Design and verify a complete 3D drainage system using WM-Subsurface design software, or design drainage lines on-the-go without having to leave your vehicle.

  • Use WM-Subsurface drawing tools to tie laterals to mains, create parallel lateral spacings and clip drainage lines
  • In WM-Subsurface design software or on your TMX-2050 display system, allow Autoslope to produce optimal depth designs for a more consistent water table (which helps to minimize nutrient loss)
  • Verify that the pipe network will successfully drain to the main outlet before beginning the installation
Install
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Take your drainage designs back to the field and utilize the WM-Drain® solution’s module on your TMX-2050 display system alongside Trimble’s 3D machine control technology for precise installation of your pipe or surface ditches.

  • Control depth automatically, ensuring pipe and ditches are installed to the design
  • Control the boot pitch automatically on parallel link plows, providing complete control of the machine and ensuring the best accuracy possible
  • Switch to Point and Slope mode for manual slope control and installation or when using pitch-only control during RTK dropouts to ensure completion of drainage runs even in adverse satellite conditions
  • Use GNSS RTK combined with T3™ Enhanced Terrain Compensation Technology for roll-corrected 3D positioning
  • Recalculate design on-the-go when the plow hits unexpected underground obstacles
  • Map the as-applied drainage lines while installing to keep as a record for aiding with invoicing and locating installed pipes in the future
Map
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Map the true location of your installed drainage pipes or ditches and utilize the records for future maintenance or drainage expansion projects.

  • Automatically log 3D drain maps synchronously while the drainage machine is being controlled by the WM-Drain solution
  • Transfer the mapped data using Trimble Ag Software to WM-Subsurface design software, where it will be stored as an independent layer

Have questions?

Trimble’s worldwide network of authorized resellers provides precision agriculture solutions, insight and support at a local level.