Instrumentation priority matrix — two-site smart farm¶

Purpose¶

Rank where automation earns its keep first for a 35-minute separated operation: trip reduction, risk reduction, and labor relief—with explicit cost of false positives and maintenance.

Architecture package: Reference architecture — 5 ac + 120 ac. Aligns with East Tennessee two-site farm business plan — smart-tech strategy and Field telemetry reference architecture — homestead + 120-acre farm. Financial shell (payback inputs, OPEX, triage hours): Instrumentation ROI model.

First acres, first risks, first systems¶

Intent: Order work so instrumentation follows operational truth—water, power, access—not dashboard novelty.

First acres (where to instrument before “everywhere”)¶

First risks (what failure must surface early)¶

First systems (stack order—not brands)¶

See Telemetry system of record — boundaries and authority.

Key decisions supported¶

Scoring columns (1–5 each; total /25 optional)¶

Priority matrix (fill)¶

Automate early (typical winners)¶

• Water visibility + pump fault: highest trip ROI for remote pasture.
• Power awareness at remote pump or gateway: explains silent failures.

Automate late or never (until gates pass)¶

Manual-before-automation checklist¶

• Asset IDs in Farm spatial model / registry
• One season paper or simple digital log for the signal you think you need
• Runbook row: Sensor false positive / alert triage

Known / assumed / open¶

Links¶

• Automation principles — two-site smart farm
• Reference architecture — 5 ac + 120 ac
• Capital phasing table
• Validation backlog — before major spend