Specifications of the components

The following is an extract taken from Irrigation Specification, for Residential and commercial use.
 SECTION 02811
 IRRIGATION SYSTEM
From the company Century Equipment.
It describes precisely each part of the component, commercialised by such company, giving a tolerance and describing physically the shape.

"
[...]
C. Sprinkler Heads – Long Range 

 1. The full or part-circle sprinklers shall be a gear driven rotary type. The sprinkler shall be of a pop-up design with an overall height of 8-1/2”, a body diameter of 2-1/2”, a cap diameter of 3-3/8” and a pop-up stroke of 4”. The sprinkler shall be mounted at finish grade and shall have a 1” NPT or BSP female threaded inlet. The sprinkler shall be capable of covering up to a 52’ radius at 60 pounds per square inch pressure with a discharge rate of 10.2 gallons per minute. Water distribution shall be via two (2) nozzles that thread into a 2” diameter nozzle turret. The dual color-coded nozzles shall elevate 4” when in operation.

 2. The body and cap of the sprinkler shall be injection molded from ABS, a non-corrosive, impact-resistant, UV-resistant, heavy-duty plastic material. The cover and nozzle top shall be injection molded from Alcryn, a synthetic rubber, and be capable of providing excellent impact resistance. The sprinkler shall be available with a plastic or stainless steel riser. The sprinkler shall have a plastic filter screen sized to prevent entry of foreign material into the nozzle. All components shall be removable from the top of the sprinkler case via a snap ring retention method.

 3. The sprinkler shall have a single-piece riser/body seal that regulates flutings during pop-up and retraction to clear any debris from around the riser and a heavy-duty stainless-steel spring to ensure positive retraction. Rotation shall be accomplished by a water lubricated planetary gear-drive assembly driven by a variable reversing stator that maintains a constant speed of rotation with all nozzles. The variable reversing stator shall require no adjustments when changing nozzles.

 4. The sprinkler shall incorporate an anti-vandal arc memory feature that allows the nozzle to be turned beyond its watering borders without incurring any internal damage. If turned beyond its watering borders, the sprinkler shall automatically return to the previously set arc. The sprinkler shall have a standard rubber cover available in black, or lavender for effluent water use applications.
[...]
"

Shapes and Functions of the Articial Irrigation

The main function of the irrigation process is to be related to the agriculture.

But there is more, other ways this technique can be employed for.

Agricultural Applications

Their main aims are to improve the yield of the fields, that are naturally watered by rainwater or occasional floods. More classifications can be made according to the specific aim of the irrigation or following the methods employed:

Surface instead of Subsurface irrigation:

The former being the most common way since primitive societies were born, is based on canals and banks; the latter depending strictly onto the soil configuration and often the technology available.

Drip irrigation or Sprinkler irrigation:

The first allow for more controlled watering, the last is simply the spraying of water over the fields by means of whatsoever technique involving gauges and sprinklers, with no guarantees about uniform watering.

Dust Control

There exist national regulations regarding the emission of dust in the atmosphere. For example, demolishing a building require to spray the building site with water, while dust is being generated. This way, dust is kept down.

" La valutazione dello stato della qualità dell’aria ambiente è regolata dalle direttive  europee  2008/50/CE e 2004/107/CE e  a livello italiano dal D.Lgs 155/2010 e s.m.i.." 

source: ISPRA.

Mining

During the first stages of mineral mining, there's a process called "leach cycle", which involves irrigation of mineral chunks with a leach solution, to dissolve the valuable mineral and take it apart from the rest. Drip irrigation is preferred not to ruin the material.

Animal Husbandry

This is another field where irrigation techniques are applied. Feeding large amounts of animals requires hydraulic efforts. There can be both open containers both enforced tubes, according to the policy of the breeders.