Retrospective coverage for October 23, 2026. First published October 26, 2026 06:07 -07:00 (Pacific time). This is an AI-assisted brief compiled from linked public source records; the coverage date is not the publication date.
Cal State San Marcos highlighted its long-running relationship with Carlsbad irrigation-equipment company Calsense in an Oct. 23 profile of alumnus A.J. van de Ven. The university said the company's campus systems combine weather information and sensors to adjust watering and alert staff to problems such as leaks or power outages. CSUSM report
CSUSM reported that Calsense had worked with the university since 2006 and credited the system with saving 30 million to 50 million gallons annually. That estimate came from the university profile, not an independent water-use audit.
Van de Ven, a 2004 graduate, moved from engineering into company leadership and became board chair and chief technology officer earlier in 2026. The profile also described an internship program that had led to full-time jobs for several CSUSM students.
Calsense's customers include municipalities, universities and theme parks. Its equipment serves institutional landscapes, connecting a North County technology business with day-to-day water management.