Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to describe a web-based system to assist on-farm design and management of surface irrigation systems. This application was designed to be an appropriate tool for generating design alternatives associated with attributes of technical, economic, and environmental nature, and handling and evaluating a large number of input and output data. It also allows the evaluation and ranking of design alternatives using multicriteria analysis where criteria are weighted according to the priorities and perception of the designer and users, and provides an appropriate dialogue between the designer and the user, with an effective help support with information about equipments and irrigation practices. The application has tools for the resolution of specific problems, such as land leveling, pipe sizing and economic calculation. Built with a simple user friendly interface, with several optional languages and online help for technical aspects, this tool will contribute to support the dissemination of knowledge, design procedures and field practices of surface irrigation. Tests and demonstrations are being done on Hetao Irrigation District, China.
Highlights
Information and communication technologies (ICT) in agriculture domain have allowed the creation of new technological paradigms, like precision agriculture or digital agriculture, and the facilitated access to knowledge in a quick and efficient manner
This paper presents a web-based application to support on-farm design and management of surface irrigation systems, an application that allows an easy access to simulation models, data and knowledge, within a Decision Support Systems (DSS) framework, to improve the procedures of evaluation, operation and design of field irrigation systems
The web-based application being developed aims to overcome some of the difficulties of accurate knowledge transfer to field technicians and farmers, which can have major environmental and economical consequences, resulting in excess water use in regions where water scarcity is a reality and where there is need for surface irrigation improvements and where expert technical support is more incipient
Summary
Information and communication technologies (ICT) in agriculture domain have allowed the creation of new technological paradigms, like precision agriculture or digital agriculture, and the facilitated access to knowledge in a quick and efficient manner. In the context of irrigation, ICT have allowed great advances in real-time data aquisition and processing, as well as improvement in project and management procedures. This translates in a more rational use of resources and in productivity increase. There are, many challenges regarding the knowledge transmission efficacy, the practical application of the technologies by the farmers, and the economic sustainability. These challenges have in common requiring considerable financial investment for the implementation and for the continued support on the delivery of knowledge to the end users, the farmers or the technicians
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