Drainage Network Research Articles

Development of an Integrated Urban Flood Model and Its Application in a Concave-Down Overpass Area

Urban floods caused by extreme rainstorm events have increased in recent decades, particularly in concave-down bridge zones. To simulate urban flooding processes accurately, an integrated urban flood model (IUFM) was constructed by coupling a distributed urban surface runoff model based on the cellular automata framework (CA-DUSRM), a widely used pipe convergence module in the storm water management model (SWMM), with an inundation module that describes the overflow expansion process associated with terrain and land-cover. The IUFM was used in a case study of the Anhua Bridge (a typical concave-down overpass) study area in Beijing, China. The spatial-temporal variations in flood depth modeled by the IUFM were verified to be reliable by comparison with actual measurements and other simulations. The validated IUFM was used to obtain temporal variations in flood range, depth, and volume under four rainstorm scenarios (return periods of 3-year, 10-year, 50-year, and 100-year). The results showed that the surface runoff process, overflow from drainage networks, and overflow expansion process could affect the flooding status by changing the composition and spatial configuration of pervious or impervious patches, drainage capacity, and underlying surface characteristics (such as terrain and land-cover). Overall, although the simulation results from the IUFM contain uncertainties from the model structures and inputs, the IUFM is an effective tool that can provide accurate and timely information to prevent and control urban flood disasters and provide decision-making support for long-term storm water management and sponge city construction.

A longitudinal analysis of soil salinity changes using remotely sensed imageries

Soil salinization threatens agricultural productivity, leading to desertification and land degradation. Given the challenges of conducting labor-intensive and expensive field studies and laboratory analyses on a large scale, recent efforts have focused on leveraging remote sensing techniques to study soil salinity. This study assesses the importance of soil salinity indices’ derived from remotely sensed imagery. Indices derived from Landsat 8 (L8) and Sentinel 2 (S2) imagery are used in Random Forest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Decision Tree (DT), and Support Vector Machine (SVR) are associated with the electrical (EC) conductivity of 280 soil samples across 24,000 hectares in Northeast Iran. The results indicated that the DT is the best-performing method (RMSE = 12.25, MAE = 2.15, R2 = 0.85 using L8 data and RMSE = 10.9, MAE = 2.12, and R2 = 0.86 using S2 data). Also, the results showed that Multi-resolution Valley Bottom Flatness (MrVBF), moisture index, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), and Topographic Position Indicator (TPI) are the most important salinity indices. Subsequently, a time series analysis indicated a reduction in salinity and sodium levels in regions with installed drainage networks, underscoring the effectiveness of the drainage system. These findings can assist decision-making about land use and conservation efforts, particularly in regions with high soil salinity.

Intelligent Diagnosis of Urban Underground Drainage Network: From Detection to Evaluation

Intelligent Diagnosis of Urban Underground Drainage Network: From Detection to Evaluation

An integrative approach highlights the discrepancy in the genetic, phenotypic, and presumptive taxonomic structure of Phoxinus (Actinopterygii, Leuciscidae, Phoxininae) in Bulgaria.

The present drainage network of Bulgaria is the result of a complex Neogene and Quaternary evolution. Karst, which has developed on 23% of the territory, further complicates the hydrological pattern. Fresh waters of Bulgaria drain into the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea basins and can be roughly divided into the Danube (Middle and Lower Danube), non-Danube Black Sea, East Aegean, and West Aegean hydrological regions. Phoxinus, a small leuciscid fish, has a mosaic distribution in all four of these regions, inhabiting small mountainous and semi-mountainous streams. Based on morphology, it was identified as three species, Phoxinus phoxinus in the Danube, Phoxinus strandjae in the non-Danube, and Phoxinus strymonicus in West Aegean region. Later, molecular data revealed Phoxinus csikii and Phoxinus lumaireul in the Middle Danube and P. csikii in the Lower Danube. Phoxinus has been the focus of many studies, showing a high molecular and morphological diversity, which is not entirely consistent with previous morphology-only-based taxonomic concepts. In this study, molecular (a mitochondrial marker and a nuclear marker) and morphological data from both historical and recently sampled collections were analysed to assess the applicability of the integrative approach in Phoxinus. The results showed a significant influence of the complex paleo- and recent hydrology on the currently observed genetic structure of the considered populations and species. Furthermore, the study also demonstrated a strong influence of phenotypic plasticity on the morphological analysis of Phoxinus and the lack of a clear differentiation between P. csikii and P. strandjae. A barcoded specimen was designated as neotype to fix the species named P. strandjae in the current taxonomic concept. Finally, a significant discordance between genetically delimited clades and phenotypic groups did not allow a proper delineation of the species distributed in Bulgaria, demonstrating that more molecular markers are needed for further taxonomic study of the Phoxinus complex.

Urban inundation mapping by coupling 1D − 2D models and model comparison

Urban inundation mapping is important for early warning, management, and drainage network planning. Urban flood simulations typically utilize a 1D model focused on pipe nodes, whereas 2D simulations are required over a land area. In this paper, our focus is on their coupling, so that a dynamic 1D-2D model is obtained. We couple the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), a widely utilized urban drainage model, with 2D models to simulate urban inundation. The 1D-2D coupled inundation model uses the 1D model output, which represents the overflow volume of sparsely distributed pipe nodes. After coupling, surface inundation distribution maps are obtained. We developed a physically-based 2D overflow diffusion model (2D-DM) and compared it with two geostatistical models: Ordinary co-kriging (OCK) and Regression Kriging (RK). The study area is the central area of Haining City in China, where a severe storm occurred on August 3, 2018. The 2D-DM performed best (RMSE = 0.232), followed by RK (RMSE = 0.286), and OCK (RMSE = 0.361), but did not provide uncertainty measures, in contrast to the geostatistical models. We conclude that 1D-2D coupling was done successfully, with the different 2D models showing different qualities. To enhance urban inundation mapping, it is suggested to couple the 1D model with both physical and statistically based 2D models for a more comprehensive assessment of potential inundation areas and depths.

ANALYSIS OF SUITABLE DUMP SITES IN KAFANCHAN, JEMA’A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

The research focuses on assessing the suitability of dump sites for solid waste disposal in Kafanchan town, Kaduna state, utilizing Surveying and Geo informatics techniques. With the escalating environmental impact of waste due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, the study aims to identify appropriate locations for waste disposal. The methodology employs Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, involving the overlaying of datasets and criteria such as drainage, land use, and road networks. The process includes investigating solid waste disposal in Kafanchan, acquiring data through a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, converting criteria into GIS layers, and processing the collected information on a computer system using ArcGIS software. The spatial analysis reveals potential sites suitable for solid waste disposal based on connectivity, contiguity, and overlay methods. The results advocate for the effectiveness of GIS in promptly selecting suitable waste disposal sites. The conclusion emphasizes the recommendation to adopt the identified sites for solid waste disposal in the area. Overall, the study underscores the significance of GIS in addressing contemporary environmental challenges related to waste management and highlights the practical application of spatial tools for sustainable solutions.

Reusing drainage water for leaching of saline and sodic soils in the Khuzestan province, Iran

Abstract A substantial amount of drainage water is generated in the irrigation and drainage networks of the Khuzestan province, located in the southwest of Iran, and it requires effective management. One low-risk strategy for repurposing this drainage water involves its utilization for the reclamation of saline lands. In this study, we investigated the reclamation of saline and sodic soils within the Dosalagh plain. The experimental tests employed the double-ring method, focusing on leaching at depths ranging from 0 to 150 cm in the soil. The treatments encompassed four distinct water qualities (characterized by electrical conductivities of 2.12, 7, 25, and 40 dS m−1) and four different water depths (0, 25, 50, and 75 cm). The soil underwent examination using the intermittent leaching method, which involved a 2-day interruption, and this process was repeated three times. The incorporation of drainage water resulted in a reduction of the electrical conductivity at the 0–25 cm soil depth, decreasing from 117.7 to 29 dS m−1. Furthermore, this addition contributed to a decline in the sodium content within this layer, dropping from 1415.9 to 39.83 meq l−1.

Scoria cone erosional degradation by incision: Different behaviors in three volcanic fields reflect environmental conditions

Alluvial processes acting on scoria cones cause the development of a drainage network composed of radially distributed rills and gullies parallel to the volcanic edifice’s downslope direction. We quantify the degree of drainage network development by applying the Average Erosion Index (AEI) method to scoria cones from the arid to semi-arid Lunar Crater volcanic field (Nevada, United States) and comparing our results with previously obtained results from two tropical volcanic fields (Sierra Chichinautzin volcanic field and the Parícutin-Tancítaro region, both in central Mexico). We show that the AEI method is useful in determining geomorphic age relations when calibrated separately for each field. Furthermore, the differences in AEI results for the three studied fields indicate that the method provides a way of quantifying the effects of different alluvial erosion rates at volcanic fields across various environments, including a delay in alluvial processes on cones in arid settings that has been qualitatively inferred by previous studies.

Morphometric Analysis Using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System: A Case Study of Nawagarh Watershed of Chhattisgarh, India

The study highlights the suitability of a GIS-based approach for evaluating morphometric parameters. It focuses on the quantitative analysis of morphometric characteristics within thirteen sub-watersheds of the Nawagarh watershed, which originates from the Seonath river catchment in the Mahanadi basin in Chhattisgarh, India. The Nawagarh watershed spans an area of 2647.27 km2. Its outlet is located at 21°46'10" N Latitude and 81° 48’43” E Longitude. The Nawagarh watershed covers four districts in Chhattisgarh - Kabirdham, Bemetara, Baloda Bazar, and Mungeli. The analysis reveals the relative qualities of the sub-watersheds in terms of hydrological response. The Nawagarh watershed features a dendritic drainage network with 2760 streams of different orders. The slope of the land directly affects water absorption and drainage. High relief ratio 0.032 in SWD1 and SWD3 indicates rapid concentration, rapid stream flow, and greater susceptibility to erosion than other sub watersheds. The drainage density is 0.80 km-1, which is close to 1 km-1, indicating that the basin has a nearly high drainage density, which demonstrate that the location with impermeable weak subsurface material and has high relief. The elongated shape with the values of form factor (0.39), circulatory ratio (0.28) and elongation ratio (0.69), indicated that the Nawagarh watershed is more elongated with lower peak flow of long duration having low permeability. The drainage density in the basin is relatively high, suggesting a significant drainage network. The study emphasizes the need for effective erosion control methods in the Nawagarh watershed to protect the land.

Morphostructural influence and neotectonic activity in the geomorphological configuration of southeast Paraíba and northeast Pernambuco, Brazil

The current study provides critical insights into the field of geomorphology by examining the impact of lithological structures and tectonic activities on the geomorphological configuration of terrain and drainage networks in the southeast of Paraíba and northeast of Pernambuco, Brazil. This geographical region is characterized by phenomena of uplift and fluvial incision at various sites, yet remains inadequately explored with respect to its active deformation and the broader context of its recent geology. Therefore, the primary aim of this research is to elucidate the morphostructural and neotectonic influences on the geomorphological formations in these sectors of Brazil. The methodology encompasses morphostructural analysis, leveraging data derived from altimetry, slope, and geomorphology maps, categorized into taxonomic terrain units. Additionally, this research incorporates the use of morphometric indices, including the Stream Length-Gradient Index (SL), Valley Floor Width (VF), and Asymmetry Factor (AF) to quantify geomorphological anomalies. The analysis of the SL index indicates that a significant portion (87.5 %) of the drainage network exhibits anomalies. Furthermore, the VF index results reveal that 66 % of the profiles analyzed manifest anomalies of various magnitudes. Within the study region, the AF index elucidates the distribution of sub-basins into categories of low (0−30), medium (31−50), and high (>51) asymmetry, comprising 25 %, 31 %, and 44 % of the sub-basins, respectively. The sub-basins demonstrate channel disequilibrium, as evidenced by the SL index, attributed to numerous transient knickpoints along the drainage profiles. This observation is consistent with previous findings in the Koyna-Warna Shallow Seismic Region. The study's outcomes reveal both qualitatively and quantitatively anomalous patterns in the drainage network and terrain forms, which are likely indicative of recent tectonic events affecting the entire eastern edge of Northeast Brazil. Consequently, the findings highlight the significant role of post-Miocene tectonic events in shaping the relief of the study area.

Assessment of urban waterlogging-induced road traffic safety risk and identification of its driving factors: A case study of Beijing

Due to the increasing number of urban waterlogging events, systematic risk assessment and cause exploration are needed to ensure the safety of people's lives and property on roads. In this paper, the urban waterlogging-induced road traffic safety risk (UWRTSR) in the central part of Beijing was assessed and its driving factors were investigated. We obtained the simulation data of road inundation for five rainstorm return periods (5-year, 10-year, 20-year, 50-year and 100-year) through the InfoWorks ICM hydrodynamic model. Then, the safety risk levels of pedestrians and vehicles are evaluated with safety criteria formulas and standards, and the driving factors are identified by the Geodetector model. The results show that the proportion of the total length of road sections at different risk levels for pedestrians, stationary vehicles and moving vehicles increased with increasing rainstorm return period, while for the same road section, the risk level for pedestrians or vehicles may increase due to a higher intensity rainstorm event. The results of subsequent driving factor analysis show that slope, terrain ruggedness index (TRI) and LS factor were the top three single-factor explanatory powers, with the joint effect of slope and rain pipe capacity (RPC) possessing the largest explanatory power. It is found that a high level UWRTSR is to be generated in road sections with low drain network specifications and high slope gradients. Our research may help smooth emergency resource management, road network construction and reconstruction to mitigate the waterlogging risk.

Assessment of contamination dispersion in a porous aquifer environment using explicit and implicit methods in the MODFLOW–MODPATH model

This study presents a meticulously edited article that assesses the uncertainty associated with contamination dispersion in a porous aquifer environment. The article employs a conceptual model incorporating finite difference flow modeling and particle tracking methods grounded in particle movement theory within groundwater flow. The groundwater flow model utilizes an automatic calibration technique, PES, and independent verification, to minimize statistical discrepancies in the optimized parameters. The statistical summary of the model output reveals the average pollution concentration in the study area, specifically the landfill aquifer in northern Iran. The results indicate that the initial contamination value at the boundaries is zero, whereas 91,802 units are discharged into the sea. Moreover, approximately 3,317,290,003 pollution units have been extracted from pumping wells along the contamination plume over 10 years. Furthermore, the drainage network releases 1,778,680,001 pollution units, resulting in a net outflow of 5,082,740,007 units from the same drainage network. Additionally, 9,912,180,003 units were discharged from the leaky boundaries. It should be noted that these statistics can be reversed depending on the specified period. The difference between the input and output pollution values in the study area indicates a net accumulation of 8192 units. To analyze the sensitivity of contamination dispersion in the porous aquifer environment and the variations in coastal drainage patterns obtained from the finite difference simulation, the explicit and implicit methods, as well as the random walk particle tracking method, were investigated in a portion of the basin area using the South Side Implicit method. One of the main objectives of this sensitivity analysis is to evaluate the results of the uncalibrated qualitative model and examine the particle dispersion in the adjacent area of the contaminated landfill region to assess the error of the proposed model by developing a limited test. The calculated error or computational difference between the explicit and implicit methods and the applet model is considered negligible. For example, the calculated error between the explicit and backward methods and the applet model ranges from 0.086 to 0.372 units for a concentration interval of 0.512 units and 0.680 units for a time interval 0.537. Therefore, the computational differences are not significant. Furthermore, based on theoretical sensitivity analysis of contamination dispersion, the laboratory model demonstrates that the flow direction in this modeling is from west to east, as expected.

Designing the Spigot Structure of Hydrocyclones to Reduce Fine Particle Misplacement in Underflow

Hydrocyclones can be used to concentrate the entrained sands in sewage and alleviate the clogging and erosion of the drainage network, but in practical application, there are problems such as low concentrations of underflow and a high content of fine particles, which cause a significant load on the subsequent sand dewatering and recycling. This paper designs five spigot structures of hydrocyclones and investigates the separation performance by numerical simulation, aiming to improve the applicability of hydrocyclones in the sewage treatment process by optimizing the spigot structure. The research results show that a large cone spigot delays the external downward swirling flow and reduces fine particle content in the underflow, but its effective separation space is reduced, and the turbulence in the cone section area is more intensive, which influences the separation accuracy. An elongated spigot has a reduced underflow water distribution; fine particles are more enriched in the internal swirling flow, and the underflow recoveries of 1 μm and 5 μm particles drop by 2.34% and 2.31%. The spigot structure affects the downward fluid and air intake states; complicated spigot structures contribute to increasing the resistance of particle discharge through underflow, alleviating fine particle misplacement.

Assessing urban drainage pressure and impacts of future climate change based on shared socioeconomic pathways

The increasing frequency of urban flood disasters presents a significant obstacle to urban sustainability. Urban flood management aims to reduce the flood occurrences, currently addressed through urban drainage systems. Previous studies have demonstrated future precipitation extremes will pose larger pressure on urban drainage network, but when and where the pressure will reach a dangerous level have never been assessed in any city of China. This study establishes the initial framework for identifying critical decades and hot spots of urban drainage pressure changes due to future climate change, through a case study conducted in southern China (Haining city). Urban drainage pressure was assessed by a combination of the urban drainage model known as the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and pipe statistics. Using climate projections from the latest phase of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) under four typical SSP-RCP (shared socioeconomic pathway-representative concentration pathway) scenarios, we project the changes in urban drainage pressure by 21st century, and identify the key decades and high risk areas with the occurrence of dangerous pressure levels. The results indicate an overall upward trend in urban drainage pressure for Haining city, with over 97% of the flooding nodes projected to firstly reach the dangerous level by the 2030 s. Comparisons of the patterns under different SSP-RCP scenarios, suggest that a higher forcing pathway would expedite the deterioration of urban drainage pressure, particularly in urban areas with lower DEM and high building intensity. This has broad implications for better informing disaster management and policy-making in similar cities, especially those with inadequate drainage capacities.

Analysis of the micro-drainage infrastructure on an avenue in the city of Aracaju-SE

The urban drainage system plays a vital role in the lives of people living in urban areas, protecting properties and citizens during heavy rainfall, preventing erosion on streets and public roads, and other benefits. To create an efficient drainage system, attention must be paid to the design, execution, and supervision of works by qualified professionals, as well as the maintenance of existing works. Because of the above, this article aims to analyze the micro-drainage infrastructure of Avenida Edélzio Vieira de Melo, in the city of Aracaju-SE. Initially, an in loco visit was made to assess the state of conservation and the presence of waste in the gutters and gutter inlet. It was observed that 51.2% of the gutter inlets are located in an undesirable way; 60.5% are partially or totally degraded and 81.4% have solid waste disposal. About the manholes, 90% are inadequately located, 80% are partially or totally degraded, and, finally, 70% are level with the sidewalk. The conclusion is that the devices need to be cleaned more frequently, and the population needs to be made more aware not to throw garbage in the street, since the presence of solid waste negatively affects the functioning of the drainage network. Finally, the location of the devices (manholes and gutter inlets) affects their efficiency, and durability and interferes with the comfort of those who use the road.

Leveraging catchment scale automated novel data collection infrastructure to advance urban hydrologic-hydraulic modeling

Lack of long-term hydrological observations in urban catchments presents a significant obstacle to advancing reliability and accuracy of urban flood models, as sensor-based depth, flow or velocity monitoring in stormwater drainage networks is costly and rarely available. Commonly available networked technologies e.g., traffic cameras and cell phones, collectively referred to as novel data sources, if properly leveraged, could provide a high-quality, cost-effective source of urban hydrological observations. This proof-of-concept study utilizing experimental data collection infrastructure in Flagstaff, Arizona used remotely sensed flood-cameras based water depth time series and single point data, and citizens’ contributed single point data for model parameterization. An approach to reduce the number of parameters while addressing spatial heterogeneity was applied before parameterization. The results demonstrate the reduced uncertainty and improved prediction accuracy from calibrated model even from a single event calibration, emphasizing the potential of novel data in advancing pluvial flood modeling in challenging urban contexts.

An updated chronostratigraphic framework for the Cenozoic sediments of southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Implications for regional tectonics

As one of the most important accommodation zones during the India-Asia collision, the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau (SEMTP) is characterized by many large-scale strike-slip faults, a regional low-relief relict that has been deeply incised by several continental scale rivers that originate from central Tibet, and numerous plant and vertebrate fossil biotas residing in Cenozoic sedimentary basins. Therefore, the SEMTP not only provides a meaningful constraint on the geodynamic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau, but also serves as an exemplar to understand the various interactions among surface uplift, drainage network reorganization, climate change, and biodiversity. Precise dating of Cenozoic sediments in the basins of the SEMTP is crucial for understanding these processes. Previously, the geochronologic framework of Cenozoic sediments in the SEMTP largely relied on fossils and regional stratigraphic correlations, which often involved circular reasoning and large uncertainties. In the past two decades, high-resolution magnetostratigraphy, detrital zircon geochronology, and isotopic dating of interbedded tephra layers have been carried out on SEMTP Cenozoic sedimentary basins in Yunnan and eastern Xizang provinces, SW China. Using these new data, we build a revised chronostratigraphic framework for Cenozoic sediments in SEMTP, and use this updated temporal framework to contextualize regional tectonics and climate change. The new chronostratigraphic framework shows that (1) many of the “Neogene” sedimentary basins based on plant fossils and regional lithostratigraphic correlation in the SEMTP were actually formed in the late Eocene and early Oligocene; (2) most of the Paleogene sedimentary successions in the SEMTP ended at the late Eocene-early Oligocene and were unconformably overlaid by Middle-Late Miocene sediments. Oligocene-Early Miocene sediments are often regionally absent. Sedimentary structures within the basin successions show that Paleogene basins were generally formed in compressional settings while the Late Miocene basins were mostly developed in extensional settings. The new chronostratigraphic framework, together with analyses of sedimentary basin structures, suggests that the SEMTP began to experience crustal shortening early in the India-Asia collision (~50 Ma), producing Paleogene sedimentary basins and giving rise to the subsequent widespread surface uplift and regional erosion in the Oligocene-Middle Miocene. Tectonic inversion from compression to extension since the Middle Miocene precludes significant uplift of the SEMTP after this time, which may be related to geodynamic changes in the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau.

Estimation of EIA by Semi-Automated Direct Method for Western Indian Urban Catchment Area

Urbanization impacts water resources, with impervious surfaces indicating the degree of disturbance. Effective impervious area (EIA) is a better measure than total impervious area (TIA) for urban runoff. EIA is the portion of TIA connected to the storm sewer system. Remote sensing data alone is insufficient for EIA determination. An alternative approach integrates remote sensing data with drainage networks to ensure connectivity of impervious surfaces. This approach uses GIS data including multi-sensor data. The modified literature algorithm was used in python to analyze the study area. It is observed that for western Indian urban catchment area, some empirical equation such as Sutherland’s and Alley-Veenhuis showed under-estimation and over-estimation at some watershed parts which were obtained using DEM delineation. Based on the results obtained from proposed method, a quadratic relationship was established between easily measured TIA and hydraulically relevant EIA for an urban catchment in western India. These outcomes should result in more effective and properly designed SCMs, with potential improvements in water quality and cost savings.

Interactions between Cenozoic tectonics and landscape dynamics in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

The Londrina City, located in southern Brazil, is situated on the basalt of the Paraná Igneous Province (PIP), near tectonic structures such as the Guaxupé faults and the São Jerônimo-Curiúva and São Sebastião lineaments, with a history of reactivation in the Cenozoic. Between 2015 and 2018, low-magnitude earthquakes hit the municipality, suggesting a possible connection with these structures. This study investigates the relationship between Cenozoic tectonics and geomorphological dynamics, combining quantitative geomorphological analysis with field analysis of faults. The results reveal signs of tectonic control on the landscape, with two pulses of regional uplift/base level drop affecting the drainage network. Reactivated segments, especially at intersections of NE and NW structures, influence dynamics, with variations in uplift rates between basins and block rotation under a transtensive regime. Recent earthquakes are related to the reactivation of an N50-60E fault scarp, possibly the Guaxupé Fault, indicating recurrent tectonic movement. Paleostress analyses identify three deformation pulses, highlighting the complexity of landscape evolution in intraplate regions. These findings enhance understanding of regional tectonics, emphasizing the need to comprehend landscape evolution in interior plate areas, such as the South American Plate.

Investigating the compatibility of an irrigation decision support system with water rights and allocation in a selected irrigation network

AbstractIt is necessary to use different planning models, including decision support systems (DSSs), to allocate water resources. For this purpose, in this study, an irrigation decision support system (IDSS) was developed to improve irrigation management in the farming fields of Mahabad Plain located to the south‐east of Lake Urmia. Next, the compatibility of the IDSS with the conditions of the Mahabad irrigation and drainage network, water and soil resources, meteorological data and soil moisture (SM) were investigated. The statistical indices of coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), normalized root mean square error (NRMSE), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (EF) and Wilmot agreement (d) were used to evaluate the adaptability of the IDSS. The results showed that the IDSS has reasonable compatibility with soil and water resources, crop yield and meteorological data. Irrigation scheduling provided by the IDSS led to a 13.9% reduction in water consumption and a 6.7% increase in crop yield. The IDSS estimated minimum and maximum temperature and sunshine hours to a satisfactory degree and relative humidity with an acceptable degree (NRMSE = 0.72–0.77) compared to regional synoptic station data. The performance of the IDSS in simulating SM is ranked from good to well (NRMSE = 0.75–0.83). The results indicate that the IDSS has a sufficient performance in estimating meteorological and soil moisture data with R2 = 0.90, RMSE = 4.65, NRMSE = 0.78, EF = 0.76 and d = 0.80. In addition, the IDSS provides the optimal irrigation schedule by considering the ability to deliver water from the irrigation and drainage network to the third‐grade canal and agricultural fields as the upstream condition.