Changes in Water Resources Systems:
Methodologies to Maintain Water Security and Ensure Integrated Management (Proceedings
of Symposium HS3006 at IUGG2007, Perugia, July 2007). IAHS Publ. 315, 2007, 18-24
Decision
support system for sustainable irrigation in Latin America
MAX BILLIB1, EDUARDO HOLZAPFEL2 & KARIN
BARDOWICKS1
1 Leibniz University of Hannover, Institute of Water Resources Management, Hydrology and Agricultural Hydraulic Engineering, Appelstr. 9A, D-30167 Hannover, Germany
2 University of Concepción, Department of Water Resources / Agricultural Engineering, Avda. Vicente Mendez 597, Chillán, Chile
Abstract
In a bilateral research cooperation between the University of Concepción
(Chile) and the Leibniz University of Hannover (Germany) a Decision Support
System (DSS) was developed to improve the sustainability of intensive irrigated
agriculture. Environmental, socio-economic and technical aspects are included
into the DSS. The structure is divided into three parts: Geographic Information
System for the visualization through GIS maps, Model Base System, which
includes simulation and optimization models (e.g. irrigation design and
management), evaluation criteria and scenario techniques, and Database System
to manage the data within the DSS. The integration of the local stakeholders,
especially farmers, plays an important role to assure the sustainability of
this research. Therefore socio-economic modules and an interactive training of
the farmers are included. The DSS can be used through a user-friendly
interface. It is intended to transfer the application of the DSS to less
developed arid and semiarid regions in Latin America.
Key
words
Decision Support System; irrigation; sustainability