Oral Presentation NCGRT/IAH Australasian Groundwater Conference 2019

Integrating web and mobile applications for improved groundwater management in a developing world context (238)

Mobushir Khan 1 , Jehangir Punthakey 2 , Michael Mitchell 2 , Catherine Allan 3 , Saleem Iqbal 4
  1. Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, VIC, Australia
  2. Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia
  3. School of Environmental Sciences, Chalres Sturt University, Albury/ Wodonga, NSW, Australia
  4. University Institute of Information Technology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Background

Groundwater managers, farmers and researchers face challenges regarding paucity of information, especially in a developing country context like Pakistan. Groundwater problems are characteristically complex and computational analyses can assist managers and farmers improve their understanding. Multiple activities such as groundwater modelling, economic modelling and spatial analyses are required to address problems faced by water resource managers, but most of the time such activities do not directly address immediate decision-making needs. For these needs to be effectively addressed, an easy-to-use platform is required capable of integrating science-based groundwater information with other socio-economic and physical data and processes.

Design and Methodology

A Decision Support System (DSS) is presented based on integrated assessment of hydrological modelling with socio-economic drivers for optimal decision making. The users of this 4-tier web and mobile based DSS can estimate crop water requirements, surface water deficiencies, groundwater status and profitability by comparing available cropping options. The DSS comprises client application, web server and graphical user interface, a modelling server which uses built-in databases and models to generate location specific outputs such as crop water needs, shortfalls in surface water supply to be filled by groundwater, and alternate cropping options. Crop water needs are estimated by calculating actual evapotranspiration using weather data, and crop area. The economic suitability of different crops is assessed by calculating net return using crop yield statistics, market prices and production costs.  

Original Data and Results

The web-based crop water requirement estimation tool and mobile application have been prepared and launched. Updated results from its use will be presented.

Conclusion

With ready access to updated information, water resource users and managers can make optimal decisions on using groundwater for agriculture. Since this DSS is constructed and applied using integration as a guiding principle, a more integrated approach to groundwater management can be pursued.

Note: This abstract is part of a series of presentations related to ACIAR LWR-036 project. Authors acknowledge the financial support of Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).