Decision Support System for Sustainable Irrigation in Latin America

In a bilateral research cooperation between the University of Concepcion (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.