Integrating geographic information system, remote sensing, and Modeling to enhance reliability of irrigation network

This paper focuses on applications of remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS), and modeling that support water management in irrigation schemes with application examples from Egypt and Sudan. This study examines pertinent articles that describe RS applications combined with GIS and modeling to delineate parameters relevant to irrigation, such as vegetation cover, crop acreage, crop type, crop water requirements, and-irrigation water supply. Derived irrigation performance indicators (IPIs) could provide efficient tools for water-shortage management in irrigation schemes. RS is important for assessing the crop acreage and crop type within an irrigated area. This information can help solve basic problems associated with regional scale water use and requirements. Integrating RS, GIS, and models of the irrigation requirements and supplies for irrigation-schemes is an effective method for exploring, storing, managing, and displaying spatial data and can be employed-for the decision making and management functions that are necessary for the planning and management of any irrigation scheme. RS, GIS, and model integration not only help a user in the analysis and visualization of spatial and non-spatial data in the form of maps but also in the development of custom tools. This paper presents a tool outline that involves the integration of RS, GIS, and models that can be used by irrigation managers to overcome water shortages and improve the performance of irrigation systems.