Spatial Decision Support System for Irrigation Demand Planning
Ming‐Daw Su, Tzai‐Hung Wen · 2001
As it is more difficult nowadays to develop new water supply sources, a demand side planning approach becomes more practical for regional water resource managements and planning. Water demand estimation is the key to the demand side water management. Estimating regional irrigation demand involves huge amount of spatial data, and estimating models for crop consumption. Different model used leads to different results. It may need to study different scenarios and to switch demand-estimating model from one to another for comparison. Geographic Information System (GIS) is the most efficient tool for spatial data management and utilization to better capture the spatial divergence. And the Decision Support System (DSS) is a tool that enables the decision makers to investigate the influence of factors or of decision alternatives. A spatial decision support system (SDSS) for agricultural demand planning framework was proposed in this paper. With all related data and models built in, it will be an efficient tool for better demand planning by setting up different scenarios and revealing the impacts under those scenarios. For demonstration of model framework implementation, the command area of Chi-Nan Irrigation Association was used as pilot study area for building a prototype.