Multi-Objective Planning Model for Large Scale Irrigation Systems: Method and Application

Abstract

An increase in demand, and droughts in recent years have resulted in the need for tools to allocate limited water between users in different regions in order to achieve economic, social and environmental benefits. Multi-objective planning is an important decision support tool for natural resource management. Planners, decision makers and stakeholders use this approach in the decision-making process. In this research, a multi-objective planning model was developed and applied on the Menemen Left Bank Irrigation System of the Lower Gediz Basin in Turkey. The aims of the model were to increase the benefit from production, to increase the size of the total area irrigated, and to reduce the water losses occurring at network level. The model was applied to an open channel system consisting of 44 tertiary channels receiving water from three secondaries, serving an area of 3,606 ha. The model predicted a 20.63% increase in income, and a 29.26% decrease in the total irrigation water requirements of crops dependent on projected changes in the actual crop pattern of the research area. This decrease caused a reduction of 29.90% in expected water losses over the network as a whole. The operation of the model enabled optimum productivity and income at the system level per unit of land and water resources.

Sustainable Management of Large Scale Irrigation Systems: A Decision Support Model for Gediz Basin, Turkey

“…This application also constitutes one of the main principles of water allocation by the rotation method. This process was carried out by use of the formulas given below (Kilic & Anac, 2010).…”

Estimation of future hydropower generation of reservoir systems used for different purposes in different regions

“…These systems are built for uses such as agricultural irrigation, flood control and/or energy generation. In multi-objective reservoir systems, while hydropower is produced upstream, the water is used as irrigation for agricultural production downstream [1][2][3][4]. Because of this, water sources in a reservoir system are pivotal in ensuring food security and a stable energy supply.…”

Multi-Water Source Joint Scheduling Model Using a Refined Water Supply Network: Case Study of Tianjin

“…Ma et al established a fuzzy linear programming model for the optimal allocation of multi-objective water resources (including reclaimed water) that can be used for the rational allocation of multi-water resources [16]. Kilic et al developed a multi-objective model for large-scale irrigation systems that increased production value by increasing irrigation areas and reducing water losses [17]. Eskandar et al proposed a new heuristic water cycle optimization algorithm that is based on the simulation of the water cycle process in nature, and has been used to solve water resource problems with multiple objectives and multiple constraints [18].…”