The new Italian web database to support irrigation investment policies: DANIA

Abstract

This paper presents the Italian national database of investment for irrigation and environment (DANIA), providing a multi-functional and interoperable tool for Italian policy makers and water resource management actors. DANIA was born in collaboration with the Italian regions and consists of a harmonised collection of collective irrigation interventions, both planned and financed, managed by irrigation entities, for the purposes of irrigation or hydrogeological instability defence. The technical, financial, and environmental data are useful for planning, monitoring financial progress, and evaluating policy effectiveness. Standardised codes allow a semantic interoperability with other national databases, particularly with SIGRIAN -the National Information System for Water Management in Agriculture. DANIA has already been applied to support the planning and monitoring of irrigation investments in Italy.