Representing ancient southern Mesopotamia irrigated landscapes in an agent-based model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dengxiao Lang ◽  
Maurits W. Ertsen
Keyword(s):  
Water Availability ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Primary Canal ◽  
Winter Crops ◽  
Different Levels

<p>In order to explore possibilities of mimicking the operation of an irrigation system under varied scenarios, the authors have designed the Irrigation-Related Agent-Based Model (IRABM), providing a platform for integrating human and non-human agents (water managers, farmers, barley, river, canals, and gates) together and analyzing the interactions among these agents. IRABM illustrates how barley yields respond to varied irrigation strategies and how patterns of yields vary among the levels of individual farmers, canals, and the whole irrigation system. The model proves how this type of theoretically and empirically informed computer model can be used to develop new insights into studying and simulating interactions between individuals and their environment in an irrigation system. Furthermore, it demonstrates how and why irrigation and yield patterns can emerge from changing actions.</p><p>One of the applications of the model will be for ancient Southern Mesopotamia, the pluvial land between the two rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Our knowledge of irrigation management and irrigated-landscapes in southern Mesopotamia fairly scant due to lack of data, but also because attention for the details of irrigation management has been ignored in archaeological analysis to date. IRABM offers options to synchronize the general features of irrigation systems to the specifics of Mesopotamia. How to represent ancient Mesopotamia in IRABM is the key question we address in this paper.</p><p>Given the low precipitation, the available water in Mesopotamia’s watercourses for cultivation was vital. This prompted the establishment of irrigated agriculture, leading to its sophisticated irrigation systems over time. Management of irrigation activities is both related to water volumes in the different (levels of) water courses, and to the size of a system. Because of the expanding Mesopotamian society, and this its irrigated areas, the unpredictable water availability, and the threat of water scarcity during the crop growing period, coordinating issues were critical.</p><p>How to present ancient Mesopotamian irrigation systems in IRABM and how to fully explore the temporal and spatial coordination issues is our current challenge. Using the standard composition of irrigation systems in the primary canal, secondary canals, and tertiary canals, we can draft sizes of these levels. The cultivated size of agricultural land varied among the different levels of canals. Generally, the primary canal would supply 5 to 6 villages, while the second and tertiary canals might irrigate land in 2 to 3 villages and 1 village, respectively. The main crops were winter crops (barley and wheat). The water regimes of the two rivers are characterized by great, rather unpredictable fluctuations that do not coincide with winter crops.</p><p>This presentation will discuss how the data on ancient Mesopotamian irrigation (including water availability in rivers, canals, and fields, and surface areas of irrigated landscapes) can be meaningfully included in an ABM that allows studying how small/short processes contribute to large-scale patterns and processes occurring in irrigation systems.</p>

scholarly journals Exploring the effectiveness of a COVID-19 contact tracing app using an agent-based model

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonatan Almagor ◽  
Stefano Picascia
Keyword(s):  
High Rate ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
The Social ◽  
Behavioural Factors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
User Rate

AbstractA contact-tracing strategy has been deemed necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 following the relaxation of lockdown measures. Using an agent-based model, we explore one of the technology-based strategies proposed, a contact-tracing smartphone app. The model simulates the spread of COVID-19 in a population of agents on an urban scale. Agents are heterogeneous in their characteristics and are linked in a multi-layered network representing the social structure—including households, friendships, employment and schools. We explore the interplay of various adoption rates of the contact-tracing app, different levels of testing capacity, and behavioural factors to assess the impact on the epidemic. Results suggest that a contact tracing app can contribute substantially to reducing infection rates in the population when accompanied by a sufficient testing capacity or when the testing policy prioritises symptomatic cases. As user rate increases, prevalence of infection decreases. With that, when symptomatic cases are not prioritised for testing, a high rate of app users can generate an extensive increase in the demand for testing, which, if not met with adequate supply, may render the app counterproductive. This points to the crucial role of an efficient testing policy and the necessity to upscale testing capacity.

On the Applicability of “Provision-Appropriation” Theory to Irrigation Management: An Analysis Based on Institutional Change in the Dongping Irrigation Area

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-99
Author(s):  
Chen Jing ◽  
Kan Shizuan ◽  
Tong Zhihui
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Change ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Historical Research ◽  
Institutional Changes ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Irrigation Area ◽  
Site Investigations ◽  
Current State ◽  
System Sustainability

AbstractThis paper, based on historical research on irrigation administration in the Dongping area and on-site investigations into its current state, explores the benefits and problems produced by two institutional changes. As a common pool resource situation, irrigation systems’ “provision” and “appropriation” are two separate issues; any institutional change must thus offer two different solutions. The study concludes that the participatory changes undertaken in the Dongping irrigation area failed, in the end, to resolve the problem of irrigation system sustainability. In particular, it proved difficult for collective action to take place around provision, which led to difficulties in operating the irrigation system.

scholarly journals Nepal: Food Security, a Localized Institutional Irrigation Perspective on Public Irrigation Systems

2012 ◽  
pp. 95-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Upendra Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Irrigated Area ◽  
Social Insecurity ◽  
The Government ◽  
Agriculture Extension

Oriental philosophers have given top priority to food for orderly state affairs as well as personal wellbeing. In past, Nepal had a strong agricultural economy based on indigenous Farmer Managed Irrigation System (FMIS). State policy helped promote these systems. But contemporary Nepal opted for state control on irrigation water by building large scale public irrigation systems. In the last 43 years of planned development (1957-2002), the government has spent 70% of US$1.3 billion on these systems, covering 30% of the irrigated area in the country; the remaining 70% is with the FMIS. Despite the investment, these systems neither promoted themselves as an enterprise nor helped enhance agricultural productivity leading to social insecurity. This social insecurity is reflected in the country's increasing import of food, mass workforce exodus for employment abroad, and added socio-economic vulnerability due to climate change.Donor and government recommendations centered on (i) expansion of irrigated area, (ii) irrigation management transfer, and (iii) agriculture extension seem to have failed in Nepal. These failures asked for alternative institutional development solutions, whereas public irrigation systems are (i) localized to establish system's operational autonomy with ownership and governance, (ii) treated as a rich resource-base with water, land and labor, and (iii) recognized as cooperative enterprise of local stakeholders by law with authorities to enter into joint actions with relevant partners for promoting commercialization and environmental quality of irrigated agriculture.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hn.v11i1.7223 Hydro Nepal Special Issue: Conference Proceedings 2012 pp.95-99

scholarly journals PELAKSANAAN PELAYANAN PUBLIK DI BIDANG PENGAIRAN IRIGASI PERTANIAN DI KABUPATEN LOMBOK TIMUR DI TINJAU DARI UNDANG¬-UNDANG NOMOR 17 TAHUN 2019 TENTANG SUMBER DAYA AIR

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-94
Author(s):  
Zulhadi Lalu
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Irrigation Performance ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Irrigation Development ◽  
Problems And Solutions

Irrigation facilities is one of the key factors in farming, especially for food crop farming, including rice. A smallscale irrigation system has an area of less than 500 hectares, and it is the backbone of family food security which in turn will lead to national food security. Damage irrigation system networks will threaten food production increase. In the future, irrigation infrastructure must be better managed so that agricultural sector can realize agricultural diversification, conserve wider irrigation system and maintain local wisdom and social capital in irrigation management. The objective of the paper is to analyze performance, problems and solutions of small irrigation systems in Indonesia, including small irrigation concepts and understanding, small irrigation performance and development, small irrigation development policies, factors affecting smallscale irrigation development, investments, and prospects. The paper also compares various performances, problems and solutions of small irrigation systems in other countries. Small scale irrigation performance is often better than large-scale irrigation, in the sense of water availability throughout the year and equitable water distribution for all service areas

Combination of indicators for increasing irrigation sustainability. Definition of a Hydrosustainable Index.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Galindo ◽  
Mireia Corell ◽  
María Jose Martín-Palomo ◽  
Teresa Carrillo ◽  
Ignacio Girón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Water Scarce ◽  
Different Levels

<p>The scarcity of natural resources around the world has obligated to consider the concept of sustainability in all human activities. Agriculture is not an exception, it is the activity where sustainability is more important, mainly in irrigated orchards. Sustainable water uses are commonly associated with a low water footprint. Water footprint works conclude that the main differences are in the water management at the orchard level. The olive orchard is located at an arid, water scarce location where irrigation water needs are very high and therefore the water footprint. However, an efficient, sustainable water use could be performed in these situations. The aim of this work is the design of an index (Hydrosustainable index, HydroSOS) to estimate the olive grower’s effort at orchard level for improving the sustainability of irrigated olive groves. HydroSOS marks a wide range of field activities link to irrigation management. All these are grouped into hydraulic and agronomic components. Each component has different levels and marks according to its relation to the increase in water sustainability. Irrigation scheduling components are the most valued in the index, though others such as water use efficiency, irrigation system, or soil management are also included.  Four different levels are considered in relation to the final mark. HydroSOS is designed as a dynamic index to improve the objectivity in the evaluation of grower’s effort in irrigation optimization. Two cases of study are presented in two superhigh density olive orchards. Although both orchards are very similar in applied water and climatic conditions, HydroSOS index separated in two very different classifications.</p>

scholarly journals Water availability to soybean crop as a function of the least limiting water range and evapotranspiration1

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tallyta Ramalho Rodrigues ◽  
Derblai Casaroli ◽  
Adão Wagner Pêgo Evangelista ◽  
José Alves Júnior
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Soil Resistance ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Soybean Crop ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Least Limiting Water Range ◽  
Resistance To Penetration

ABSTRACT Irrigation management aimed at optimal production has been based only on the water factor. However, in addition to the water potential of the soil, factors such as soil penetration resistance and soil O2 diffusion rate also affect plant growth and interfere with water absorption, even if moisture is within the available water range. This study aimed at quantifying the least limiting water range and demonstrating its potential in soil and water management in irrigated agriculture. In order to determine the least limiting water range, soil water retention curves and soil resistance to penetration were determined from undisturbed soil samples. The sequential water balance and the reference, crop and real evapotranspiration were determined for a soybean crop season. Soil aeration was the least limiting water range upper limit for soils with bulk density greater than 1.33 Mg m-3, whereas soil resistance to penetration was the lower limit for bulk density higher than 1.43 Mg m-3. The bulk density of the soil studied was 1.35 Mg m-3, indicating 0.37 m3 m-3 of water availability, based on the least limiting water range, which is sufficient to supply the crop evapotranspiration. Irrigation management based on the least limiting water range is more efficient and complete than that based only on available water.

Dissipation of Clomazone, Imazapyr, and Imazapic Herbicides in Paddy Water under Two Rice Flood Management Regimes

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 330-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Schreiber ◽  
Ananda Scherner ◽  
Joseph H. Massey ◽  
Renato Zanella ◽  
Luis A. Avila
Keyword(s):  
Half Life ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Flood Management ◽  
Rice Grain ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Paddy Water ◽  
Management Regimes ◽  
Rice Irrigation

Information on the dissipation of clomazone, imazapyr, and imazapic in paddy water under different irrigation system is not available in the literature. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of two irrigation systems (intermittent (IF) and continuous (CF) flood) on the dissipation of clomazone, imazapyr, and imazapic in paddy water. Imazapic was the least persistent herbicide in paddy water, with DT50-values of approximately 3 and 5d under CF and IF, respectively. Imazapyr required a two-fold increase in time to reach its half-life in water in contrast to imazapic, with DT50-values of approximately 6 and 11d under CF and IF, respectively. Clomazone showed the highest DT50-values, varying between 7 to 21d under CF and IF, respectively. Imazapyr and imazapic dissipation was faster under CF, while clomazone was not affected. This investigation found that the dissipation behaviors of herbicides vary under different rice irrigation regimes. Thus changes in irrigation management, as will be required to produce more rice grain with less water to avoid future scarcity, should consider impacts of flood management on herbicide persistence and environmental behavior.

scholarly journals Assessment of transaction costs in farmer's managed irrigation system in Nepal

2012 ◽  
pp. 112-123
Author(s):  
Ram Chandra Bhattarai
Keyword(s):  
Transaction Cost ◽  
Production Cost ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Main Element ◽  
Maintenance Cost ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Winter Crops ◽  
Time Required

The paper attempts to estimate the transaction cost and compare it with production cost and value of output of crops. It also attempts to analyze the factors influencing the transaction cost. For this information was collected from field survey of 60 irrigation systems covering 360 households. The findings of the study show that the main element of transaction time is watching, waiting and negotiating time and which constitute more than 92 percent of the total transaction time. The study also shows that the transaction time is relatively low for Farmers Managed Irrigation System (FMIS) in Nepal. The transaction time is about 5 % to that of total time required for the production of crops. The transaction time is high for the households cultivating the land at downstream of the canal compared to the households cultivating the land at upstream of the canal. In terms of crops transaction time for the cultivation of winter crops is three times higher than that of the summer crop.Key Words: System; Households; Transaction cost; Repair and maintenance cost; Institution; Farm location; Kathmandu valleyEconomic Journal of Development IssuesVol. 11 & 12 No. 1-2 (2010) Combined IssuePage: 112-123Uploaded date: 10 April, 2012

An Agent Based Hydro Informatics Approach for the Engagement of Farmers in Irrigation Water Management in Saudi Arabia

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-64
Author(s):  
Tagelsir Mohamed Gasmelseid
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Software Agents ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Conflicting Objectives

The use of software agent systems and technologies to simulate water resources management scenarios and improve the engagement of stakeholders in policy making is gaining paramount importance. Such importance originates from two main concerns or change agents. Firstly, the context of water management is becoming highly complicated due to the intensity of connections with other systems, the diversity of stakeholders and the multiplicity (and sometime conflicting) objectives of decision partners. Moreover, the domain used for capitalizing on water management issues is becoming planetary (as it is the case of shared basins) rather than being local (watershed, watercourse, scheme, etc.). As a result, the concern is not limited to the optimization of the utility matrix of stakeholders but additional attention is required to incorporate many emerging issues such as the maintenance of financial sustainability, functional mainstreaming and improving engagement to promote reconciliation and change of water use behaviors. Secondly, the recent technological developments have improved the processing capacity of hardware, software functionalities and the accessibility of telecommunication platforms. Such developments have been reflected in the improvement of the capacities of decision makers to address complex problem domains. Software agents' technologies possess the qualities that make them useful for the provision of decision support in water management domains. As it is the case of irrigated agriculture, software agents' technology can be used for the design of farm surface irrigation systems, the improvement of irrigation systems management and the enhancement of the involvement of farmers in the processes of integrated water management. This paper is concerned with the use of agent based systems to facilitate the engagement of farmers in Al Ahsaa area in the management of water resources. The government of the Kingdom is adopting a demand management approach for the management of irrigation water by discouraging the cultivation of water-consuming crops such as wheat and dates. Improving the ability of farmers to analyze alternative cropping patterns significantly affects their water use behavior.

REVIEWS OF BACTRIAN IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN THE BRONZE AG

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-31
Author(s):  
Umidulla Isarov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
The Bronze Age

This article analyzes the occurrence of irrigated agriculture in Bactria and the study of irrigation systems in the Bronze Age on the deltas of Ulanbulaksay, Bustansay and Bandikhansay. There are also reviews about archeological sources, which reflecting thedevelopment of irrigation systems in the Bronze Age monuments in this area.

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