Analysing Structural and Non‐structural Options to Improve Utility of Irrigation Areas Using a System Dynamics Approach

Abstract

Using the philosophy of system thinking, this paper conceptualizes the dynamics governing major structural and non‐structural measures for rehabilitation of irrigation networks aimed at improving the irrigation utilities. The dynamics of improvement of irrigation networks is studied, on the basis of indicators such as adequacy, efficiency, equity, flexibility and dependability. In the present paper, the application of system dynamics analysis is demonstrated by applying it to six irrigation areas in Iran to present irrigation causal loop diagrams. The results, specifically for the Qazvin irrigation network, have been documented based on the facts. For the Qazvin irrigation network, system utility not only improves through increase in investment planning, but through conjunctive water management, reducing social constraints, and control of crop patterns and the cultivated area. Reduction of social and legal constraints with change of structural and non‐structural measures to longer‐term sustainable measures is more effective than the other policies. As a conclusion it could be stated that the system dynamics approach can be successfully applied to integrated analysis of irrigation network policy options, as well as to identification of key factors leading to degradation of irrigation networks and how to make effective decisions to sustain system utility over time. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

EFFECTS OF CANAL AUTOMATION ON REDUCING GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION WITHIN IRRIGATION DISTRICTS: CASE STUDY OF QAZVIN IRRIGATION DISTRICT†

“…Based on previous studies (Tehrani et al, ; Hatam et al, ) and the findings of the present one, the current operational conditions in Qazvin Irrigation District could be summarized as follows: The area covered by the region has increased from 52 000 ha in the initial scheme to about 59 000 ha at present because the water rights of the marginal lands downstream of the district have increased. Reduced water resources caused by recent water scarcity periods, and the mentioned increase in land area covered by the district, have raised the demand for water so that water supply and demand do not match. Water needed by the Qazvin Plain is provided at present by a combination of water from surface water resources conveyed from the Taleghan River and groundwater pumping.…”

“…Figure 4 presents the general scheme of the Qazvin Irrigation Network. Based on previous studies (Tehrani et al, 2012;Hatam et al, 2013) and the findings of the present one, the current operational conditions in Qazvin Irrigation District could be summarized as follows:…”

A WEAP-MODFLOW surface water-groundwater model for the irrigated Miyandoab plain, Urmia lake basin, Iran: Multi-objective calibration and quantification of historical drought impacts

“…Our study makes the following contributions in methodology and application: 1) we present the first coupled SW-GW hydrologic model for the Miyandoab Plain. Previous hydrologic models for this region (Ahmadzadeh et al, 2016;Hesami and Amini, 2016;Mohammadpour and Bagheri, 2017;Tehrani et al, 2012) have not coupled the SW and GW components of the system, 2) Compared to previous long-term WEAP-MODFLOW studies, a more sophisticated monthly root-zone water balance model (i.e. WEAP's -soil moisture method‖) is used that keeps track of dynamic changes in soil moisture and simultaneously calculates irrigation demand, GW recharge, evapotranspiration, interflow, and surface runoff, 3) multi-objective optimization is used to calibrate WEAP-MODFLOW model parameters using GW level and river discharge data, and 4) the calibrated model is applied to generate new quantitative insights of historical drought impacts in the Miyandoab plain.…”

Development of a Conceptual Model for Application of Hydro‐Mechanical Gates in Irrigation Networks by a System Dynamic Approach

“…Some research has been done into modernization of irrigation networks. Vaez Tehrani studied the general rehabilitation of irrigation networks using a system dynamic approach (Vaez Tehrani et al, , ). This paper focuses on automatic control systems application which is an important option for rehabilitation of an irrigation network which requires separate and detailed treatment.…”