"The diminishing Aral Sea one of the worst environmental disasters in the world."
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Fortes, P, A Platonov, and L Pereira. 2005. "GISAREG - A GIS based irrigation scheduling simulation model to support improved water use." Agricultural Water Management (77): 159-179.
This paper describes the GISAREG model which is a result of the integration of ISAREG and GIS ArcView 3.2 in order to develop an irrigation scheduling simulation model for improved water use in Syr Darya province, Uzbekistan. The GIS component in this study allowed the researchers to do simulated scenarios concerning spatial distribution of crops, irrigation methods, irrigation scheduling options, and water restrictions. The program allowed them to analyze irrigation water saving scenarios for cotton, maize and vegetables at different water availability levels. This paper shows how GIS can be used for modeling water saving scenarios.
Hoogeveen, Jippe. "A regional water balance of the Aral Sea basin through GIS."http://geo.bildungszentrum-markdorf.de/fortbildung/pages/QUELLTEXTE/regwatbalHoog.htm.
This paper describes the Land and Water Information Systems (LWIS) project developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The goal of the program is to be able to assess the state of the land and water resources to help predict potential food production. The methodology is currently under development, but the author shares ideas on GIS and water balance model combinations to produce maps showing spatial distribution of water over large areas. This study shows how GIS can predict food production.
Conrad, Christopher et al. 2007. "Mapping and assessing water use in Central Asian irrigation system by utilizing MODIS remote sensing products." Springer Science (21): 197-218.
Water management on the local levels in Uzbekistan is impeded by lack of reliable information about availability, distribution and usage of water. Using GIS for analysis and MODIS remote sensing data, this study assessed spatiotemporal water use patterns in Khorezm region, Uzbekistan to improve decision making. The results provided insights into land and water distribution in Khorezm region, Uzbekistan. Maps on land cover, seasonal evapotranspiration, proximity between water users associations and diversion points were derived.
Bolch, Tobias. "Climate change and glacier retreat in northern Tien Shan using remote sensing data." Global and Planetary Change (56): 1-12.
This paper studies glacier change in the Northern Tien Shan Mountains. Data from 16 climate stations were collected from 1879 to 2000 and analyzed using GIS. The results showed temperature increase during the winter and autumn seasons. Climate change over the years was related to the decrease of glacial extent by about 32% between the years 1955-1999. This study demonstrates how GIS can be used to show spatiotemporal changes in the glaciers.
McKinney, Daene, and Ximing Cai. "Linking GIS and water resources management models: an object-oriented method." Environmental Modeling and Software (17): 413-425.
This paper addresses water allocation problems in Kashkadarya River Basin, Central Asia. The object-oriented method is applied in this research. This method allows combined spatial objects that are real world entities with geographical, physical, environmental and socioeconomic attributes and the thematic objects which are methods and topics (policy oriented) that are relevant to spatial objects. Using this method, GIS analysis capabilities were extended, allowing greater flexibility in modeling analysis. The products of the analysis will be used during decision making processes. This research shows how GIS can be used to influence water policy.
Ruger, Nadja, Maja Schluter, and Michael Matthies. "A fuzzy habitat suitability index for Populus euphratica in the Northern Amudarya delta." Ecological Modeling (184).
Poplar is one of the dominant tree species in the tugai forests of Central Asia, that provide habitat for diverse wildlife. Thus maintaining these species is important task. This study tested the Northern Amu Darya delta to determine the habitat suitability index (HSI) for Eupharatica poplar. Environmental variables such as geomorphology, groundwater level and flooding regime were chosen to identify HSI. The index model was integrated into a GIS, where various water management scenarios were developed. The simulation results can be used by decision-makers and can be a part of ecological impact assessments of the future water management strategies in the region.
Morimoto, Yukihiro et al. "The pelican scenario for nature restoration of Aral Sea wetland ecosystems." International Consorium of Landscape and Ecological Engineering and Springer-Verlag (1): 85-92.
This paper focuses on pelican salvation strategies in the Aral Sea Basin. Satellite remote sensing was used to obtain data on seasonal changes by vegetation. Field surveys were conducted in order to obtain data on land cover, vegetation type, biomass, soil type, fauna, leaf area index, avifauna, and groundwater level. GIS was then used to integrate the data and to carry out analysis on the relevance of vegetation change to Aral Sea shrinkage. GIS was also used to develop habitat models under different land and water use. This research demonstrates how GIS can be used for wildlife and habitat protection.
Ruecker, Gerd et al. 2004. Remote sensing based mapping and characterization of soil and vegetation quality of potential plantation areas in the desiccated Aral Sea area. Bonn.
This research addressed the heavy agricultural land loss problem due to the intensive aeolian erosion in the Aral Sea basin. A strategy to reduce soil erosion by establishing salt and wind tolerant plantations is introduced. Satellite remote sensing images were used to estimate and approximately map the potential plantation areas in the region. This study shows how remote sensing data can be used to prevent land degradation.
Nasrulin, Aydar, Faruh Shaazizov, and Helmut Lieth. 2008. "Computer supported systems for the risk assessment and section recommendation for the water objects in Uzbekistan based on the already developed databank." Birkhauser Verlag.
This research is focused water infrastructure built during the Soviet era in Central Asia and its maintenance nowadays. The paper provides scientific base and techniques to protect the inhabitants and infrastructure located near these constructions. Data for the research was collected through various research institutions and was input into GIS in order to generate water quality maps and provide hydro-ecological monitoring.
Sivanpillai, Ramesh, and Alexandre Latchininsky. "Mapping Locust Habitats in the Amudarya River Delta, Uzbekistan with Multi-Temporal MODIS Imagery." Springer Science (39).
This research is focused on incorporation remote sensing methods into regional information systems in order to provide better decision making in land and water management in Central Asia. The researchers obtained data from satellite sensors to create land cover and land use classification data layers. That data allowed them to calculate crop specific evapotranspiration, yield, and leaf nitrogen. These remote sensing parameters were input into spatial analysis to calculate the performance of the system and to simulate land and water use. This type of GIS analysis can be used to aid policy-makers and water managers in making their decisions.
Khamzina, Asia et al. 2007. "Groundwater table and salinity: Spatial and temporal distribution and influence on soil salinization in Khorezm region." Springer Science (21): 219-236.
This research was focused on improving drainage management in Khorezm region, Uzbekistan by examining temporal dynamics of groundwater table an salinity. During the period of 1990-2000 about two thousand wells across the Khorezm region were measured for salinity and depth to groundwater table. The data obtained was input into GIS and analysis was conducted. The results of the research showed that higher groundwater tables forced soil salinization. Higher water table and groundwater salinity was observed in western and southern parts of the study area.
Kamilova, E et al. "GIS use in the Aral Sea area: water quality and population health." ww.springerlink.com/index/j1237324074w387-1.pdf.
This research is focused on health control in Zeravshan River Basin, Uzbekistan. GIS was used to combine and analyze data from industrial, natural protection and medical agencies in order to understand and estimate the risk infected from water-borne diseases in the basin. The results showed that the main source of human health issues was poor provision of sewage system services and lack of water treatment plants. The analysis also showed that only urban areas had these facilities. This research is great example of how GIS can be used to improve the health index.
Martius, Christopher et al. 2003. "Developing sustainable land and water management for the Aral Sea Basin through an interdisciplinary approach.
This paper describes the activities of ZEF/UNESCO Project (program to develop sustainable and efficient land and water use practices for the region) in Khorezm region, Uzbekistan. It describes various research conducted in the area including those that use remote sensing and GIS. Among them is research on the groundwater table, soil salinity, drinking water supply, and water disease risk assessment. This paper shows how GIS can be used to conduct research in various fields.
Ibrakhimov, M et al. 2005. "GIS-based monitoring tool for decision-making on land and water management in Uzbekistan." ICID 21st European Regional Conference.
This research is focused on groundwater salinity issues in Khorezm region, Uzbekistan. The data on groundwater salinity was collected from 1,987 monitoring wells from 1990-2000. The data obtained was analyzed using kriging and TIN interpolation techniques. The spatiotemporal analysis showed that approximately 20% of the area examined experienced rapidly increasing groundwater salinity. This paper shows how GIS can help to monitor groundwater salinity which has a direct influence on farmers' income in the Khorezm region. Detecting the negative change in salinity in the early stage can ensure farmers' household security.
Akmansoy, Sandra. 1997. "Aral Sea water rights." University of Texas.http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/grad/akmansoy/aral/master_sa.pdf.
This is Sandra Akmansoy's thesis on "Aral Sea water rights". The study is focused on the Helsinki Rules. Since the major part of water rights is based on hydrology and climate studies, Sandra conducted a hydrologic study of the basin, which is shared between five Central Asian states. Using GIS, she determined the share of the watershed between the states and their contribution to water surplus. Then she conducted a socioeconomic analysis of the basin that allowed her to generate recommendations for "equitable" use of the water resources in the basin. This paper illustrates how GIS can be a useful tool in explaining and measure qualitative variables such as "equity."
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