Public irrigation decision support systems (IDSS) in Italy: Description, evaluation and national context overview

Abstract

This survey comprehensively examines the public irrigation decision support systems (IDSS) in Italy, offering a detailed description, analysis and evaluation of their features. The study investigates the agrometeorological networks and infrastructures that support Italian IDSS, providing a clearer understanding of the national context. The evaluation criteria include relevant factors such as soil moisture monitoring, crop water requirements (CWR) estimation models, biophysical parameters along with their spatial and temporal resolutions, irrigation planning and decision support visualization. Additionally, the assessment covers accessibility, scalability and interoperability of these systems. The survey also highlights the strengths and weaknesses of various IDSS, such as IRRIFRAME, IRRISIAS and IRTO, discussing their operational methodologies, data integration and regional coverage. The aim is to provide insights that facilitate advancements in sustainable irrigation management practices and address key challenges for future developments at both regional and national levels. This comprehensive evaluation seeks to enhance the effectiveness of IDSS in promoting sustainable water management in agriculture across Italy.