Approximately 80% of water consumption in Aragon and Spain is attributed to irrigated agriculture, an economic activity that plays an important role in rural development and strategic food production. The decrease in the availability of water resources, due to climate change and the change in use in watershed soils, together with the development of irrigation itself, are important challenges for sufficient future water availability for satisfactory irrigation of crops
Hydrodynamic simulation and management models are now a basic tool in decision-making related to hydrological planning and irrigated agriculture. In particular, simulation models of water resource exploitation systems, free surface flow models and pressurized flow models are essential part of decision support systems for the proper design, analysis and management of irrigation water storage, transport and application systems.
In relation to simulation models of water resource exploitation systems, the group makes models of all kinds, from small systems to large watershed exploitation systems, in order to determine supply guarantees of agricultural irrigation demands. Thus, the resilience of the systems is studied by means of sensitivity analysis or by means of the effect on the water demands of new infrastructures or variations in water contributions of supply points (rivers, aquifers...).
In relation to free surface flow models, one-dimensional and two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations are performed, for example for simulation of avenues by rain or dam failure. The group uses hydrodynamic models coupled to water quality models (salinity, contaminants, temperature, dissolved oxygen, organic matter, nitrogen, bacteriological contamination...) and sediment transport models (erosion, suspended transport, bottom transport, sedimentation). At irrigation plot level, designs and evaluations are also carried out in surface irrigation systems.
Finally, in relation to pressurized flow models, the group works on the design and management of pressurized irrigation networks with both stationary simulation models and transient simulation models (for water hammer calculation). These works are carried out at parcel level or, on a larger scale, in collective water distribution networks for pressurized irrigation systems (sprinkler or drip systems).