USE OF GIS, GIS BASED MODELS FOR RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT TASKS AND WATER MANAGEMENT WITHIN RURAL AREAS

 

 

 

 

Authors: Michael Hoffmann¹, Olga I. Zhovtonog¹, Victor F. Popovich², Oksana  P. Bolkina¹, Sergey A. Mikhaylenko¹

 

¹Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Land Reclamation (IHELR), Vasylkivska Str. 37,

03022 Kyiv, Ukraine, Tel: ++38044 2578973, e-mail: olga_zhovtonog@reclamation.org.ua

² Crimean Scientific and Research Center of IHELR, Kechkemetskaya Str. 198, 95022 Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine, Tel: +380-652225308, Email: water@crimea.com

 

 

Abstract

 

The planned implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in Ukraine requires, amongst others, the preparation of various thematic maps and geodatabases in accordance with GIS guidance documents.

Furthermore, water quality monitoring programs and River Basin Management Plans (RBMP), based on WFD principles, have to be developed to reach the ‘good ecological status” of water bodies. Those plans too are supported by GIS and GIS based models. This type of PC software also enables the simulation of scenarios for land and water resources planning worked out by local stakeholders and scientists.  GIS and modeling are also required to decrease the effects of floods and droughts, upcoming problems of climate change and subjects of possible social conflicts.

 

The presented poster gives an overview on new opportunities and challenges. As example, results of GIS based work performed in the frame of an on-going international project for the Salgir River on Crimea are shown. The main software components and models that have been tested so far are AVSWATx, ATtILA and L-THIA NPS GIS.

Maps and input data (weather data, soil characteristics etc.) are partly available on the Internet but maps for land use and soil types had to be digitized manually using Ukrainian sources. Model outputs had to be calibrated and verified but the quality of output information is, of course, very much dependent on the quality of available maps and input data. Practically it turned out that water quantity data (as river discharge) can be predicted with sufficient accuracy, water quality data as nitrate or sediment concentration can also be estimated but more monitoring data are required to better calibrate the model. Nevertheless, even in the case of low accuracy, model simulation results can be helpful to show up tendencies of future developments.

 

Keywords: RBM, GIS, SWAT, Crimea, Salgir River, simulation model, land use, sediment