Project Objectives
Project Identification
| Reference number | MDLPA 293355/22.12.2025 BSB00734 |
|---|---|
| Project title | Decision Support System for Global Water Balance – GwB |
| Lead partner | Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University (TNKU) |
| Programme | (Interreg VI-B) NEXT Black Sea Basin |
| Programme priority | Clean and Green Region |
| Specific objective | RSO2.4: Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches |
| Duration | 30 months |
| Budget | €948,986.41 |
Overall Objective
Development of a simulation model with adaptive real-time control to overcome the problem of temporal and spatial variability of soil infiltration. The model will support a 10% increase in water use efficiency, leading to large water savings, and introduces considerable potential for sizeable reductions in non-beneficially consumed water (54–76%) and significant increases in crop water productivity (9–15%) through transitions from surface to sprinkler or drip systems, by 2050.
Target Groups
- National public authorities: National institutions and decision-makers responsible for water policies, water-use efficiency and sustainable development.
- Local public authorities: Water resources and river basin managers, and local bodies responsible for irrigation management, water distribution and reducing water losses.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Particularly farmers and agricultural enterprises seeking to improve water productivity, agricultural production and farm income.
Project Activities
The GwB project comprises three main work packages:
| Work package | Main activities | Main outputs |
|---|---|---|
| WP1 – Integration | Develop an integrated database on irrigation systems, including socioeconomic and biophysical data. Organise congresses and workshops to exchange knowledge, strengthen cooperation and disseminate irrigation tools and models. | Integrated irrigation database; 4 congresses/workshops involving 170 stakeholders outside the project partnership; cross-border cooperation among 4 partner organisations. |
| WP2 – Capacity Development | Deliver face-to-face Formal Training Courses (FTCs) on sustainable water and irrigation management. Develop an online Agent-Based Modelling Education Programme (ABMEP) to strengthen knowledge of efficient irrigation technologies and practices. | A formal training programme comprising 16 courses; an online ABMEP to strengthen stakeholders’ knowledge and skills in efficient irrigation management. |
| WP3 – Simulation and Modelling | Develop a surface irrigation simulation model to assess irrigation performance across space and time. Develop an irrigation-related agent-based model to simulate farmers’ decisions on crop choice, irrigation and water allocation. | A surface irrigation simulation model and an irrigation-related agent-based model, forming the modelling components of the Decision Support System for Global Water Balance (DSS-GwB). |
These activities support the development of the Decision Support System for Global Water Balance (DSS-GwB) and strengthen stakeholders’ capacity for sustainable irrigation management.