Site Selection of Different Irrigation Systems Using an Analytical Hierarchy Process Integrated with GIS in a Semi-Arid Region

Site selection of different irrigation systems can lead to higher water productivity in drought conditions. The present study intends to evaluate suitable regions along the Izeh plain (Iran) for different pressurized and gravitational irrigation systems using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on Geographic Information System (GIS). To that end, a variety of inputs such as climate, topography, skilled labor and system costs, etc. were identified and classified into two main categories of socio-economic and environmental criteria. Each criterion was subdivided into several criteria to make the site selection more specific. A matrix of the pair-wise comparison was, in turn, used to compare these criteria and sub-criteria, and to evaluate them based on their relative importance based on the region’s suitability for different irrigation system alternatives. Geographical layers were then obtained for each sub-criterion to select the most suitable sites for different irrigation systems in the study area. Pressurized irrigation systems including wheel move irrigation system, drip irrigation system and solid-set sprinkler irrigation system, together with gravitational irrigation systems consisting of surface irrigation system, and low-pressure irrigation system were considered as irrigation system alternatives during the site selection process in this study. The result map of site selection for different alternatives showed that surface irrigation, drip irrigation and low pressure systems were the best irrigation system alternatives for the region studied.