Basic HTML Version
European Territorial Cooperation Programmes (ETCP), GREECE-ITALY 2007-2013
Efficient Irrigation Management Tools for Agricultural Cultivations and Urban Landscapes
IRMA -
Subsidy Contract No: I3.11.06
LP-TEIEP | P2-AEPDE | P3-INEA | P4-ISPA/CNR | P5-ROP | P6-ROEDM
8
European Investment Fund
LIFE+
Download the
ENORASIS - A smart way to
irrigate crops – and save water
The EU-funded ENORASIS project
built a system that does just that,
combining an advanced weather
prediction system that uses satellite
data with information from a network of
sensors in the fields to help farmers
decide how much water to give their
crops.
Farmers who sign up for the
ENORASIS system have installed a
network of wireless sensors and water
valves across their farms. The sensors
collect information on all the factors
that influence how much water crops
need, such as soil humidity, air
temperature, sunshine, wind speed
and rainfall, while the system monitors
the water valves to factor in how much
water the farmer has already added to
the fields.
Using an advanced weather prediction
model, along with satellite images of
the fields and information from the
sensors on the farm, the system
creates a personalized weather
forecast for the farm. The result gives
a detailed prediction for the next three
days, which can be broken down into
areas as small as 2km
2
.
ENORASIS
combines
weather
forecast and monitoring information
with data about the farm’s crops to
create a detailed daily irrigation plan
that best suits the needs of each crop.
The model also includes crop yield
data and energy and water costs,
helping farmers decide whether extra
irrigation will increase yields profitably
or cause a loss.
The farmer can access the
ENORASIS platform through a variety
of connected devices – for example a
smartphone in the field or a desktop
computer at home.
ENORASIS will be fully presented
during IRLA2014, 26-28 November
2014 at Patras, Greece
Four pilot schemes are already in
place to test the system, in continental
and island Mediterranean regions and
in North Central and South Central
Europe. These focus on six crop types
– potato, maize, apple, sweet cherry,
cotton and grapefruit – and are in
commercial and research farms to
cover a realistic range of cases. The
team expects to have the first full
results of the tests in October 2014.
The project also helps water
companies make more informed
decisions, for example on whether or
not to increase investment in
infrastructure or to introduce smart
water pricing to encourage more
sustainable water use.
After the end of the project in
December 2014, the project partners
intend to make the ENORASIS
solution commercially available.
Find more at