Development of Agent-Based Model with the Aim of Discussion Groundwater Resources Management Policies; Case Study of Damghan Aquifer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Graduate of Water Resources Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Iran.

2 Professor, Center of Excellence in Hydroinformatics, Department of Civil Engineering and Institute of Environment, University of Tabriz and Adjunct Professor, Sharif Policy Research Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

3 Ph.D. Graduated of Water Resources Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Iran.

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Science and Institute of Environment, University of Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

Excessive water extraction from aquifers in arid and semi-arid areas poses a serious threat to natural resources and the environment. Damghan's critical forbidden plain has faced a drop in groundwater level in recent years. In this study, the agent-based model has been used to simulate the behavior of effective stakeholders in the region. First, the agent-based model is considered based on the key stakeholders of the region (farmers are the most important consumers of groundwater in the region, Regional Water Company and Agriculture- Jahad), characteristics, behavior, characteristics of the environment, how the interaction between the agents and the environment (Damghan aquifer). Information about exploitation wells and characteristics of the dominant cultivation in the region is related to 1397. To identify the behavior and characteristics of the agents, a visit to the area and interviews with experts and farmers have been done. The characteristics, behaviors, and interactions of agents are expressed by if-then rules or logical operators or by formulated equations. Then, management scenarios in the study area have been studied for 10 years. The results show that the simultaneous implementation of four projects of installing smart meters, modifying well licenses, promoting new irrigation systems, and establishing production cooperatives while maintaining farmers' net incomes will reduce water withdrawal 44% compared to the base scenario. Also, as a result of the implementation of these four projects, the irrigation method of 4000 hectares of agricultural lands will be changed to pressurized irrigation.

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