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farmers. The cropping patterns have to adapt to the irrigation supply schedule and the 
cultivation flexibility of farmers is limited. Farmers may take more risk facing the 
challenges in future agricultural business, and increasing flexibility in the irrigation water 
supply will definitely help. The spatial-temporal distribution of farm irrigation demands 
is critical data for on-demand irrigation system design. This study integrated raster GIS 
with system dynamic simulation modeling in simulating farmers’ irrigation behaviors and 
compare on-demand irrigation with rotational irrigation. 

In this pilot study, agent-based simulation modeling was used for simulating 

individual farmer’s irrigation behaviors based on climate conditions, soil texture, 
irrigation periods, etc. Monte-Carlo simulation analysis was used for evaluating irrigation 
water demand in the study area. Probabilistic irrigation demand charts generated from this 
process could be valuable references for on-demand irrigation system design. 

Keywords: Irrigation, Geographic information system, System analysis, Agent-based 

simulation, Water management. 

 

 

 

(WTO)

(Food & Agriculture Organization of The 
United Nation, FAO)

(On-Demand Irrigation Systems Design)
(Lamaddalena, et al. 2000)

 

 

(Raster GIS)