An analytical hierarchy model for assessing global water productivity of irigation networks in Iran

Water management decisions in irrigation networks are often characterized by complexity, irreversibility and uncertainty. In the present study, an analytical hierarchy model is developed for assessing the Global Water Productivity (GWP) status of irrigation networks. For this purpose 14 criteria, affecting water productivity, and 14 major modern irrigation networks of Iran are analyzed. Dez and Saveh irrigation networks, with the relative weights of 0.112 and 0.045, show the highest and lowest GWP, respectively. The results obtained by the proposed model are evaluated using actual GWP of the irrigation networks from 5-year average field investigations. The results obtained by AHP model are in good agreement with the results determined from the field survey. However, in the proposed model, various mutual exclusive multivariate criteria are considered, offering high qualified final solution and enhancing the consistency of the decision-making process. As the proposed model can identify the effects of different parameters on the GWP of irrigation networks, it is applied as a comprehensive and practical decision-making tool with the aim of improving the performance of such systems.