How GIS Transforms Water Resource Management in Uzbekistan

The United Nations Organization to Combat Desertification has warned that by 2050, drought will affect more than three-quarters of the world’s population. Uzbekistan, in Central Asia, is one of the 33 nations that face extreme water scarcity as early as 2040, according to studies conducted by the World Resources Institute and Britain’s Economist Intelligence Unit.

Water resource management has historically been a challenge in Uzbekistan. Agriculture is the main user of water, and the country’s irrigation methods have long relied on efficient water management. Projected water shortages make the situation even more challenging.

“In times of ecological upheaval and global warming, it is especially important for our region to focus on the rational use of water resources, optimizing their utilization by reducing water consumption and increasing water productivity,” said Mukhiddin Ibragimov, deputy director at the Uzbekspace Agency.

To address this, a project was initiated to create a dynamic monitoring system for tracking water usage with geographic information system (GIS) technology and data-driven solutions. The Space Research and Technology Agency under the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan (also called the Uzbekspace Agency), led the project. It worked with the Center for Space Monitoring and GIS Technologies.

“We believe that remote sensing and GIS technologies, enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI), will help us establish a monitoring and water management system at a fundamentally new level—where the key factor will no longer be water supply metrics but rather water consumption indicators,” continued Ibragimov.

The team used ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, and ArcGIS Field Maps to create a system that tracks water usage. This system uses satellite data to show how much water is being used in agriculture in real time. It helps detect areas where water is running low and allows for timely adjustments to irrigation schedules.

In the past, Uzbekistan officials didn’t have instruments to monitor water usage at a parcel scale in farming areas. This was because there was no digital data source to track water use. Instead, they estimated water usage with complicated calculations that weren’t always accurate. This made it hard to make informed decisions.

To create a system that could monitor water consumption on a parcel level, the team used several tools. They needed technology that could combine data from different sources, like satellite images, field data, and government records.

The project team deployed ArcGIS Enterprise, a comprehensive GIS software system, to effectively manage, store, and process the extensive geospatial data. This also allowed them to combine different data sources and visually present crucial data, such as water usage and the state of agricultural areas.

Using the evapotranspiration methodology, which analyzes the transfer of water from the earth to the atmosphere through soil evaporation and plant transpiration, the team processed data with satellite imagery to determine how much water different crop types were using. They used ArcGIS Pro to analyze these images over time and detect changes in crop condition. ArcGIS Pro also helped them digitize the irrigation system and establish a clear linkage between agricultural land and the corresponding irrigation canals. Finally, they created custom scripts in ArcGIS Pro to automate the process, making it faster and more accurate.

ArcGIS Field Maps is an all-in-one app that uses data-driven maps and mobile forms to help workers capture and edit data, find assets and information, and report their real-time locations. The team used Field Maps to collect data on the ground and study the irrigation system.

The implementation of GIS technology allowed for a smooth transition to an automated water consumption assessment process, providing real-time data analysis. As a result, detailed water consumption maps were created for each field and agricultural crop. This helped identify water stress zones, enabling farmers to adjust their irrigation schedules in a timely manner. 

The team also developed groundwater level maps, which helped optimize the use of underground water resources. A single platform was created to involve all parties, such as farmers, water managers, and government authorities, resulting in improved communication and transparent decision-making.

GIS technology is transforming water resource management in Uzbekistan by providing near real-time data and analysis. Farmers, agronomists, and water management authorities now collaborate on a GIS-based platform, which has made communication and decision-making faster and more transparent. This is leading to better and more efficient water resource management.

Improved irrigation schedules, based on real-time data about soil moisture and crop conditions, can help significantly reduce water losses. This is especially important in a region where water is scarce. Precise water distribution has also increased crop yields, which benefits individual farmers and supports the country’s food security.

"Water scarcity is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and innovative geospatial solutions are key to tackling it,” said Sohail Elabd, director of international strategies at Esri.

The project has been well received by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Water Resources and other government agencies, who recognize its importance in addressing water use challenges. The project serves as a model for other regions facing similar issues.

“Through this collaboration, Esri is empowering Uzbekspace with cutting-edge GIS and AI-driven analytics to optimize water use, enhance agricultural productivity, and drive sustainability,” continued Elabd. “This project is a testament to how location intelligence can revolutionize resource management, not just in Uzbekistan, but in water-stressed regions worldwide."

Looking to the future, the Uzbekspace Agency plans to add meteorological data to the system for more accurate water balance modeling and to expand the project to other regions of Uzbekistan. To ensure continued success, they are also developing training programs for water resource specialists and agronomists. The project’s success highlights the potential of GIS, remote sensing, and AI to reshape global water management, ensuring a future where water resources are sustainably managed for generations to come.