Present IAS methodology is based on standards recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). In a first step, therefore, DEMETER will mimic the FAO approach by providing EO-derived crop coefficients, which is based on mature EO technology and is directly usable by the IAS. Maps of crop water requirements are obtained from applying the FAO methodology in a Geographical Information System (GIS) framework. From these maps, spatial information (general and personalized) can be provided to the end-users using IT tools.

DEMETER will overcome the space-time resolution problem so far associated with the use of EO data in irrigation management by synthesising data from all existing high-resolution satellites (Landsat, IRS, Spot, ASTER), using a new inter-satellite cross-calibration procedure. In a second step, advanced EO-derived products on more detailed crop vigour, water stress, and irrigation performance monitoring will be developed and proposed for next-generation IAS.

Finally, DEMETER will provide a modular prototype technology for creating new Space-and-IT-assisted IAS (e-SAIAS) in "high-tech" as well as "low-tech" environments for further Member states and worldwide use.

The project is implemented in three pilot zones in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, respectively. It is driven by the users within the project consortium (the local Irrigation Advisory Services or Irrigation Users Associations and the national Ministries of Agriculture of the three countries). The consortium is completed with members from academic institutions and industry. A high-level Advisory Board, composed of leading experts and policy makers, assists the co-ordinator (University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain).

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