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TETHIS WebGIS Information Center
Welcome to TETHIS - EarTH Observation for the Early forecasT of Irrigation needS
This advanced spatial decision support system (SDSS) leverages satellite Earth Observation data, artificial intelligence, and crop modeling to deliver early and in-season forecasts of irrigation requirements for sustainable water management.
About the TETHIS Project
The TETHIS Project (EarTH Observation for the Early forecasT of Irrigation needS) is a research initiative led by the National Research Council (CNR-IREA) and co-funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The project addresses the growing challenges of water resource management in Mediterranean agricultural systems exposed to climate change.
Project Objectives
The project focuses on four key areas of innovation for sustainable irrigation management:
Water Resource Planning
Early Forecasting
Water Allocation Optimization
Precision Irrigation Support
The core goal is to enhance water efficiency in Mediterranean agricultural systems through better forecasts and support climate-resilient sustainable agriculture.
Study Area
Tavoliere delle Puglie - Capitanata
One of the largest agricultural areas in southern Europe, located in Apulia, Italy. This pilot area is supported by real-time data from irrigation systems managed by the Consortium for the Reclamation of Capitanata, making it an ideal testbed for advanced irrigation forecasting systems.
Key Features:
- Extensive Mediterranean agricultural landscape
- Complex irrigation infrastructure network
- Climate change vulnerability requiring adaptive water management
- Diverse crop types and irrigation requirements
TETHIS Use Cases
The TETHIS system provides three distinct operational scenarios to address different temporal and management needs:
Early Forecasting
Strategic water planning before crop emergence, enabling irrigation consortia to prepare infrastructure and allocate resources for the upcoming growing season.
- Basin-scale water demand estimation
- Infrastructure preparation planning
- Budget and resource allocation
Start-of-Season Management
Real-time irrigation management as crops emerge and establish, providing updated forecasts based on current conditions and seasonal weather patterns.
- Crop-specific water requirements
- District-level demand updates
- Early drought risk assessment
In-Season Monitoring
Continuous monitoring and adaptive management throughout the growing season, with real-time updates based on satellite observations and field conditions.
- Field-level irrigation scheduling
- Soil moisture monitoring
- Precision irrigation optimization
Using the TETHIS WebGIS
Map Navigation
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Pan: Click and drag on the map to navigate across the Capitanata region
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Zoom: Use mouse wheel or map controls to zoom from field to district level
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Toggle Layers: Switch between input data layers and irrigation forecast outputs
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Adjust Opacity: Control layer transparency to overlay different data types
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Query Data: CTRL + Click to get irrigation forecasts and soil moisture values at specific locations
Map Organization
Scientific & Technological Innovation
Earth Observation Integration
Multi-sensor satellite data integration including SAR (Sentinel-1, COSMO-SkyMed, SAOCOM), multispectral and hyperspectral imagery (Sentinel-2, PRISMA) for comprehensive agricultural monitoring.
AI-Driven Modeling
Advanced modeling components including Crop Water Demand Models, Soil Water Balance Models, and AI-driven downscaling of hydro-meteorological parameters for precise irrigation forecasting.
Multi-Scale Forecasting
Forecasting capabilities spanning from pre-season strategic planning to real-time in-season management, supporting both field-level and district-level irrigation decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
TETHIS is an dvanced spatial decision support system (SDSS) that combines satellite Earth Observation data, artificial intelligence, and crop modeling to provide early and in-season forecasts of irrigation requirements. It helps optimize water resource management in Mediterranean agricultural systems.
TETHIS integrates multiple satellite data sources:
- SAR data: Sentinel-1, COSMO-SkyMed, and SAOCOM for surface soil moisture and crop monitoring
- Optical data: Sentinel-2 multispectral and PRISMA hyperspectral imagery for vegetation analysis
- Derived products: Land tillage maps, irrigated area maps, and crop-specific monitoring products
The TETHIS WebGIS uses a two-panel approach:
- Input Module (Left): Displays satellite data, meteorological inputs, soil variables, and crop information that feed into the models
- Output Module (Right): Shows irrigation forecasts, water demand maps, and decision support products generated by the system
Both maps are synchronized for easy comparison between inputs and outputs. Use CTRL+Click to query values at specific locations.
TETHIS provides three distinct operational scenarios:
- Pre-Season Forecasting: Strategic planning before crop emergence for infrastructure and resource allocation
- Start-of-Season Management: Real-time irrigation management as crops establish with updated forecasts
- In-Season Monitoring: Continuous monitoring and adaptive management throughout the growing season
TETHIS serves multiple stakeholder groups:
- Irrigation consortia: For water allocation planning and infrastructure management
- Water authorities: For regional water resource planning and drought management
- Farmers and agronomists: For field-level irrigation scheduling and crop management
- Policymakers: For sustainable agriculture policy development and climate adaptation planning
- Researchers: For agricultural water management studies and technology development
TETHIS has evolved from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 6-7 during the project development. This means:
- The system has been validated in a relevant operational environment
- It has demonstrated functionality in the Capitanata pilot area
- The platform is ready for operational scaling to additional regions
- It can be adopted by other user communities and irrigation management systems
Contact and Support
Need Additional Help?
If you have questions about the TETHIS project or require technical support with the irrigation forecasting system, please reach out to our team.
Project Partners
- CNR-IREA (National Research Council - Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment)
- CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics)
- Politecnico di Bari
- University of Bari "Aldo Moro"
- Consortium for the Reclamation of Capitanata
Co-funded by ASI (Italian Space Agency)
Technical Information
TETHIS System Architecture
The TETHIS platform is built using advanced technologies:
- Backend Django, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, MapServer
- Frontend Vue.js, OpenLayers, Bootstrap
- EO Processing SAR, Multispectral, Hyperspectral data processing chains
- AI Models Crop Water Demand, Soil Water Balance, AI-driven downscaling
Data Products
TETHIS generates multiple data products:
- Surface Soil Moisture maps
- Land Tillage detection
- Irrigated Area mapping
- Crop Water Demand forecasts
- Irrigation scheduling recommendations
- District-level water allocation plans
Project Impact and Benefits
Water Efficiency Enhancement
TETHIS significantly improves water use efficiency in irrigation through accurate forecasting, helping reduce water waste and optimize resource allocation in Mediterranean agricultural systems.
Climate Resilience
By providing early drought risk assessment and adaptive irrigation management, TETHIS helps agricultural systems become more resilient to climate variability and extreme weather events.
Scalable Solutions
The system is designed to be scalable and replicable, ready for national and international adoption by other irrigation management authorities and agricultural regions.