A Gis Network Model for Sugarcane Field Drainage Management

This paper reports a current GIS research project which is being undertaken in the Tweed area of north coast New South Wales. The project focuses on drainage management problems which are of increasing concern for land and environmental management for the sugar industry in this area. GIS network capabilities are employed with enhancements of specific needs for the drainage simulation. Natural and artificial drainage networks have been mapped, based on an accurate field survey, with the assistance of digitised aerial photographs. Specialised data processing routines have been developed to allow computation of important network parameters such as impedance, capacity, flow velocity and flow direction using field data and theoretical hydrologic models. Data links can be established to link the drainage network, which is managed in a GIS, with the hydrologic models, allowing dynamic simulation of drainage corresponding to individual rainfall events.