Models and GIS

In an alluvial basin with an area of about 1000 km2 agricultural, domestic and industrial water requirements are covered by groundwater pumping. Due to the overexploitation of the aquifer which is hydraulically linked with the Danube, the groundwater table has become remarkably lower within the last twenty years. To overcome water shortage and to improve environmental conditions several water management alternatives have been elaborated. All the plans are related to improved groundwater management strategies. The objective of this paper is to describe an integrated model assisting governmental water authorities in water and environmental decision making. For this purpose water management scenarios can be easily interactively generated and subsequently analysed in its hydrological consequences. The scenarios include alternative sites for hydropower schemes and alternative measures for artificial groundwater recharge. The model consists of several components such as a relational data base, analytical tools, a two dimensional finite difference groundwater model and functional units from a geographical information system. These tools are integrated by a user friendly interface. The data base is designed to handle time series, spatial data, tables and texts. The analytical tools refer to time series analysis, spatial statistical analysis and facilities for overlays.