The new system, designed to deliver water precisely where it is needed, aims to reduce water and boost efficiency for farmers. It adjusts irrigation levels based on real-time data from satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to improve efficiency by tailoring water distribution to the specific needs of different areas.

“The main goal is to assess images from satellites and UAVs to determine how much water each region requires,” explained Eyüp Selim Köksal from OMÜ’s Faculty of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation. “This way, we can ensure that water is distributed in the most efficient way possible.”

The project is currently being tested in the Ladik district of Samsun, a city in northern Türkiye. It is a collaborative effort between OMÜ, Bafra Vocational School of Higher Education and local agricultural industries, with support from The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye’s (TÜBİTAK) ARDEB-1001 program which supports and monitors scientific, technological and innovative R&D activities.

The advanced irrigation system goes beyond traditional methods by taking into account the characteristics of each part of the land.