Chávez gives keynote address at Irrigation International Symposium in Uruguay
Earlier this month, Professor José L. Chávez delivered a keynote address at an International Irrigation Management Symposium in Colonia, Uruguay. The symposium was a gathering of experts in irrigation and agriculture sharing innovations for improving irrigation water management in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Chávez spoke on the use and accuracy of different remote sensors and algorithms developed to improve the estimation of crop evapotranspiration, or crop water use. His hydrology research emphasizes the improvement and simplification of methods for the determination of spatial crop water use at different scales, and associated uncertainties, and included proximal, air- and space-borne remote sensing platforms.
“Based on presentations from the Latin American research groups and a University from Spain, it was evident that the implementation of new irrigation water management technologies, including remote sensing, soil water sensors, infra-red thermometers, and Ag-weather stations among others, proved to be useful to more appropriately advise on irrigation amounts and timing, and for documentation of actual crop development and water use as well. Therefore, their experience with new technologies was very positive,” said Chávez.
Additionally, the Uruguayan Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias – INIA (National Institute of Agricultural Research) is working with Chávez to establish a formal research collaboration and possible student exchange for the future.
