Remote sensing and traditional irrigation in tropical mountain environments

Abstract

This study concerns a rehabilitation project on traditional irrigation systems located various altitudes in the Ecuadorian Andes. The use of SPOT satellite imagery combined with a digital elevation model is proved to be able to improve the assesment and characterisation of irrigation systems in mountainous regions, by providing maps of irrigation infrastructure and of land use. Possibilities of transfering the developped methods to mountainous regions of the Mediterranean area are also mentioned.