Vakhtang Geladze

The basin management of water resources has been considered and need of its application in Georgia has been justified. Fundamentals of modern software -MIKE BASIN, which was developed for basin management of water resources, have been presented. By the example of conditional basin the certain possibilities of the software have been illustrated and the results of modelling of rivers runoff according to hydrological section lines and separate segments of the river are presented.

Below there is discussed the Theory of Recognizing Images and it’s method - FOP. The OP complex programs work in the space of the Binary qualities, which gives the possibility of quantitative and qualitative-logical description simultaneously. The main work runs automatically, but qualified interference of the specialist extremely improves the results. The above mentioned method is claimed by classification of the regimes of the River Dzirula. The material to be examined consisted of the two processes: 1. overflow occurrences (under this event we mean abrupt increase in river discharge) and 2. cases without overflows (when the mentioned increase is insignificant). Both those processes will be described with the same forecasting factors. Obtained materials were divided into two parts. One of which is used for elaboration of the solution rule (study sequence), while another one is used for evaluating the quality of the elaborated rule (controlling). Though almost all major overflows are discussed and analyzed. Genetic homogeneity has been taken into account while forecasting. It is interesting to define the minimal number of those attributes that will allow the program to carry out classification – forecasting. Factors optimization were implemented by direct and reverse stepped exclusion programs. The solution rule for the divisive surface projection was elaborated.

The calculation and the management of the available water resources of Georgia is very important not only for the republic, but also for entire South Caucasus. In this connection, it is necessary to transition to a system of controlled (managed) water consumption considering the rational use of water resources. As the pilot- project was selected the basin of the river Aragvi, which is characterized by the wide variety of natural conditions and the formation of the river run-off. Besides this, the basin of the river Aragvi is the main source of the water supply of Tbilisi. The database of GIS of the proposed project contains the whole data information about water and water demand, which were existed in various departments and published in the literary sources (monograph, article, atlases, statistical handbooks and other). For realizing of project was used software GIS - ArcView. The basis of GIS was the three-dimensional electronic map of Georgia (1: 50 000). In the implementation the project were used the following layers of the above-mentioned map: river, lake, reservoir, springs, channels, the populated areas, districts, roads, hydrological stations. 

Georgia is rich in available water resources, but due to their non-uniform distribution over the territory, in a number of regions there appears a significant imbalance between the amount and use of water resources. The largest water consuming region of the country is Eastern Georgia, where water supply for population and the territory is four times less than in Western. In the whole world, and in Georgia as well, arises the necessity of exact estimation of the amount of water resources in order to arrange the efficient fresh water management and supply system and its proper use.

Deficiency of fresh water is one of the greatest global problems. Against a background of the contemporary strained ecological situation, global warming of the climate and progressive process of desertification all over the world, the worsening of a problem of deficiency of water resources is expected.

Georgia is rich in available water resources, but due to their non-uniform distribution over the territory, in a number of regions there appears a significant imbalance between the amount and use of water resources.

The present-day climate change which is revealed in global warming has been characterized by the temperature rise in Eastern Caucasus during the last 4-5 decades and by decrease of atmospheric precipitation if we leave out of account the last 4-5 years. The natural run-off of the Mtkvari river has decreased by 25-30% . All above mentioned circumstances along with increase of anthropogenic factor (destroyed irrigation systems, extremely worsened agro-technique level, felling of woods and wind forest strip) will create the real danger of  desertification processes in arid zones. Therefore, the problem of fresh water will become even more acute.

In Georgia, as well as in whole Southern Caucasus, droughts are observed quite often. Water resources management of Eastern Georgia should be based on trans-governmental projects on water use and water consumption in cooperation with the South Caucasian countries, as the significant amount of water resources are concentrated in the basins of trans-governmental rivers (Mtkvari (Kura), Alazani, Iori, Khrami, Debeda, etc.). In this connection, it is necessary to transition to a system of controlled (managed) water consumption considering the rational use of water resources. As the pilot project was selected the basin of the river Alazani, which is the transgovernmental and the main river of Kakheti region.

უკანასკნელი 4-5 ათეული წლის მანძილზე საქართველოში ადგილი აქვს კლიმატის არახელსაყრელ რეჟიმს. სულ უფრო ხშირია გვალვები, ძლიერი ქარები და სხვ. კლიმატის ცვლილების პროექტის ფარგლებში ჩატარებული კვლევებით საქართველოში, მთაშიც და ბარშიც, ზამთრის გარდა ყველა სეზონში ცხელი დღეების რაოდენობა 50% და მეტით იმატებს. შესაბამისად, ეს გამოიწვევს საირიგაციო ფართობებზე სარწყავ წყალზე მოთხოვნილების გაზრდას. კლიმატის ცვლილება, ეკოლოგიური პრობლემების გამწვავებასთან ერთად მეტ სიძნელეებს შეუქმნის ქვეყნის მეურნეობას, განსაკუთრებით ბარში, სადაც ბუნებრივი რესურსების ექსპლუატაციამ დასაშვებ ზღვარს დიდი ხანია გადააჭარბა.

Kakheti region has been selected to carry out the research. Region is reach  in fertile and pasture lands. It is the country's leading viticulture region.  It occupies the Iori and Alazani river basins and is notable for its deficit of water resources in the country. Hydro-meteorological observations begin since 20s of the twentieth century. In the territory of kakheti about 40 hydrometeorological stations were functioning. Today only one station is functioning (the Alazani River – Station Shakriani). Its observation period starts since 1925. In the other stations the observation row is of 25-30 years. There are more than 2000 rivers there, but their majority (95%) are up to 10 km long. The density of rivers network is 0,45 km/km². During low water periods the rivers runoff is often below the ecological norm. Water resources of the region are used irrationally. The region tends to desertification which aggravate fresh water problem even more and presumably may lead to migration of local population from the area.

Water supply of population at its Eastern part is an acute issue. Under more or less equal conditions in the Western and the Eastern parts of Georgia with nearly the same population the annual fresh water volume per capita is nearly four times less in Eastern Georgia. Moreover the annual runoff distribution per month for irrigation purposes is irregular here. The development of agriculture requires the proper use of land and water resources. This is especially true in dry and semi- dry regions, where due to the hard natural conditions the water is essential for harvesting. Kakheti region has been selected to carry out the research. Region is reach in fertile and pasture lands. It is the country's leading viticulture region. The major part of the population are engaged in agricultural activities. It is notable for its deficit of water resources in the country. Areas of non-irrigated land in the region is 90 385 ha. Water resources of the region are used irrationally. Depreciated and emergency state of irrigation schemes is the main headache of nearly all municipalities. Poor repair of network is a reason of high water losses. So the existing water consumptions problems hinder development of agriculture considerably. Due to the global warming and progression of the process of desertification, will aggravate fresh water problem even more and presumably may lead to migration of local population from the area. To mitigate and adjust the above said processes is to proceed to the controlled water consumption with a view to use water resources more rationally. 

Kakheti region's unique climate - landscape environment create optimal conditions for the special Rural Development. At the same time, theis region is the most complicated area in Georgia by the development scales of mudflow phenomena, recurrence rate, economic prejudice and risk of danger. More than a half of the territory is under the threat of the highest and high risk category (by ratios of 0.6-0.9). According to the forecast (The 2nd National Communication, 2009), at the end of 21st century in the southern part of Kakheti it is expected decrease of hydrothermal coefficient from 1,1 to 0,7, which will shift the region’s climate from subtropics into very dry category. The influence will be spread along the entire territory of Kakheti. During low water periods the rivers runoff is often below the ecological norm. Water resources of the region are used irrationally. The region tends to desertification which aggravate fresh water problem even more and presumably may lead to migration of local population from the area.

Fresh water deficit is one of the most important global problems today. In the countries with scarce water resources, they often become a reason of armed conflicts. The peaceful settlement of relations connected with management and water consumption issues within and beyond the frontiers of the country is an important guarantee of the region stability. The territory of Georgia comprises 69.7 thousand square kilometers. The population is 4.4 million. Fresh water resources are the major natural resources of Georgia. There are more than 2500 rivers, 800 lakes, 40 water reservoirs, about 700 glaciers, numerous different kinds of springs and swamps. Kakheti Region has been selected to carry out the research. Kakheti occupies the leading place by agriculture in Georgia (viticulture, grain growing, livestock farming, etc.). The major part of the population (> 80%) is engaged in agricultural activities, and it is a typical agricultural region. The region's natural conditions enable the need for artificial irrigation on its largest part. The region tends to desertification which aggravate fresh water problem even more and presumably may lead to migration of local population from the area.

Along with the climate change, the negative consequences of anthropogenic impact are obvious as well. Therefore, it is necessary to separate these two factors and evaluate each of them separately. There are many examples of the negative consequences of anthropogenic impact in Georgia, such as: degraded soils – as a result of disordered irrigation canals and abandoned not conserved wells; secondary salinizated areas – as a result of breaking the irrigation norms, etc. During last 4-5 decades the unfavorable climate regime prevailed in Georgia. More frequent became droughts, strong winds and so forth. According researches conducted within climate change projects in Georgia both in lowland and highland the number of hot days will increase by 50% and more for all seasons except winter. First of all this would cause increasing demand on irrigation water in the irrigation are According to the climate change models, the precipitation amount will not be changed in the future practically. However, rain will get a feature of high kinetic energy. In eastern Georgia the rains will be of short-term, intensive, with big amount of precipitation and high kinetic energy. They will have a strong erosive potential, which will result in intensive erosion of the soils occupied by the annual farm crops. As a result, hundreds of thousands of tons of soils will be washed away

Water is a vital element of our environmental essential for existence of all living species human beings inclusive. The scarcity of available water resources is frequently created artificially by intensive growth of urbanization of population, industry and agriculture. The peaceful settlement of relations connected with management and water consumption issues within and beyond the frontiers of the country is an important guarantee of the region stability. Study and estimation of water objects located in the vicinity of frontiers by means of hydrological, hydro-chemical and hydro-biological   methods is an immediate  objective of many international projects. The said problem is urgent in Georgia as well because of its water objects located at the borders and the transit run-off that is 12% of the total one. Georgia is an active participant of joint and regular monitoring, information exchange meetings with its neighbor countries (Azerbaijan and Armenia) with a view of common protection and use of trans-boundary water objects (Mtkvari (Kura), Alazani, Iori, Khrami, Debeda, etc.). Ussually, in the trans-governmental basins the available water resources and the territories corresponding to them are unequally distributed, that quite often is a reason for conflicts among the states. without properly taking into account the availability of water resources. 

The development of the national economy requires the proper use of land and water resources. This is especially true in dry and semidry regions, where due to the hard natural conditions the water is essential for harvesting. All this, requires the application of corresponding urgent measures for management of water resources. Otherwise, under the existing trend of climatic change, serious problems will occur accompanying the intensive migratory processes of the population living in the arid regions. 

Fresh water deficit is one of the most important global problems today. In the countries with scarce water resources, they often become a reason of armed conflicts. The peaceful settlement of relations connecte d with management and water consumption issues within and beyond the frontiers of the country is an important guarantee of the region stability. The said problem is urgent in Georgia as well because of its water objects are located at the borders and the transit run-off that is 12% of the total one. Fresh water resources are the major natural resources of Georgia. Despite of this, water supply of population at its Eastern part is an acute issue.

Southeastern part of the country has been selected to carry out the research. This region is notable for deficiency of water resources in the country. The region tends to desertification which aggravates fresh water problem even more and presumably may lead to migration of local population f rom the area. The purpose of study was creation geographical information system (GIS) of water resources. GIS contains almost all la yers of different content (water resources, springs, channels, hydrological stations, population water supply, etc.). The results of work provide an opportunity to identify the resource potential of the mentioned region, control and manage it, carry out monitoring and plan regional economy.

Water resources of Georgia are located within the basins of two – Black and Caspian seas. Kakheti region choused for curry out the research. Region is reach  in fertile and pasture lands. It is the country's leading viticulture region. It is notable for its deficit of water resources in the country. The purpose of study was creation geographical information system (GIS) of Kakheti water resources which will be used in future as a basis for introduction of contemporary water resources management technique. Above mentioned project is ongoing. At first stage we focused on Inventory of irrigation schemes, collection of data on water use and requirements for irrigation and its conversion to digital format.

At the initial stage collected all available data on water resources and water consumption existed in different reference books, annuals and statistical guidebooks, Inventoried all water objects (spring, river, lake, reservoir, irrigation schemes), collected all morphometric and hydrometeorological information and converted to digital format. also, collected demographic data (population, its density, urban and rural population, etc) and its converted to digital format, Collected data on land use (vineyard, garden, arable land, haying land, etc).

Deficiency of fresh water is a vital global problem today. It must be taken into consideration that in the nearest future fresh water crisis will become even more acute owing to the global climate warming and fast desertification processes in the world. Georgia has signed the association agreement with Euro Union last year where the priority spheres of cooperation are the management of water resources, development of trans-boundary approach to the problem and active participation in the “Euro Union water initiative” component of “the East Europe, Caucasus and the Central Asia”. Georgia strives for deeper cooperation with Euro Union. Among the priority spheres of that cooperation one of the most important ones is sustainable development of water resources. Water management requires a good understanding of the geographical space and related spatial information such as water sources, terrain surface, watershed, land cover, land use, rainfall, temperature, humidity, soil condition and composition, geology, conditions on the atmosphere, human activities, environmental data, etc.   Inculcation of controlled water consumption system will create better conditions for the rational and more efficient use of the budget expenditures that will have positive effect on economics and social sphere of the country .

Water erosion is a soil wash and soil wash off with temporary water (rain, irrigation water) flows. All types of water erosion directly affects the quality of land use for agricultural purposes, it is also directly and indirectly linked to the development of landslide, mudflow and other slope processes. Therefore, the erosion should be considered on the one hand, as a constant qualitative factor of farm objects and on the other hand, the constant conversion factor of modern relief’s plastics. By foreseen of climate change the multi-field GIS has been created in order to develop the measures for transition to a managed water consumption and irrigation systems restoration-modernization in the region. System’s base is a 1:200000 scale topographic map. Geographic Information System contains almost all layers of the above mentioned map and the thematic maps of different content (water resources, territory and population water supply, etc.).

Georgia has reach water resources, however, their unequal distribution creates a gap between the amounts of available and consumed water. The main goal of the study is to identify most vulnerable regions as regards water resources on a basis of Water Economy Balance.

Kvemo Kartli has been taken as the region under study. Its area is 6.5 thousands of square km (that is 9.3% of the country territory). There are 347 settlements – 7 cities, 6 towns and 334 villages. Its natural conditions are most favorable for agricultural purposes with 2-3 harvests per year that stipulate for high competitiveness of the region in comparison with other ones. Different branches of industry such as mining, metallurgy, chemical production of cement and construction materials, ceramics, glass, etc., along with power generation plants are the most active water consumers in the region.

The main problem of nearly all municipalities in the region are irrigation schemes which are depreciated or in poor state today. The existing problems of water supply hinder development of agricultural branches considerably.

The hydrography network of Kvemo Kartli is represented with trans-boundary river Mtkvari and its tributaries; 15 lakes are used for recreation, irrigation and fishing purposes; 6 reservoirs are used for fresh water supply, power and irrigation purposes. There are mineral, sulp hur and thermal springs. 

Nowadays, in Georgia water resources are managed by administrative principle. The administrative model cannot ensure effective water management considering the needs of water consumers’ as well as environmental protection interests. Therefore, there is a need for the shift to pound manageable water consumption. The development of approximate water economy balance is necessary for establishing water resources management system. Based on წსბ appropriate program and data will be selected and the territory of the reservoir will be divided into manageable units - water economy sections. water economy balance can be used for multi-year goals as well as for certain periods (such as arid-climate year, vegetative season, etc.). As a rule, maximum of water-consumption indices and the 95% of water supply (Practically guaranteed runoff, shallow year) is taken into account for developing წსბ. In the following article, we discuss multi-year water economy balance. To evaluate water supply, environmental flow should also be computed asides water economy balance. an environmental flow is the minimum amount of water, including water regime, water quality, and water level, which is necessary for securing freshwater ecosystems, vital human means, and welfare. an environmental flow is highly inconsistent multi-factor quantity. The stages of its computation are still on an initial level. Since limited the data is available, computing environmental flow is difficult and requires relevant education, experience, understanding and scientific intuition asides competence. Enough data and information for computing environmental flow are rarely available. In this case, prevention principle should be used when the river is maintained with a distinct amount of water. 

Doctoral Thesis Referee

Master Theses Supervisor

Doctoral Thesis Supervisor/Co-supervisor

Scientific editor of monographs in foreign languages

Scientific editor of a monograph in Georgian

Editor-in-Chief of a peer-reviewed or professional journal / proceedings

Review of a scientific professional journal / proceedings

Member of the editorial board of a peer-reviewed scientific or professional journal / proceedings

Participation in a project / grant funded by an international organization

Participation in a project / grant funded from the state budget

Patent authorship

Membership of the Georgian National Academy of Science or Georgian Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Membership of an international professional organization

Membership of the Conference Organizing / Program Committee

National Award / Sectoral Award, Order, Medal, etc.

Honorary title

Monograph

Handbook

Research articles in high impact factor and local Scientific Journals

Publication in Scientific Conference Proceedings Indexed in Web of Science and Scopus