Abstract
A method is presented that uses a Geographic Information System (GIS) for integrating social science with physiographic data. Basis for the method is an empirical study on water use in irrigated agriculture in the Khorezm region. The boundaries of agricultural fields are used to link physiographic land characteristics such as proximity to the Amudarya river, land elevation etc. to survey answers of farmers, thereby explaining patterns of water access and water-saving practices. The results are based on (1) a statistical analysis across three water user associations (WUAs) and (2) visual observations within WUAs. The statistical analysis shows that proximity to the river influences water access and water-saving practices. One WUA thereby represents a specific tail-end situation within Khorezm’s irrigation system with an exceptional prevalence of water-saving practices. In the visual analysis, the location of farms within the WUA and the land elevation are used to explain patterns of the survey answers. Despite data and method constraints and despite sometimes contrasting results from the statistical and visual analyses, it is concluded that the method has three advantages as compared to disciplinary, non-spatial approaches: (1) interdisciplinary data management is possible, including the identification of data gaps and consistency checks, (2) immediate data visualization facilitates quick monitoring of research processes and delivers starting points for disciplinary in-depth analyses, and (3) interdisciplinary data integration allows for truly socio-physical analyses. The analytical depth reached in the empirical study is thereby primarily a result of the quality and quantity of the collected data. Considerations concerning the protection of informants determine which kind of analyses can be conducted and published.
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Notes
- 1.
We recognize that the use of this term may raise some controversies, as natural scientists would tend to see this as an application of social-science data within the general method of analysing spatial data with Geographical Information Systems, rather than a method in itself. However, due to the interdisciplinary approach of this paper, the argument is partly rooted in social science methodology and thinking and we hence see it as seminal to enrich the methodology discussion in social research.
- 2.
An overall technical efficiency of approx. 30% and field application efficiency in the range of 45% were measured in a sub-unit of the irrigation system in Khorezm (Hornidge et al. 2011).
- 3.
WUA (and farmer) names are not mentioned in the article due to anonymity concerns.
- 4.
Uzbekskiy Institut po Proektirovaniyu Zemleustroystva (State Institute for Land Management Planning).
- 5.
Based on overall physical water availability, the drought years 2000/2001 could be considered even water scarcer. However, in the perception of the Khorezmian farmers (as stated in interviews) 2008 was clearly the most water scarce year.
- 6.
This statement is based on previous qualitative research conducted in the study area.
- 7.
This statement is based on previous qualitative research conducted in the study area.
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Oberkircher, L., Haubold, A., Martius, C., Buttschardt, T.K. (2012). Water Patterns in the Landscape of Khorezm, Uzbekistan: A GIS Approach to Socio-Physical Research. In: Martius, C., Rudenko, I., Lamers, J., Vlek, P. (eds) Cotton, Water, Salts and Soums. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1963-7_18
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