COMPARISON BETWEEN OPTIMUM SOLUTIONS USING THE INVENTORY TECHNIQUES AND AI TECHNIQUES BY BUILDING A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR OPTIMUM UTILITY OF INVENTORY UNDERGROUND WATER IN EGYPT

Abstract

Egypt needs to raise its agricultural production during a period with a reduced availability of Nile water from lake Nasser. This increase in agricultural production has to be achieved mainly from the Nile Valley and Delta (Fig. 1). During the last two decades, the annual runoff of the Nile River has declined to below its average (55.5 billion m3/year). This

brought into attention the necessity for effective usage of available undetgrOtmd water resources (4.9 billion m 3/year) (Diab, 1992; Biswas, 1991).

Although these resources represent 9% of the total water available

in Egypt, only 3% are currently used (see Diab, 1992 and Farid, 1988).

Development of underground water resources plays an important role for the efficient use of the Nile water resources and for the control of the underground water table.

Underground water in itself is not a resource as it originates from the Nile (indirectly). Underground water development for irrigation aims at improving drainage conditions along with achieving a better distribution of irrigation water. However, because there is a significant difference between surface water resources and underground water, we have to be careful in developing our undergrOtmd water resources.

Less reliable infonnation is available on undergrow1d water than on surface water.