Identification and Database Creation of Selected Historic Irrigation Structures in the Czech Republic

Since the 19th century, the irrigation industry on the territory of the Czech Republic has undergone considerable technological development and an increase in irrigated areas. Irrigation has become an important part of the Czech landscape. Large complex irrigation systems of tens to hundreds of km2 have been built. Towards the end of the 20th century, there was a significant decline due to the change of political regime, abolition of agricultural companies, etc. Irrigation systems and buildings were often destroyed, devastated, left without maintenance. There have also been several changes in the administrative management of the irrigation sector. The consequence was that there was no single database of irrigation systems. At present, a database of these irrigation systems is being compiled by the Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation using geographical information systems (GIS). In connection with climate change, the threat of drought, and irregular distribution of precipitation during the growing season, and the issue of irrigation are back on trend. In this study the current state of irrigation systems in the Czech Republic was presented. In the Czech Republic, a total of 175115 ha of irrigation area has been recorded so far (of this area, about 41% is currently in functional). Selected historic irrigation structures were documented by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).