The DENORI project at Loyola University demonstrates the potential of smart systems to prevent irrigation leaks in high-value crops
Description
Loyola University, through the DENORI project, has taken a decisive step towards more efficient and sustainable agriculture. Funded by the Regional Government of Andalusia within the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Operational Groups Call, this initiative has developed an automated system capable of detecting irrigation leaks in real time , providing innovative solutions to one of the major challenges facing Andalusian irrigation: water loss.
Technology for more efficient irrigation
The DENORI project (Automatic Detection and Notification of Irrigation Leaks) , led by the Optimization and Control of Distributed Systems research group at Loyola University, has demonstrated that the integration of IoT sensors, artificial intelligence and satellite remote sensing can transform water management in agricultural holdings, especially in high-value crops such as citrus.
Tests conducted on a 600-hectare farm in Huelva have validated a solution that monitors pressure and flow rate at various points in the irrigation network , analyzing the data in the cloud and generating early alerts for any anomalies. This automatic detection capability helps reduce water losses, anticipate problems, and optimize resources.
“This project demonstrates that technological innovation can help farmers produce more with less, reducing costs and contributing to more sustainable agriculture,” says José María Manzano Crespo , deputy director of the School of Engineering at Loyola University and head of the project.
Digital twins and satellite imagery to detect leaks
One of the most outstanding advances has been the creation of digital twins of irrigation networks, which allow us to simulate their behavior, improve predictive capacity and locate leaks with precision.
Furthermore, the incorporation of Sentinel-2 and Planet satellite imagery has enabled the detection of variations in soil moisture using indices such as NDWI and NDVI , complementing the information provided by field sensors. This combination of data—satellite, hydraulic, and artificial intelligence—has been key to detecting even the smallest leaks.
“The combination of satellite data and IoT sensors allows us to detect leaks using AI, even when the variations are minimal. This represents a fundamental tool for more sustainable water use in agriculture,” adds Manzano Crespo.
A collaborative model for sustainability
DENORI has brought together partners with complementary profiles to comprehensively address the water challenge:
- Loyola University Andalusia and University of Huelva : responsible for technological research and scientific analysis.
- Covadonga Producers Group SL (Trifolium Farms) : contribution of practical knowledge and field validation.
- ASAJA Sevilla : representing the agricultural sector and the interests of young farmers.
This alliance has made it possible to transfer knowledge directly to farms, demonstrating that the system is scalable and applicable to other crops and regions.
Smart agriculture in the face of climate change
With more than a decade of experience in distributed control and cyber-physical systems, the ODS team at Loyola University has developed a tool at DENORI that addresses the challenges of Andalusian irrigation: water scarcity, the need for efficiency, and adaptation to climate change.
The project joins other digital agriculture initiatives promoted by the institution, such as:
- oliVAr , focused on intelligent pest management using artificial vision.
- AquaIA , geared towards deficit irrigation in organic horticultural crops.
A more sustainable and connected future
Recently completed, DENORI has laid the foundation for a new generation of intelligent irrigation systems , capable of saving millions of liters of water per year through continuous monitoring and automatic leak detection.
“Water is a limited and essential resource. This project demonstrates that technological innovation can help farmers produce more with less, reducing costs and contributing to more sustainable agriculture,” concludes Manzano Crespo.
DENORI demonstrates that digitalization and artificial intelligence are not the future, but essential present realities for a more responsible and efficient use of water in Andalusian agriculture.