1622WQ: A web-based application to increase farmer awareness of the impact of agriculture on water quality

Intensive agricultural practices represent a major threat to aquatic ecosystems because they impair water quality. However, this can be ameliorated by farmers improving crop management provided they are aware of their contribution to declining water quality. Water quality information systems can inc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Environmental modelling & software : with environment data news Vol. 132; p. 104816
Main Authors:	Vilas, Maria P., Thorburn, Peter J., Fielke, Simon, Webster, Tony, Mooij, Martijn, Biggs, Jody S., Zhang, Yi-Fan, Adham, Adam, Davis, Aaron, Dungan, Bertrand, Butler, Roger, Fitch, Peter
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2020 Elsevier Science Ltd
Subjects:	Agricultural practices Aquatic ecosystems Creeks Crop management Farm management Farming Great barrier reef Human-centred design Information systems Nitrogen Participatory water quality monitoring Pollution Quality assessment Real time Sugarcane Water quality Water quality assessments Great barrier reef Pollution Nitrogen Sugarcane Human-centred design Participatory water quality monitoring
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Summary:	Intensive agricultural practices represent a major threat to aquatic ecosystems because they impair water quality. However, this can be ameliorated by farmers improving crop management provided they are aware of their contribution to declining water quality. Water quality information systems can increase farmer awareness, but most were developed to assess water quality targets set in regulations rather than inform farmers. We developed the 1622WQ application using user-centred design principles to provide farmers with real-time information on nitrate and other contextual variables in their local creeks and rivers. The design process identified barriers to uptake of the application such as: (a) limited internet connection; (b) poor data quality; and (c) operational issues. Once these barriers were addressed, there was substantial uptake. Nevertheless, providing real-time information to farmers is only part of the solution due to legacy issues caused by a digital divide between traditional industries and those that are digitally enabled. •1622WQ is an app that democratises water quality monitoring data.•Added contextual information makes the water quality data more relevant to farmers.•We increased uptake through social science and human-centred design.•Transdisciplinary work was important to achieve impact of the technology.
ISSN:	1364-8152 1873-6726
DOI:	10.1016/j.envsoft.2020.104816