Water accounting
Understanding the current status of water resources systems globally requires detailed information on the source of water in space and time as well as detailed information on the utilisation of those water resources. Unavailability of sufficient observed data is a big issue in most parts of the world to be able to fully assess available water resources and its utilisation. Fortunately, more and more remote sensing based products are becoming available, providing information on various components of the water cycle, such as precipitation, actual evapotranspiration and storage variations.
WaPOR: remote sensing for reducing agricultural water productivity gaps
29/10/2025
Flyer that introduces WaPOR to potential users and to stakeholders involved in the WaPOR project. It sheds light both on the project itself and the portal that contains the data.
Integrated methodological framework and assessment of water management infrastructure, crop and water productivity in Libya
13/06/2025
This study used an integrated methodology, combining remote sensing data (including WaPOR's ET data) and ground-based surveys, providing a robust framework for continuous monitoring and improvement of water management infrastructure in Libya. WaPOR data was used for: selection of sampling locations, WP analysis and stratification of land parcels according to their WP dynamics.
Historical analysis of the impacts of floods on agriculture in the Sudan: towards strengthening early warning for resilient and sustainable agriculture
26/06/2025
WaPOR v3 data was utilized in this report to generate annual Net Primary Production (NPP) for 2024 which was then used in the assessment to analyze the spatial coincidence between annual net primary production and flood risk in the Sudan's cropland areas. This helped highlight the significant threat flood risk poses to the Sudan's agricultural production by identifying areas where high agricultural output spatially overlaps with high flood risk.
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A remote sensing assessment of cultivated cropland area in the Sudan during the summer season (June to October 2024)
03/07/2025
To address gaps caused by the absence of updated agricultural statistics, land cover and cropland datasets and limited ground truth data, this assessment utilizes remote sensing to analyse cropland area in the Sudan in the 2024 summer season and changes since 2018. It also integrates productivity analysis, agricultural indices and rainfall data. With that, it provides insights for future crop type mapping, yield estimation, and productivity analysis, particularly for sorghum and millet.
Geospatial cropland monitoring and crop type mapping of the Gezira irrigation scheme in the Sudan (September 2023 - March 2024)
11/07/2024
Sudan faces an increasing risk of severe food insecurity due to the ongoing conflict started April 2023, which has significantly impacted the agriculture. Given the critical role of the Gezira irrigation scheme in Sudan’s agriculture and food security sector, this report presents an assessment of changes in cultivated cropland areas within the scheme. WaPOR net primary production data was used in the monthly analysis. It provides a key indicator of the overall health and productivity of crops.
Geospatial assessment of cultivated cropland extent in the Sudan: July to September 2023
21/11/2023
A rapid assessment was conducted in July, August, and September 2023 to estimate the extent of cultivated cropland in Sudan, considering the disruption caused by armed conflict, using geospatial data to inform immediate and long-term food security management.
Remote sensing determination of evapotranspiration: algorithms, strengths, weaknesses, uncertainty and best fit-for-purpose
23/10/2023
The publication aims to update the knowledge and enhance the capacity of water professionals, raise awareness of the strengths and limitations of remote sensing models and databases for evapotranspiration, and clarify operational aspects such as spatial and temporal resolutions and accuracy. Ultimately, it serves as a valuable reference for water actors and professionals working towards sustainable water resource management.
Water accounting & auditing guidelines
09/10/2020
FAO, together with other organizations, recommends water accounting and auditing as being fundamental to initiatives that aim to cope with water scarcity. This sourcebook wants to provide advice on the application and use of water accounting and auditing, helping users planning and implementing processes that best fit their needs.
WaPOR 2: using remote sensing in support of solutions to reduce agricultural water productivity gaps
06/07/2021
This flyer introduces WaPOR to potential users and to stakeholders involved in WaPOR projects. It sheds light both on the project itself and the portal that contains the data. It is also available in French, Portuguese, Spanish and Arabic.
Irrigating from space: using remote sensing for agricultural water management
22/03/2023
This brief was produced by the FAO Investment Center under the FAO-World Bank Cooperative Programme and proposes concrete applications of WaPOR data in irrigation management by exploring the case of the Bekaa Valley.
Yield gap analysis of field crops: methods and case studies
01/01/2015
The publication reviews methods for yield gap analysis, clarifying definitions and techniques to measure and model actual, attainable and potential yield at different scales in space and time and using case studies to illustrate different approaches.
Guidance on realizing real water savings with crop water productivity interventions
05/03/2021
This technical document contains clear and practical guidelines on how to implement real water savings in agriculture through interventions for enhancing crop water productivity. A distinction is made between real water savings and “apparent” water savings.
The state of the world’s land and water resources for food and agriculture 2011: managing systems at risk
01/01/2011
The report analyses a variety of options for overcoming constraints and improving resource management in systems at risk. In each location, a mix of changes in institutional and policy measures will have to be combined with greater access to technologies for better management of land and water resources. Also available in French, Arabic and Spanish.
The use of WaPOR data in the cultivation of sugarcane
24/08/2021
This map story shows the way that productivity analysis can be carried with WaPOR data in order to understand the spatially explicit attainable water and land productivities of an area of interest, identify the zones where these productivities are met and derive from that analysis best practices to increase the productivity of the area as a whole with the goal of producing more while using less water.
Map story: WaPOR data for groundwater monitoring
22/03/2022
This map story explores the potential of the use of WaPOR data to assist in the monitoring of groundwater abstraction in the Azraq basin, a basin that is the second most exploited in Jordan. Also, it goes to show the potential of pyWaPOR as a tool to extend the coverage of higher resolution WaPOR data to new areas of high relevance.
