Mapping for Alternate Wetting and Drying (MapAWD) is a Microsoft® Excel-based tool to evaluate the bio-physical suitability of AWD as a water-saving technique in certain locations. MapAWD was developed as a tool to support users in analyzing AWD suitability at any geographical scale. The tool uses a spatially explicit water balance model to analyze the climatically suitable area for AWD and integrates climate risks and unfavorable soil information in its analysis process. 

MapAWD requires simple input data (e.g., rice extent, cropping season, rainfall, potential evapotranspiration, and soil percolation rates) and can in principle be applied to all rice growing areas. 

The core of MapAWD is an Excel workbook with programming codes written using Visual Basic for Application (VBA) language. MapAWD includes components for input and output data. Input data includes bio-physical data for suitability analysis and mapping the base map. The user inputs data on land characteristics, rainfall, decadal potential evapotranspiration data, crop data, AWD suitability thresholds, and climate risks data. The tool will then generate seasonal AWD suitability of individual grids in tabular format and in ESRI ASCII raster format.

Related information:

• Climate-based suitability assessment for alternate wetting and drying water management in the Philippines: a novel approach for mapping methane mitigation potential in rice production

• Climate-Determined Suitability of the Water Saving Technology "Alternate Wetting and Drying" in Rice Systems: A Scalable Methodology demonstrated for a Province in the Philippines