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Institute for Civil Engineering IG , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
This paper evaluates methods for estimating evapotranspiration (ET) and their influence on irrigation system design, using a case study from Modriča, Republic of Srpska. We compare empirical, physically-based, and remote sensing approaches including Thornthwaite, Hargreaves–Samani, Jensen–Haise, Linacre, McGuinness and FAO Penman–Monteith alongside satellite-derived data from Climate Engine. A multicriteria analysis is employed to rank the methods based on reliability, climatic adaptability, data requirements and complexity. The results demonstrate that the choice of ET estimation method significantly impacts calculated water demand and, consequently, irrigation system design. The study concludes by emphasizing the critical role of method selection in achieving irrigation efficiency and optimizing project costs.
evapotranspiration, FAO Penman–Monteith, empirical methods, satellite data, multicriteria analysis
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