Irrigation plays an important role for agricultural sustainability in U.S. and around the globe. In particular, the agricultural economy in the state of Nebraska, the largest U.S. state in terms of irrigated area, highly relies on irrigation in the growing season. With insufficient precipitation that has never met the demand for crop growth, the rural areas in Nebraska faces a central challenge to best utilize limited underground water in the Ogallala Aquifer for irrigation to sustain the growth of economy in the state.

Information and communication technologies allow individuals to apply for benefits like health care and housing, to have groceries delivered to their homes, to schedule/attend healthcare appointments, and to apply for employment. However, digital inequalities in terms of access, use, and self-efficacy reflect offline socioeconomic inequalities and pose a serious threat to today's increasingly tech-reliant society.