DSS for Integrated Water Resources

Management (IWRM)

DSS for Integrated Water Resources

Management (IWRM)

DSS ImplementationDSS ImplementationDSS ImplementationDSS Implementation

DDr. Kurt Fedra ESS GmbH, Austriakurt@ess.co.at http://www.ess.co.atEnvironmental Software & Services A-2352 Gumpoldskirchen

DDr. Kurt Fedra ESS GmbH, Austriakurt@ess.co.at http://www.ess.co.atEnvironmental Software & Services A-2352 Gumpoldskirchen

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What is a DSS ?What is a DSS ?

aa computer based computer based problem solving systemproblem solving system

– Hardware, Hardware, computing and communicationcomputing and communication

– Software, Software, DB/GIS, models, DSS properDB/GIS, models, DSS proper

– DataData, information, knowledge, information, knowledge

– PeoplePeople, institutions, institutions

that can that can assistassist non-trivial non-trivial choicechoice between between

alternativesalternatives in complex and controversial domains. in complex and controversial domains.

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Murphy’s Law No. …59 ?.Murphy’s Law No. …59 ?.

The development of any software The development of any software

systems takes (much) longer systems takes (much) longer

than expected, even if this rule than expected, even if this rule

is taken into accountis taken into account

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Hardware requirementsHardware requirements

HW Changing very rapidly, not a real constraint, HW Changing very rapidly, not a real constraint,

affordable standard PC/workstation/server powerful affordable standard PC/workstation/server powerful

enough, most important: local technical support enough, most important: local technical support (global DHL delivery ?)(global DHL delivery ?)

Infrastructure:Infrastructure:

• Clean, climate controlled roomsClean, climate controlled rooms

• Stable power supply (UPS)Stable power supply (UPS)

• Internet connection (bandwidth, reliability)Internet connection (bandwidth, reliability)

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Architecture:Architecture:Distributed redundant architecture:Distributed redundant architecture:• Local control, needs more local resources, difficult to Local control, needs more local resources, difficult to

maintain, update, synchronize (will drift apart), more difficult maintain, update, synchronize (will drift apart), more difficult

to exchange/shared data and address common (regional) to exchange/shared data and address common (regional)

issuesissues

NetworkedNetworked (centralized server, distributed clients): (centralized server, distributed clients):

• shared resources: server/cluster, RDBMS, backup, data, shared resources: server/cluster, RDBMS, backup, data,

tools, easy to maintain and update, synchronize, but more tools, easy to maintain and update, synchronize, but more

limited local controllimited local control

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DSS and model softwareDSS and model softwareOpen SourceOpen Source Operating System (Linux), Ubuntu Operating System (Linux), Ubuntu

Application software:Application software:

• Do it yourself:Do it yourself: cheap, flexible, unreliable, inefficient, cheap, flexible, unreliable, inefficient,

heterogeneous, difficult to manage/controlheterogeneous, difficult to manage/control

• Commercial:Commercial: expensive (long term support), but expensive (long term support), but

reliable and efficient if maintained (costs)reliable and efficient if maintained (costs)

• Combined:Combined: commercial stable core with open commercial stable core with open

interfaces to integrate custom made componentsinterfaces to integrate custom made components

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DSS and model softwareDSS and model softwareUsability, ease of use, error free operation, Usability, ease of use, error free operation,

intuitive understanding (communication, intuitive understanding (communication,

participation):participation):

INTEGRATIONINTEGRATIONEasy to change components in a distributed, Easy to change components in a distributed,

open, modular architecture with standard open, modular architecture with standard

protocols, interfaces, formatsprotocols, interfaces, formats

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ArchitectureArchitecture

Distributed, web-based:Distributed, web-based:• Shared central resources, administrationShared central resources, administration

• Easy access for distributed usersEasy access for distributed users, easy , easy

communication, distributed resourcescommunication, distributed resources

• Simple client requirements (PC with standard web Simple client requirements (PC with standard web

browser, data import/export facilities)browser, data import/export facilities)

CONSTRAINT:CONSTRAINT: Internet access, bandwidth, reliability Internet access, bandwidth, reliability

(latency can be measured …) (latency can be measured …) improves fast.improves fast.

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Components (wishlist, part 1)Components (wishlist, part 1)

• Object data base (nodes, reaches), DB Object data base (nodes, reaches), DB administration (telemetry ?)administration (telemetry ?)

• Monitoring data base (time series)Monitoring data base (time series)

• Embedded GIS (all objects geo-referenced)Embedded GIS (all objects geo-referenced)

• Hydro-meteorological scenarios (prognostic Hydro-meteorological scenarios (prognostic 3D models: MM5, WRF)3D models: MM5, WRF)

• Rainfall-runoff model, semi-distributed Rainfall-runoff model, semi-distributed (ungaged catchments) erosion, flooding, (ungaged catchments) erosion, flooding, lateral inflow, calibration ?lateral inflow, calibration ?

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Components (wishlist part 2)Components (wishlist part 2)

• Irrigation water demand estimation (incl. Irrigation water demand estimation (incl. crop data base, production, yield)crop data base, production, yield)

• Water resources model(s), dynamic water Water resources model(s), dynamic water budget, allocation, economics budget, allocation, economics (hydropower)(hydropower)

• Groundwater model (3D ?)Groundwater model (3D ?)

• Water quality model(s): DO/BOD, tracers, Water quality model(s): DO/BOD, tracers, turbidity, for river and lakes/reservoirs;turbidity, for river and lakes/reservoirs;

• Optimization (multi-criteria: water Optimization (multi-criteria: water resources, water quality, socio-economics)resources, water quality, socio-economics)

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Components (wishlist part 3)Components (wishlist part 3)• Watershed management, wetlands (land Watershed management, wetlands (land

use dynamics, site suitability analysis, use dynamics, site suitability analysis, optimal project location)optimal project location)

• Fisheries management (Beverton-Holt ?)Fisheries management (Beverton-Holt ?)

• Regional development dynamics Regional development dynamics (demography, socio-economics)(demography, socio-economics)

• EIA (screening level project assessment)EIA (screening level project assessment)

• Embedded user manuals and training, Embedded user manuals and training, tutorials, distance learning ? tutorials, distance learning ?

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Components (wishlist part 4)Components (wishlist part 4)

COMMON TOOLS (integrated):COMMON TOOLS (integrated):

• Basic statistical analysis (non-parametric)Basic statistical analysis (non-parametric)

• Plotting, mapping (compatible GIS)Plotting, mapping (compatible GIS)

• Report generation (standard formats)Report generation (standard formats)

• Data exchange protocolsData exchange protocols

• User communication (groupware)User communication (groupware)– Discussion fora, FAQ, error logDiscussion fora, FAQ, error log– Mailing lists, newsletterMailing lists, newsletter

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System integration (OOD)System integration (OOD)

Modular architecture:Modular architecture:• Several “independent” models for different Several “independent” models for different

topics, but shared input/output;topics, but shared input/output;

• Smaller models easier to test !Smaller models easier to test !

• Cascading models, Cascading models, consistentconsistent coupling and coupling and

integration (thematic, time and space)integration (thematic, time and space)

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System integration (OOD)System integration (OOD)

Modular architecture:Modular architecture:

Nested modelsNested models (3 levels ?): (3 levels ?):

• Overall Nile basin water budgetOverall Nile basin water budget

• Major subcatchments (10-15 ?)Major subcatchments (10-15 ?)

• Local studies within the sub-catchmentsLocal studies within the sub-catchments

Each sub-model provides input (its sub-basin Each sub-model provides input (its sub-basin

outflow and performance) to the next leveloutflow and performance) to the next level

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System integration (OOD)System integration (OOD)Common protocols, interfaces, formats:Common protocols, interfaces, formats:

– OntologyOntology (terminology, variable definitions (terminology, variable definitions

units, formats, META data)units, formats, META data)

– Data baseData base structure (object oriented, geo- structure (object oriented, geo-

referenced (shared GIS), time-stamped)referenced (shared GIS), time-stamped)

– Data exchangeData exchange (SQL, (SQL, import/export to PC import/export to PC

formats for local processing)formats for local processing)

– User interfaceUser interface (consistent style and logic) (consistent style and logic)

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Data requirementsData requirements

Never enoughNever enough (historical time series, spatial coverage) (historical time series, spatial coverage)

– Data organisation, META data, Data organisation, META data,

uncertainty, sampling statisticsuncertainty, sampling statistics

– Innovative sources: remote sensingInnovative sources: remote sensing

– Model generated estimates for complete, Model generated estimates for complete,

high-resolution synoptic data fields high-resolution synoptic data fields

(hydrometeorology)(hydrometeorology)

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Data requirementsData requirements

Planning applicationsPlanning applications::

• Historical data, long-term hydrometeorology for Historical data, long-term hydrometeorology for

probabilistic analysis (climate change impacts ?)probabilistic analysis (climate change impacts ?)

Operational management:Operational management:

• Needs real-rime monitoring data (sensors, local Needs real-rime monitoring data (sensors, local

telemetry (GSM/GPRS, UHF radio), telemetry telemetry (GSM/GPRS, UHF radio), telemetry

(investment and maintenance effort)(investment and maintenance effort)

• Model based forecasts (precipitation Model based forecasts (precipitation flow) flow)

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Monitoring sensors:Monitoring sensors:• Meteorology• Water levels• Soil moisture• Flow monitoring

open channel, pipelines

• Water quality Telemetry:

UHF, GSM, GPRS

• Meteorology• Water levels• Soil moisture• Flow monitoring

open channel, pipelines

• Water quality Telemetry:

UHF, GSM, GPRS

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People and institutionsPeople and institutions

• Introduction of a DSS means institutional Introduction of a DSS means institutional

change (long term learning process)change (long term learning process)

• Control of information is power, changes Control of information is power, changes

mean struggle, affect institutional structuresmean struggle, affect institutional structures

• Training is essential: ON THE JOB training Training is essential: ON THE JOB training

within the framework of relevant projectswithin the framework of relevant projects

• Academic training takes YEARS Academic training takes YEARS (brain drain)(brain drain)

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People and institutionsPeople and institutionsTraining requirements:Training requirements:

• Basics (academic) coordinated with Basics (academic) coordinated with

local/regional universities ?local/regional universities ?

• Topical and tool oriented coursesTopical and tool oriented courses

• On-the-job training within specific projectsOn-the-job training within specific projects

• Distance learning toolsDistance learning tools

ISSUES:ISSUES: tests, certification, accredidation ? tests, certification, accredidation ?

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DSS Implementation:DSS Implementation:

Requires a Requires a well balancedwell balanced consideration and consideration and

careful integration of careful integration of

• Hardware, Hardware, computing and communicationcomputing and communication

• Software, Software, DB/GIS, models, DSS properDB/GIS, models, DSS proper

• DataData, information, knowledge, information, knowledge

• People People (training)(training),, institutions, procedures institutions, procedures

SeriousSerious long term commitmentlong term commitment