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SHARING INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE ON WATER:
Groundwater Examples
International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre
Slavek Vasak & Jac van der GunInternational Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre,
Utrecht, The Netherlandswww.igrac.nl
Presentation financially supported by The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Workshop on International Scientific and Technological Co-operation for Sustainable Development, 21-22 November 2005, Pilanesberg, South Africa
Contents1. Introduction
• Data, information & knowledge in IWRM• “Tulip” case
2. Information management• Concept • Various levels
3. IGRAC example• Organisation and activities• Special projects
4. Information sharing• Elements and tools• Conclusions
IWRM Concept
“IWRM Integrates science-based understanding of the natural controls on water quantity and quality with appropriate and effective human technologies and actions”
Source: Global Water for Sustainability, USAID,2005
Introduction
Data, Information & KnowledgeDefinition is subject to (academic) discussion• Data: Measured values • Information: Interpreted data, answers “who”, “what”, ”where”
and “when” questions• Knowledge: Application of information; answers “how”
questions (Ackoff, 1989)
yet a clear demarcation is essential for acquisition, management and sharing
• Data: costly, time consuming, large database systems required; often subject to confidentiality or a price
• Information: interpretation skills and techniques required, GIS; more easily exchangeable
• Knowledge: understanding, analogies, papers& workshops, no obstacles for exchange (benefit for all)
Introduction
Data & Information: For Whom ?Access to data and information should be customized to the needs of stakeholder:Water specialists: prefer “raw” data in own discipline; are interested in information sources and interpretation techniques; “technical” users looking for “quantitative” information and making their own statistics.
Decision makers: need information that combined various aspects of water necessary to support e.g. regulatory and public health decisions; prefer maps and graphs showing spatial relationships.
Public: interested in “easily” understandable information without technical details, usually on a local or regional scale.
Introduction
Role of Information in IWRMInformation is required for:
• Defining location and properties of water resources • Understanding the dynamics of the water systems• Optimizing the exploitation of the resources• Forecast temporal and spatial changes of water
conditions
Information provides a basis for measures set upduring the CSD 13 meeting for finding technical andsocio-economical solutions of water-related problems
Introduction
“Tulip” Case
Annual turnover from “bulb” production in Holland: EURO 1,5 billion
A rise of groundwater by 5 cm: Production reduced by 10 %
Potential reduction of income: EURO 150 million
Key management issue: Understanding groundwater level changes
Introduction
Tulip Case: Information from Data
Introduction
Well #: B31C019001
KNMI Station: De Bilt
Records updated until:
21-7-005
Looking to the future by learning from the past:Statistical analyses of long term groundwater level records
Explaining natural (seasonal) variation:Rainfall – evapotranspirationdata
Source: TNO, 2005
Tulip Case: Dissemination of Information
Locations (colour indicates the most recent groundwater level)Extremely high X Meteorological stationHighNormalLowExtremely lowNo recent records Source: TNO, 2005
Introduction
Concept of Information Management
Collection of data
Control and storage
UseProcessing
Disseminationof information
Feedback
Know
ledg
e
Information management
Water Information Management: National Level
Non-Government
TNODINOGroundwater
Non-Government
TNODINOGeology
GovernmentRIZA & RIKZDONARSurface water
GovernmentKNMIKODACMeteorology
Institutional status
AdministratorDatabase name
Theme
Example: The Netherlands
Information management
Water Information Management: Regional Level
OAS
OAS/OEA
CCOP
UN-ESCWA
ALHSUD
EU
ACSAD
UN-ECE
OSS
SADC
Arab Networks
UN-ESCAP
IWMI
Information management
Water Information Management: Global Level
Information management
International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre
Information management
Organisation of IGRACIGRAC example
An initiative of UNESCO and WMOFinancial support from the Dutch government for the initial yearsHosted and staffed by TNO
A centre with a non-commercial profile
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Government of The Netherlands
World Meteorological Organization
Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research
Activities of IGRACIGRAC example
Establishing a Global Groundwater Information System (GGIS)Producing and promoting guidelines and/or protocols Co-operating in global or regional projects or programmes with a significant groundwater component
IGRAC promotes global sharing of information and knowledge for optimal and sustainable groundwater resources development and management
IGRAC Special Project (1)Fluoride: Probability of occurrence in groundwater
IGRAC example
Source: Brunt et al., 2004
Information (Country cases: few or many) Spatial distribution
Preventive measures & network optimization
Knowledge: Geological environment; reaction time; climate; monitoring networks
Source: IGRAC, 2005 & Brunt et al., 2004
manyfewassumed
IGRAC Special Projects (2)SADC Transboundary Aquifers
IGRAC example
No.Aquifer name Countries1 Kagera Aquifer Tanzania, Uganda 2 Kilimanjaro Aquifer Tanzania, Kenya3 Coastal Sedimentary Basin I Tanzania, Kenya4 Coastal Sedimentary Basin II DR of Congo, Angola 5 Congo Intra-cratonic Basin DR of Congo, Angola 6 Karoo Sandstone Aquifer Mozambique, Tanzania 7 Coastal Sedimentary Basin III Mozambique, Tanzania 8 Coastal Sedimentary Basin IV Angola, Namibia 9 Northern Kalahari/Karoo Basin Namibia, Botswana
10 Nata Karoo Sub-basin Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana 11 Medium Zambezi Aquifer Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique12 Shire Valley Alluvial Aquifer Malawi, Mozambique13 SE Kalahari/Karoo Basin Namibia, Botswana, South Africa14 Ramotswa Dolomite Basin Botswana, South Africa 15 Tuli Karoo Sub-basin Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe 16 Limpopo Basin Zimbabwe,South Africa, Mozambique17 Coastal Sedimentary Basin V Namibia, South Africa 18 Karoo Sedimentary Aquifer Lesotho, South Africa19 Rhyolite-Breccia Aquifer Mozambique, Swaziland 20 Cuvelai and Etosha Basin Angola, Namibia
Elements of Efficient and Sustainable Information Sharing
Information sharing
• Inventory of availability• Improvement of access to
information• Standardization and quality control• Structured international interactions
Inventory of Availability
• Who is who? • Where to search for information?• Related documentation (reports,
articles, books) • What projects are going on?
Information sharing
Tool: Meta-information systems
Improvement of Access to Info
SADC Transboundary Overview:• The map with tentative spatial
distribution of transboundary aquifers• A extensive set of groundwater related
attributes per aquifer• GIS navigation functionality • Extensive query – searching for
analogies and patters• Improvements and upgrading controlled
by SADC experts • Broad dissemination (Internet) of
geographically-based information
Tool: Dedicated GIS-based Applications
Information sharing
Structured International Interactions
• Members-only web-based collaborative place (discussion platform)
• Common archive for all kinds of documents (controlled & maintained by members)
• State-of-the-art communication means (on-line textual, video audio connection)
• Bridges the gap betweenface-to-face meetings
Tool: Collaborative Environments
Information sharing
Conclusions Sharing information may have following impacts:• Anticipation on stakeholder perceptions and
provision of customized information will raise public awareness on water
• Benefits from analogies (cases) and technology transfers save time in search for effective measures
• Use of information from “lessons learned” results in reduction of costs
• High concentration of information generates new insights and can lead to “breakthroughs” in knowledge/perception
Information sharing can be seen as a shortcut toproper understanding of issues in sustainable water resources management
Information sharing
Sustainable Water Management by Nature Itself: “Kalahari” Case
The baobab tree only produces leaves during wet season. The large trunks can store more than 100 m3 of water.
The acacia tree develops long tap roots that can reach deep groundwater sources. Deepest roots found at more than 60 m.
Adjust the usage & storage or look for groundwater
Adisonia digitata Acacia
Information sharing
References References
Ackoff, R.L.,1989From Data to Wisdom. Journal of Applied Systems Analysis, Volume 16, 1989 p 3-9.
Brunt, R., Vasak, L. and J. Griffioen, 2004Fluoride in groundwater: Probability of occurrence of excessive concentration on global scale. IGRAC Report nr. SP 2004-2
IGRAC, 2005Global Groundwater Information System. www.igrac.nl
TNO, 2005Actual Groundwater Levels.www.nitg.tno.nl/ned/appl/g_resources/groundwater/actgwst/gen/nl.shtml
USAID, 2005Global Water for Sustainability. http://glows.fiu.edu/ForUSAID/DevelopmentHypothesis/tabid/357/Default.aspx
About IGRACReferences
International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centrefacilitates and promotes global sharing of information and knowledge required for sustainable groundwater resources development and management, including the protection of ecosystems.
IGRAC is an initiative of UNESCO and WMO.
IGRAC has a non-commercial profile and receives financial support from the Dutch government for the initial years.
IGRAC is hosted and staffed by TNO.
Contact: info@igrac.nl and www.igrac.nl
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Government of The Netherlands
World Meteorological Organization
Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research
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