Data Acquisition in the Field of Water Resource Management A look at various data repositories both nationally and abroad

Learning Objectives Meet with group members Identify at least one data set that might be useful in analysis Practice obtaining one water resource data set from an online repository Sign up for the Hydroinformatics course this fall  Learning Objectives

Outline Introduction Collection of Data Conclusions What is Data? How is Data Collected? How is Data Shared? How can we find data? Conclusions Outline

Talking about data Introduction

“Data is distinct pieces of information, usually formatted in a special way. . . . Data can exist in a variety of forms – as numbers or text on pieces of paper, as bits and bytes stored in electronic memory, or as facts stored in a person’s mind.” - Webopedia What is Data?

What is Data – Data Deluge Have you heard of the data deluge? What does the data deluge refer to? www.Theguardian.com estimates that there exists about 1.2 zettabytes (1.3 trillion gigabytes) of data exist in the world today Everything we do online just adds to that number What is Data – Data Deluge Image obtained from http://www.economist.com/node/15579717

In our river basin analysis, data collection is essential in determining the “best” alternative. How can we collect data for our analysis and how do we find and ensure that the data is correct based on our needs? How can we collect data?

One essential way to collect data is through sensor networks One essential way to collect data is through sensor networks. (the grunt-work of data collection) This is especially important when the data sets that you desire (temporal or spatial), apparently do not exist How can we collect data?

Sometimes we can make direct contact with organizations or institutions that may have a certain data set (I lied, this is the grunt-work of data collection) This means that we can email or call We are calling the various water conservancy districts that are invested in the Bear River Development Act *I would recommend, in the case of a phone call, to think beforehand of specific questions you would like to ask How can we collect data? Eofdreams.com http://lakecity.lib.mn.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/computer.jpg

If we create our own data set, how can we make this data set available to others? Some formats are: written, email, databases How can we share data?

How can we share data? Information about the data set was determined through emailing past students, and advisor

How can we share data? Slide courtesy of Dr. Jeffery S. Horsburgh

Metadata is essential when it comes to sharing data collected It is also essential when it comes to collecting your own data How do we determine the uncertainty of data? How do we determine whether or not the data available is applicable? How do we determine whether we have made the correct assumptions about our data? How can we share data?

What data sets do we need? Class activity #1 (10 – 15 minutes) Get together with your group and determine what data sets you need for your analysis Think about how you will obtain that data Write a few examples on the board What data sets do we need?

National Data NHD Viewer (previously USGS Seamless Server) USGS NWIS data NRCS SNOTEL data Aquaveo’s Meteorological Data page Open Topography (DEM, bathymetry, and LiDAR data) EPA STORET National Data

International Data United Nations Data World Register of Dams Global Streamflow Databases Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC) AQUASTAT Both national and international conflict management data International Data

HydroDesktop What is Hydrodesktop? In conjunction with the Consortium of Universities, for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) “free and open source GIS enabled desktop application that helps you search for, download, visualize, and analyze hydrologic and climate data registered with the CUAHSI Hydrologic Information System” – hydrodesktop.codeplex.com The idea was that searching multiple websites and databases in order to obtain hydrologic data was tedious and sometimes impossible. Hydrodesktop facilitates this process. HydroDesktop

Find a data set Class activity #2 (10-15 minutes) Find a data set that you feel would be beneficial in your analysis (email, search a website, download Hydrodesktop, phone a friend, etc.) If applicable, report your findings in class Find a data set

That is all Sign up for Hydroinformatics in the Fall  Conclusion