Hydrologic Data Management and Modeling in South East Asia. Malaysia, AguaJaring

Hydrologic Data Management and Modeling in South East Asia
 Kuala Lumpur in 21-24 July 2009.

Organizers
APRU/WKHCCA NAHRIM/AguaJaring, CapNet

Resource Person:
Professor Azizan Abu Samah (University of Malaya)
Dr. Ilya Zaslavsky (University of California, San Diego)
Dr. David Pierce (University of California, San Diego)
Mr Ahmad Rizal Khalit (WKHCCA  in NAHRIM)

Hydrologic information infrastructure is needed for flood and drought emergency response, analysis of health risks associated with water quality and sanitation, and water resource planning and management. Robust and uniform standards-based access to water quantity and water quality information collected at multiple observation sites is needed for assembling hydrologic model inputs, and for real-time water resource monitoring and policy-making. A water data infrastructure has been the focus of a multi-year NSF-supported effort called CUAHSI HIS (Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences, Inc., Hydrologic Information System, his.cuahsi.org), in particular at University of California at San Diego, a CMAS partner.  In parallel, advanced hydrologic modeling work has been conducted at the University of Malaya, in the group led by Professor Azizan Abu Samah. It is proposed to combine these two efforts into an informative and comprehensive international workshop focused on secure hydrologic data sharing and advanced hydrologic modeling for the tropical regions.

The goals of the workshop are:
1. to demonstrate the available data management tools for hydrologic observations, and provide hands-on training on the use of these tools;
2. to demonstrate available water balance and HEC-GeoHMS models , and how they are implemented for watersheds in Malaysia;
3. to identify researchers in partner countries that would form the core of the interest group focused on building and standardizing a shared hydrologic data infrastructure in SE Asia.

This workshop will be the first step in integrating data collection and data management efforts, and modeling designs, across SEA countries. The workshop, for 20-30 participants will be jointly conducted by the University of Malaya and University of California at San Diego. It is anticipated that at least 1 participant from each SEA country will attend the workshop.  Other participants will be drawn from government agencies and other data stakeholders in Malaysia.

The outcomes of the workshop will be:
1. a server hub for hydrologic information from SE Asian countries hosted at NAHRIM, configured and ready to accept data contributions;
2. a set of packaged workshop materials that will allow the course to be replicated in similar workshops in other countries along the Pacific Rim;
3. most importantly, the capacity building of local implementing agencies and/or researchers and data collection agencies, enabling their use of advanced hydrologic data management and hydrologic modeling techniques. The workshop will involve extensive hands-on sessions, in both hydrologic data management and modeling and will be followed by a field trip.

For more information contact:

Dr. Salmah Zakaria drsalmahz@gmail.com