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Med-Hycos - the Project |
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MED-HYCOS ACTIVITIES REPORTJanuary 1999 - December 1999 Report n°13 Montpellier, May 2000 ![]() TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. PRC activities 2.1. IRD staff involvement 2.2. Partner involvement 2.3. Missions conducted by the PRC 2.4. Statement of Expenses for 1999 3. Objective 1 : Data Collecting Platforms Network 3.1. DCPs shipped, operational and planned 3.2. Results and future 4. Objective 2: Hydrological Information System 4.1. Experts staff 4.2. Internet Interface 4.3. Client Tools 4.3.1. MED-DAT : Data Base Management Tools 4.3.2. MED-MAP : Cartographic application 4.3.3. MED-CLIM : Climatic Data Cartographic Representation 4.4. Results and future 5. Objective 3 : Improvement of National Services 5.1. Training 5.2. Computer, peripheral devices and software 5.3. Additional Sensors 6. Objective 4 : Creation of an co-operation infrastructure 7. Conclusion 8. MED-HYCOS 1999 Expenses ordered by PRC
1. IntroductionThis report concerns the main activities of the MED-HYCOS project during the year 1999 and during the period until May 2000. As proposed by the ICG meeting in December 1998, the main activities of MED-HYCOS Project were focused on :
2. PRC activitiesThe agreement signed between WMO and IRD (ORSTOM) was extended with an amendment until December 2000. That allows the continuation of the initiative phase of the project's activities in 2000. 2.1.IRD staff involvement<>In 1999, two persons from IRD worked full time in the Pilot Regional Centre and three others worked part time for the MED-HYCOS Project :
We note that the computer engineer is not working any more in the project since May 1999 and the hydrologist technician in charge of data base administration is not working since the beginning of 2000. Besides, a technician in charge of the cartographic MED-HYCOS data base is working full time on the project since March 2000. Presently, three persons from IRD are working full time in the Pilot Regional Centre and one more is working part time for the MED-HYCOS Project :
2.2. Partner involvementAs presented below, in 1999 five experts worked in PRC on the Web site and on the Information System (regional database and tools) development:
Two other experts worked to supply the web site with data and water related information. They also contributed to promoting the project according to the proposals of the Initial Co-ordinating Group :
In 1999 the involvement of the partner countries in PRC activities can be estimated in 44.5 men.months . In 2000, five experts are working in PRC :
2.3. Missions conducted by the PRCVarious missions were carried out by the Co-ordinator of PRC :
In 2000, the Co-ordinator of PRC attended these meetings :
2.4. Statement of Expenses for 1999During 1999, IRD provided 40 000 FF and the French Ministry of Environment provided 35 000 FF in order to support the activities of PRC. The "Conseil Régional Languedoc-Rousillon" provided 50 000 FF to purchase a second server. The "Conseil Général of Hérault provided 100 000 FF to sustain the MED-HYCOS activities. The following table presents the expenses in USD incurred in 1999 by the project and ordered by PRC. MED-HYCOS expenses in US $ during 1999
3. Objective 1 : Data Collecting Platforms Network3.1. DCPs shipped, operational and plannedThe first lot of 20 DCPs was delivered to the PRC in August 1996. Eighteen DCPs have already been shipped to the countries and 2 are still available at the PRC. Out of these 18 DCPs received by the countries, 10 are currently in operation. A second lot of five DCPs was delivered to the PRC in October 1998. A further lot of thirteen DCPs ordered in July 1998 was delivered in April 1999. Because of the long delays in obtaining the Eumetsat admission forms filled by the countries and the numbers from Eumetsat Centre, the greater part of the last lot of DCPs was sent only in last October. By now, 22 DCPs are in the field and 18 of them are operational (15th May). 5 Italian stations have been equipped with EUMETSAT DCPs for near real time satellite transmission. PRC receives data coming from these DCPs. The following table presents the shipped, operational and planned DCPs and the sensors sets to be sent to the countries. Shipped Operational and planned DCP - Sensor sets planned - May 2000
*one more DCP destroyed by lightning 3.2. Results and futureAlbania, Bulgaria, France, Romania and Slovenia are also providing to the Regional Data Base near real time data from about fifteen other hydrological stations. Spain will provide to the PRC near real time daily discharges from about five stations. Concerning the collection of data from DCPs, it should be noted that each participating country can directly access its data through the Internet on the EUMETSAT Internet Site (complete information is available on the Web site and on the CD-ROM version 2). The National Hydrological Services having non operational DCPs are committed to ensure that these platforms will be installed as soon as possible, operated (including gauging) and maintained to the required standard. The operation and maintenance costs should be normally covered by the countries, although the project may provide support within the available funds (spare parts, support missions). It should be noted that the target of "25 to 30 MED-HYCOS DCPs operational by May 1999" defined in December 1998 was not reached by May 2000.
4. Objective 2: Hydrological Information System4.1. Experts staffWe have to note the very important involvement of the Hydrometeorological Institutes of Albania (1 expert), Bulgaria (2 experts), Romania (2 experts), and Yugoslavia (2 experts) even though this last country is not eligible in the project. According to the agreement of the fourth meeting of the Initial Co-ordinating Group (ICG) in Montpellier (December 1998), the PRC accommodates several full time experts from partner countries to review and to manage the WEB Site and to develop various cartographic and data management and processing tools :
According to the ICG recommendations, the development of the MHIS has been oriented in two directions: Internet Interface and Client Tools. 4.2. Internet InterfaceThe MED-HYCOS Web site structure has been modified following the guidelines approved by the ICG in December 1998, especially to increase the interest of a larger number of MED-HYCOS project users. Presently, it is possible one to access to a full inventory of the Regional Database available on the MED-HYCOS server through Internet and to download the data chosen by him. A very high performance tool has been developed by Dejan Lekic (Yugoslavia) to access data through a cartographic interface, which preserves the vector structure of the information (countries, basins, rivers, stations). This tool allows the access of station locations, descriptions and data. Before the end of 2000, other tools will be available on the Web site to access to a selective inventory of data and to easily download these data. Several other tools are being developed to supply through the Med-HYCOS web site cartographic representations of the catchments runoff. 4.3.Client ToolsThree types of hydrological data are currently available in the MED-HYCOS Information System :
4.3.1. MED-DAT : Data Base Management ToolsA very powerful tool named MED-DAT (MED-HYCOS Data Manager) has been developed by Eram Artinian (Bulgaria). This software working as a standalone module can be used by National Hydrological Services or by other users. MED-DAT has several important functions:
MED-DAT is available on the MED-HYCOS CD-ROM version 2.0 published in December 1999. 4.3.2. MED-MAP : Cartographic applicationIn the same way, a standalone version of the Cartographic application is available : MedMap. This very powerful software can access data from the Regional database (Oracle on server), the local ACCESS database, or from local files (for example on CD-ROM or on hard disk). 4.3.3. MED-CLIM : Climatic Data Cartographic RepresentationThis tool developed by Ildiko Pelczer (Romania) gives to the user regional representation of climatic monthly or yearly data (absolute, relative or average data). This software is running as a standalone module. Gif animated images are available on the Web site. 4.4. Results and futureAll the developed tools are available free of charge, on the MED-HYCOS CD-ROM version 2.0, 2000 copies of which were published in December 1999 (1000 in a new digipack, 1000 to update the CD-ROM V 1.0 already sent). Before that, a beta version of the new CD-ROM was sent to all the countries in August 1999 asking them to update historical data and information (National services descriptions, information on the use of MED-HYCOS data, pictures of DCPs, etc.). The PRC received a request from the Co-ordinator of ARIDE European Project (Assessment of the Regional Impact of Droughts in Europe) for permission to use the MED-HYCOS data according to a specific agreement. Until now, the following countries have accepted this proposal : Albania, Cyprus, France, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, and Yugoslavia. Different contacts have been established with other data users as Blue Plan and an Italian Environmental Agency (ENEA). Since the MDM software has been operational in the PRC, the data from the DCPs are automatically updated every day. During the next months, transformation of the water levels into discharges through rating curves will be implemented which will allow the collecting of real time data on flow rates in rivers equipped with DCPs. MEDMAP and MDM tools are being adapted for processing national databases. First examples have been set up in Albania and in Yugoslavia. As defined at the end of 1998, one of the main priorities is the increasing of Near Real Time (NRT) data collection in the RDB. All the participating countries are invited again to provide these additional data on a continuing basis.
5. Objective 3 : Improvement of National Services5.1. TrainingA training course "Digital Elevation Model" was organised from 14 to 19 June in Beirut by CREEN (Regional Water and Environment Centre - Lebanon), MED-HYCOS and IRD. Participants from Bulgaria, Greece, Lebanon, Syria and Yugoslavia attended this training course given by a hydrologist researcher from IRD. A training course was organised by Bernard Thebe, Hydrologist Engineer (IRD) in October-November 1999 : "New technologies in Surface Hydrology"". 5 people coming from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Jordan, and Yugoslavia attended this training session. 5.2. Computer, peripheral devices and softwareA complete computer equipment set was sent to most of the eligible countries. This equipment is composed of :
Some complete equipment sets available at the PRC will be sent to the countries which are not fully involved in the project as soon as they are active. 5.3. Additional SensorsAdditional sensors purchase was planed in December 1998. For different administrative delays, it is not yet done.
6. Objective 4 : Creation of an co-operation infrastructureThe following immediate objectives were defined by the last ICG meeting:
The development of the information infrastructure has been carried out according to the following actions :
Updating the web site played a role in the organisation of the MED-HYCOS information infrastructure. On the web site, new institutional and technical information is available under the "Documents" item:
A new MED-HYCOS brochure (French/English) was published (3000 copies) in June 1999. It will be disseminated to national MED-HYCOS focal points, research institutes, international organisations, etc. This brochure will be included in the new CD-ROM package. Contacts were established in 1999 with Blue Plan (Sarajevo), European Joint Research Centre in ISPRA (Italy), ESIMEAU project, Regional Centre of Water and Environment (Lebanon), SADC HYCOS (WIAC meeting in Geneva), ARIDE Project, etc. An effort will be made to establish a discussion forum for the MED-HYCOS partners on the Internet. The last ICG meeting recommended that the role of moderator of this forum should be held by the MED-HYCOS focal points on a rolling basis (6 months period).
7. ConclusionDuring 1999 and the first 5 months of 2000, the MED-HYCOS project made some progress especially in the domain of the MED-HYCOS Information System. A significant effort was made by the PRC team to develop the information system structure. This includes very efficient tools for the PRC to manage the regional database, and for the national hydrological services which will be able to process their own data and give access to the international community to data and information related to the project. The promotion of MED-HYCOS Project was carried out through contacts with Blue Plan, Mediterranean Water Institute, Mediterranean Water Network, Global Water Partnership, Joint Research Centre of ISPRA, French Foreign Ministry, Languedoc-Roussillon Region representative, etc. By means of the Web Site and of a new CD-ROM distributed in December, MED-HYCOS Project continues to offer to the international community concrete results and to ensure the promotion of the programme. 23 DCPs are currently operational in May 2000. Efforts must be made until the end of 2000 to install the 12 other DCP already send to the countries because at the end of the initial phase, the number of Operational DCPs installed by the partner countries, will be considered by WMO and donors as one of the main indicators of the MED-HYCOS Project's success.
8. MED-HYCOS 1999 Expenses ordered by PRC
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