Proceedings of the ACEWATER2 Scientific Workshop Accra (Ghana) 31 Oct – 3 Nov 2016

The African Centers of Excellence on Water (ACEWATER2) project, in its second phase (2016/19), promoted by the African Ministers of Water and financed by DG DEVCO, aims at supporting the establishment of Human Capacity Development Programme of the AMCOW (African Ministers’ Council on Water) in the Water Sector, strengthens institutional networking and improving research support to policy making by scaling up the approach of the pilot phase (phase I). The main activities of the project consist in: • Strengthening of two existing NEPAD water Centers of Excellence networks in West and Southern Africa; • Expanding the NEPAD water Centres of Excellence network to Central and Eastern Africa; • Strengthening institutional networking and improving research support to policy making in the water sector; • Supporting the implementation of the African Water Ministers’ declaration urging AUC and NEPAD Centers of Excellence to develop a “Human Capacity Development Programme for junior professional and technician level capacity challenges in the water sector”; • Developing an Atlas on Regional Water Cooperation. The project geographical scope covers three major regions: Southern Africa (7 countries), Western Africa (4 countries) and Eastern/Central Africa. The project is implemented by DG JRC (overall project management and scientific cluster) with UNESCO (human capacity development cluster). Within this project, a Workshop has been organized in Accra (Ghana) from October 31st to November 3rd, specifically devoted to the sharing among CoEs of scientific interests, competences and methods towards the effective planning of (scientific) activities, achievement and delivery of scientific tools and products to support (science-based) decision making processes. By means of scientific as well as technical presentations, round tables and participative sessions, the participants (35 people representing more than 30 Institutions among Universities, Research Centres, River Basin Authorities, Regional Economic Communities and key stakeholders on water issues, further to European research Institutions as CIRAD and CREAF) shared valuable experiences and competences, including case studies, around key thematic pillars, such as: Climate Issues (Session 1), African Water-Energy-Food nexus (Session 2), Groundwater (Session 3) and Water Governance&Diplomacy (Session 4). Workshop Proceedings gather all relevant contributions in the form of (extended) abstracts and short papers, providing a general overview of key relevant issues and partners scientific interests, turning to be a valuable resource for effective planning of next project steps.JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resource

A Multi-Model Approach Using Statistical Index and Information Criteria to Evaluate the Adequacy of the Model Geometry in a Fissured Carbonate Aquifer (Italy)

A conceptual model related to a mountain aquifer that is characterized by a lack of data of hydrogeological parameters and boundary conditions, which were based on a single available observational dataset used for calibration, was studied using numerical models. For the first time, a preliminary spatial-temporal analysis has been applied to the study area in order to evaluate the real extension of the aquifer studied. The analysis was based on four models that were characterized by an increasing degree of complexity using a minimum of two zones and a maximum of five zones, which consequently increased the number of adjustable parameters from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 22, calibrated using the parameter estimation code PEST. Statistical index and information criteria were calculated for each model, which showed comparable results; the information criteria indicated that the model with the low number of adjustable parameters was the optimal model. A comparison of the simulated and observed spring hydrographs showed a good shape correspondence but a general overestimation of the discharge, which indicated a good fit with the rainfall time series and a probably incorrect extension of the aquifer structure: the recharge contributes more than half of the total outflow at the springs but is not able to completely feed the springs

ACEWATER2 Regional database: hydro-climatology data-analysis

The report presents the architecture of a regional hydro-climatology information system, developed in the framework of the ACEWATER2 project, in order to support effective organization of information. Information includes both freely available large and regional scale data sources, as well as databases compiled by the CoEs (Centers of Excellence) and submitted as part of their scientific undertakings. The information system builds upon and specializes the JRC knowledge sharing platform Aquaknow (https://aquaknow.jrc.ec.europa.eu/), including: • at the system core, a relational database; its schema has been designed to store both detailed metadata and, where relevant (avoiding duplication of information otherwise accessible), data themselves. Metadata include, among others, datasets extended description, spatial extent, temporal frequency, reference Institutions/authors, credits and limitations, web links to access original data and/or any further documentation. Data can be stored as public or private, depending upon confidentialy and sharing policies; • user friendly facilities, supporting the end user in efficiently browsing, querying, uploading and downloading information (metadata and data). System access is limited to accredited audience, via password authentication. Dedicated groups for the three ACEWATER CoE networks (Western, Southern and Central-Eastern Africa) have been setup and scientists invited to register. Currently the system is operational and we submitted databases documented and, depending upon confidentiality and authorization issues, also stored. A general review and classification of freely available information at continenal, regional and local scale of interest to ACEWATER2 project, and particularly to selected study areas (Senegal, Gambia and Niger; Zambezi; Blue Nile and Lake Victoria), have been completed. Metadata and, where relevant, data themselves have been stored to the information system database. Information submitted by the CoE (a continuous ongoing process) is migrated to the database as well, depending upon sharing authorization and/or limitations. The report also documents the ongoing scientific research at JRC on climate variability analysis based on L-Moments statistics. In particular maps of estimated precipitation deficit for different return periods at the river basins of interest are presented and included in the database.JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resource

Spatio-temporal Environmental Monitoring Systems : A data management and delivery approach based on PostGIS database and Google Maps mashup

A considerable amount of data, including spatial data referring to monitoring locations together with their related attribute time series (as in, for example, rainfall or contaminant concentrations), is usually collected and/or generated by environmental monitoring networks. In such a scenario, proper spatio-temporal management and data presentation strategies play a crucial role in minimizing duplication and integrity failure risks and in ensuring an efficient access to environmental data for visualization, analysis and modelling purposes. The current paper investigates an open-source spatio-temporal multi-user concurrent database strategy, based on PostGIS and its implementation of table inheritance, and suggests a new conceptual and operative framework within which to address some fundamental issues in surface waters and groundwater domains. This is done by also acknowledging and complementing some general ideas already available and developed by ESRI-CRWR’s leading hydro and groundwater hydro models. A geoweb data presentation strategy based on a Google Maps API v.3 mashup, mainly grounded on PostGIS database as a backend and Google Flash widgets for time-dimension navigation, is then considered. Several advantages deriving from the proposed approach in exploratory spatial data analysis are discussed and an example focused on spatio-temporal visualization in a multi-years groundwater monitoring project is briefly discussed. Despite state-of-the-art spatial database and GIS systems already support a full set of powerful and advanced features, authors point at those organizational difficulties and financial constraints arising from the decision of relying on mostly proprietary systems, which often limit the pursuing of proper and yet simple environmental data management and delivery policies and practices, and –by contrast- end up favouring the adoption of poorly structured approaches, by even leading to Excel or shape-file syndromes. Whilst the proposed solution still demands for advanced competencies at design and development stages, the paper emphasizes how users can strongly benefit from a seamless integration of web applications with spatial databases, which would provide a highly interactive and user-friendly experience in accessing and investigating spatial data and related attribute time series.Peer reviewe

Tight-coupling of groundwater flow and transport modelling engines with spatial databases and GIS technology: a new approach integrating Feflow and ArcGIS

Implementation of groundwater flow and transport numerical models is generally a challenge, time-consuming and financially-demanding task, in charge to specialized modelers and consulting firms. At a later stage, within clearly stated limits of applicability, these models are often expected to be made available to less knowledgeable personnel to support/design and running of predictive simulations within more familiar environments than specialized simulation systems. GIS systems coupled with spatial databases appear to be ideal candidates to address problem above, due to their much wider diffusion and expertise availability. Current paper discusses the issue from a tight-coupling architecture perspective, aimed at integration of spatial databases, GIS and numerical simulation engines, addressing both observed and computed data management, retrieval and spatio-temporal analysis issues. Observed data can be migrated to the central database repository and then used to set up transient simulation conditions in the background, at run time, while limiting additional complexity and integrity failure risks as data duplication during data transfer through proprietary file formats. Similarly, simulation scenarios can be set up in a familiar GIS system and stored to spatial database for later reference. As numerical engine is tightly coupled with the GIS, simulations can be run within the environment and results themselves saved to the database. Further tasks, as spatio-temporal analysis (i.e. for postcalibration auditing scopes), cartography production and geovisualization, can then be addressed using traditional GIS tools. Benefits of such an approach include more effective data management practices, integration and availability of modeling facilities in a familiar environment, streamlining spatial analysis processes and geovisualization requirements for the non-modelers community. Major drawbacks include limited 3D and time-dependent support in traditional GIS, and lack of dedicated calibration, analysis and visualization tools. A system implementation based upon ESRI geodatabase, ArcGIS and state-of-the-art finite element 3D flow and transport numerical code Feflow is presented and critically assessed