Open source GIS platform for water resource modelling: FREEWAT approach in the Lugano Lake

The FREEWAT platform is an innovative Free and Open Source water resource modelling platform integrated in the QGIS geospatial software, using the SpatiaLite database, and including globally-established simulation codes from the USGS MODFLOW models family. This paper demonstrates its application to the Lugano Lake basin case study, Switzerland and Italy. Two specific modules of the platform were used to execute data integration and analyses: the Observation Analysis Tool and the Lake Package. The first one is a newly developed module facilitating the integration of time-series observations into modelling by enabling pre- and post-processing in the model environment; the latter is an existing MODFLOW package allowing dynamic evaluation of groundwater/ lakes interaction. In the case study implementation, a participatory approach was adopted to enhance trust and acceptance of results. These show that integration of simulation codes within GIS is highly appreciated. Furthermore, its openness and freeness allow easily sharing of developed analysis and models. Stakeholders also positively evaluated the participatory process as it empowers decision making with a better understanding of model results and uncertainties. The combination of the FREEWAT platform and the participatory approach may constitute a valuable methodology to include scientifically based analysis to be used for policy design and implementation

istSOS Version 3

istSOS version 3 is a new full stack open source application framework that, implementing the Sensor Observation Service standard from the OGC and including some special features, offers the capability to manage and disseminate observation from sensors networks. istSOS3 has been redesigned with the mission to solve the problems of high loads environments and quality of service. After some recent researches that have shown that istSOS version 2 is not adequate to meet high demanding environment in terms of high concurrency, big data and performance, istSOS version 3 has been rewritten from ground up taking advantages from the latest technologies and approaches like Python3 asynchronous programming, real time caching, ReactJS and JavaScript Compilers. istSOS3 server includes a Web based administration interface that permits an easy access to configurations and management operations, making the usage of OGC-SOS more user-friendly. But istSOS3 is also a developer friendly framework. All the components has been separated and can be reused creatively to meet different needs. New plugins can be easily integrated into the istSOS Python module or included in the web interface or create new ones

Modello numerico in GRASS per la creazione di mappe di inondazione in caso di rottura di dighe

Dal 25 al 27 febbraio 2009 si è svolto a Cagliari il X Meeting degli utenti italiani GRASS e GFOSS. L'evento rappresenta da dieci anni l'occasione principale in cui tutta la comunità italiana, attiva nel campo dell'informazione geografica libera, si riunisce per confrontarsi e discutere sugli sviluppi futuri nel settore. Il meeting è stato organizzato dal CRS4 (Centro di Ricerca, Sviluppo e Studi Superiori in Sardegna), con il patrocinio dell'Università degli Studi di Cagliari, di Sardegna Ricerche e dell'associazione GFOSS.it. Gli obiettivi del X Meeting comprendono la presentazione delle innovazioni GFOSS nei seguenti campi: Sviluppi e personalizzazioni di software GIS liberi; Dati geografici liberi; GFOSS per la pubblica amministrazione; Formazione, divulgazione e sensibilizzazione nel campo del software libero; Interoperabilità e standard; Informazione geografica diffusa: web 2.0, GPS, LBS, etc ; Ambiente e territorio; Telerilevamento; Applicazioni di Geostatistica2009-02-26Facoltà di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Viale Merello, CagliariX Meeting degli utenti italiani GRASS e GFOS

The analysis and deployment of a fully open monitoring system in the Sri Lankan Deduroya basin: the 4onse project

The 4onse project studies non-conventional monitoring systems fully based on open technologies (hardware, standard protocols, software and data) for the management of resources and natural hazards in developing countries. After the design of hydro-meteorological stations and software for the collection, management and distribution of data, the study involves the installation of 30 stations in the Deduroya Oya river basin in Sri Lanka. The system will be analysed to fully understand the real cost of ownership, data quality and applicability in real situations. If properly validated, these systems can provide an alternative solution, effective and sustainable for the protection of property and human lives

FREEWAT: FREE and open source tools for WATer resource management

This talk will present FREEWAT: an HORIZON 2020 project financed by the EU Commission under the call WATER INNOVATION: BOOSTING ITS VALUE FOR EUROPE. FREEWAT main result will be an open source and public domain GIS integrated modelling environment for the simulation of water quantity and quality in surface water and groundwater with an integrated water management and planning module. FREEWAT aims at promoting water resource management by simplifying the application of the Water Framework Directive and other EU water related Directives. Specific objectives of the FREEWAT project are: to coordinate previous EU and national funded research to integrate existing software modules for water management in a single environment into the GIS based FREEWAT and to support the FREEWAT application in an innovative participatory approach gathering technical staff and relevant stakeholders (in primis policy and decision makers) in designing scenarios for the proper application of water policies. The open source characteristics of the platform allow to consider this an initiative ad includendum (looking for inclusion of other entities), as further research institutions, private developers etc. may contribute to the platform development. The core of the FREEWAT platform will be the SID&GRID (Rossetto et al. 2013) framework in its version ported to the QGIS desktop. SID&GRID will be complemented with solute transport (also density dependent) capabilities in aquifers within the MARSOL (2014) EU FP7 project. Activities will be mainly carried out on two branches: (i) integration of modules, so that the software will fit the end-users requirements, including tools for better producing feasibility and management plans; (ii) a set of activities devoted to fix bugs and to provide a well-integrated interface for the different tools implemented. Further capabilities to be integrated are: - a dedicated module for water management and planning that will help to manage and aggregate all the distributed data coming from the simulation scenarios; - a whole module for calibration, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis; - a module for solute transport in the unsaturated zone; - a module for crop growth and water requirements in agriculture; - tools for dealing with groundwater quality issues; - tools for the analysis, interpretation and visualization of hydrogeological data. Through creating a common environment among water research/professionals, policy makers and implementers, FREEWAT main impact will be on enhancing science- and participatory approach and evidence-based decision making in water resource management, hence producing relevant and appropriate outcomes for policy implementation. Synergies with the UNESCO HOPE initiative on free and open source software in water management greatly boost the value of the project. Large stakeholders involvement is thought to guarantee results dissemination and exploitation

Load testing of HELIDEM geo-portal: an OGC open standards interoperability example integrating WMS, WFS, WCS and WPS

This paper presents a load testing of the HELIDEM geo-portal, which is an example of interoperability between a number of standard geospatial services as defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium. The portal was developed within the European project HELIDEM (www.helidem.eu) with the aim of valorizing the main project output which is a cross-border digital terrain model. The portal aims at fostering its diffusion and usage trough easily accessible tools. The DTM covers the alpine area located between Southern Switzerland (Canton Ticino) and Northern Italy (Lombardy and Piedmont Regions). From a technological point of view, the server-side component of the portal is based on a Service Oriented Architecture implemented using the open source software ZOO-Project, GRASS GIS and Geoserver; the client-side component is a Web interface based on CSS3 and HTML5 trough the usage of the ExtJS framework and the OpenLayers software. The presented solution is a mix of technologies and software, some of which are considered, within the open source for geospatial community, mature and robust while others are considered promising but not sufficiently tested yet. For this reason this research conducted a load test over concurrent users in order to verify the robustness, quality and performance of the system and to identify eventual bottlenecks. Test results didn’t register any runtime exception confirming the good quality of the implemented system and underlying software. Nevertheless, performance and response time exponentially degrades with increasing number of concurrent users, area of analysis and process complexity. Finally, the test confirms that the implemented solution is robust, in fact no system failure was recorded during the analysis

Integration of the MODFLOW Lak7 package in the FREEWAT GIS modelling environment

The MODFLOW Lake Package is integrated into the FREEWAT GIS environment in order to simulate surface water - groundwater interaction using state of the art techniques for numerical simulations, thus allowing the improved consideration of surface water bodies for water resources management. Surface water bodies, both stationary and flowing, can strongly affect groundwater elevations and flow patterns which in turn may affect the qualitative and quantitative state of groundwater resources. With the advancement of numerical simulation techniques and increased model complexity, FREEWAT facilitates the usage of the lake package through existing QGIS tools to edit model layer geometry as well as an intuitive and simple user interface for the specification of constant and time variable lake properties as defined through MODFLO

Apps and Web mapping: innovative tools to promote slow tourism along Via Regina

Overlooking the West coast of Lake Como in Northern Italy, Via Regina has represented a fundamental European trade and pilgrim route since the ancient Roman times. The dense system of paths departing from it and spanning the beautiful mountainous region at the border between Italy and Switzerland makes this area an awesome destination for slow tourism activities, which consist of sustainable forms of transportation, appreciation of nature and (re)discovery of the local history and culture. In the frame of the Interreg project “The Paths of Regina – Crossborder paths linked to Via Regina”, which involves Italian and Swiss universities, cultural associations, local agencies and administrations, this work aims at valorizing slow tourism in the Via Regina region through the creation of open source Web Mapping applications leveraging also the modern fields of crowdsourcing and virtual globes

Promoting slow tourism through FOSS4G Web Mapping: an Italian-Swiss case study

Slow tourism defines a sustainable way of experiencing a territory based on environmentally-friendly forms of transportation, the appreciation of nature and the rediscovery of local cultural traditions. Advancements in geo-information technology have opened new possibilities for promoting this practice. A slow tourism ongoing project focused on the cross-border area between Italy and Switzerland is presented. Several FOSS4G-based Web Mapping applications are developed which address different users and feature different functionalities. The applications include: a mobile app allowing tourists to report Points of Interest (POIs) along the paths; a mobile app enabling professionals to survey new paths; a traditional 2D Web viewer providing access to and interaction with the project data; an application offering a virtual tour along the paths; and a virtual-globe based 3D viewer with participative functionalities

The freewat platform for planning and management of conjunctive use of ground- and surface-water

Simulation techniques, data analysis tools, FREEWAT platform, water-related Directive