INTRODUCTION - Integrating GIS, Remote Sensing, and Mathematical Modelling for Surface Water Quality Management - page 5

1.4. HYDROINFORMATICS APPLIED TO WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Classical hydro engineering (hydraulics, hydrology and related research), linked to meteorology and
water quality, usually deals with just one aspect of the total problem. As a consequence, the results of
hydraulic research, as well as modelling software, need to be integrated into larger systems to reach a
holistic approach to solving real life problems. Such problems have to be seen in the context of a more
comprehensive exchange of information concerning real world water-based issues and the interests
and intentions of their various stakeholders. Here, the role of hydroinformatics becomes more obvious
and important. Hydroinformatics is a socio-technology built around developments and applications of
systems which are, for their users, objective. A tool is objective if the users are involved in its
definition, if they can easily understand the results and use them, if they have the possibility to input
their own hypotheses into the system and see the consequences as well as to show these to other
stakeholders. In the water sector, the society's needs and requirements are real, and linked to real life
problems. The more that society becomes aware that it depends upon water, the more it understands
that water is central to sustained development not just at the local but at the national level. Solutions to
such problems go beyond traditional hydraulics and hydrology. Hydroinformatics changes the way in
which hydraulics, hydrology and water resources studies are applied in society. In solving real life
problems, hydroinformatics assists in developing a one-to-one mapping of the real world onto a virtual
parallel world created by applying the information and communication tools. The virtual world of
models and different information management tools applied to specific problem areas, are translated to
society and significant stakeholders in the form of proposed solution scenarios for the prescribed water
problems. This is done through the procedural world involving the different levels of professionals
who implement and run the virtual world and interpret its results into reliable information and
conclusions. In managing water quality problems this framework of different worlds or environments
is very appropriate: the real world problem area, the virtual representation, the procedural world and
the societal world are considered the main building blocks of this framework. Figure (1-2) shows the
framework for solving real world water related problems applying hydroinformatics tools.
If we consider surface water quality problems in irrigated watersheds and apply this framework, the
real world is represented by the problem area of interest, i.e. the watershed including its catchment
area and all associated water bodies such as drains and lakes. The virtual world in parallel to the
problem area is represented by the developed mathematical models and all tools linked to it, such as
GIS and remote sensing. The interface between the real world and the virtual representation includes
the conceptualization of the problems and issues, the selection of solution methodologies, the
formulation and collection of data sets including hydrodynamic related data, geometrical parameters,
water quality processes to be represented, water quality parameters, the selection of modelling
tools,…etc. The analysis of the water quality problem takes place in the virtual world component. The
third component, namely the procedural world, involves professionals, i.e. the near-end users of the
virtual world, dealing with the virtual system according to prescribed or ad-hoc procedures. The
interface between the virtual world and the procedural world includes the application and
implementation of models, interpretation of models results and continuous calibration and
enhancement of models and tools based on feedback from the far-end users.