| Abstrakt: |
The collection of high-frequency (in other words, "continuous") water data has been made easier over the years because of advances in technologies to measure, transmit, store, and query large, temporally dense datasets. Commercially available, in-situ sensors and data-collection platforms--together with new techniques for data analysis--provide an opportunity to monitor water quantity and quality at time scales during which meaningful changes occur. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Continuous Monitoring Workshop was held to build stronger collaboration within the Water Mission Area on the collection, interpretation, and application of continuous monitoring data; share technical approaches for the collection and management of continuous data that improves consistency and efficiency across the USGS; and explore techniques and tools for the interpretation of continuous monitoring data, which increases the value to cooperators and the public. The workshop was organized into three major themes: Collecting Continuous Data, Understanding and Using Continuous Data, and Observing and Delivering Continuous Data in the Future. Presentations each day covered a variety of related topics, with a special session at the end of each day designed to bring discussion and problem solving to the forefront. The workshop brought together more than 70 USGS scientists and managers from across the Water Mission Area and Water Science Centers. Tools to manage, assure, control quality, and explore large streams of continuous water data are being developed by the USGS and other organizations and will be critical to making full use of these high-frequency data for research and monitoring. Disseminating continuous monitoring data and findings relevant to critical cooperator and societal issues is central to advancing the USGS networks and mission. Several important outcomes emerged from the presentations and breakout sessions. Key Findings On the basis of presentations, breakout-group discussions, and other discussions among workshop participants, we have identified several key findings: 1. The workshop revealed that the advancement of continuous monitoring science across the USGS has an organic, dispersed, and often disparate character. While the workshop was a step towards improved collaboration across disciplines and functions (observing, predicting, interpreting, and disseminating), there remains a need for better coordination and leadership within and across the disciplines and functions. Providing highly relevant information products that leverage our continuous monitoring expertise across USGS networks and people can only be fully realized by continuing collaboration across the bureau. 2. The cost and the resources available for the task are limiting factors to be balanced during consideration of moving emerging technologies from research to operation and for creating networks and information products. 3. Web-information delivery tools and software are substantial limiting factors to delivering national-level information products that connect continuous monitored data (including uncertainty and spatial relationships) in a form that is readily understood and usable to cooperators and the public. 4. Tools for analysis and storage of very large amounts of data and metadata collected with new continuous monitoring technologies have been developed, but not always as quickly as the datacollection technology, and that is a challenge for users. The USGS's recent adoption of a modern database and database management system to process real-time data (AQUARIUS) is a major help to workflows, but more needs to be done. 5. Defined program development initiatives (and resources) are needed to leverage and connect existing and emerging monitoring technologies and networks to create continuous temporal and spatial information tools (including modeling and prediction). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
