Workshop: new technologies for the acquisition of information on aquifers

IGRAC organizes in collaboration with UNESCO-IHP an international workshop on innovation for the acquisition of information on global groundwater assessments. The workshop deals with modelling, monitoring and data sharing. Over thirty participants from 18 international organisations will attend the workshop in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on April 15-16,

During 2 days, about 35 renowned groundwater experts of various international organizations discuss how developments in the field of remote sensing and global hydrological modelling can contribute to the assessment of transboundary aquifers. The workshop explores the possibilities of proxy information to estimate global groundwater use and looks at a number of existing groundwater assessment programs such as WHYMAP, IGRAC and GEO. The final session is dedicated to the ‘data for all’ concept: how can sharing existing groundwater data and information owned by oil and water companies contribute?

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF Worldbank) needs an assessment of the state of all transboundary waters, including groundwater. IGRAC participates in the work group which will develop the assessment methodology. The workshop focusses on how information technology and international research programs may contribute to the Transboundary Water Assessment Program (TWAP).

Participating organizations are BGR (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe), ETH-Zürich, FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), Fugro, GEF, IGRAC, Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving (PBL), Shell, TU Delft, Twente University, UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program), UNESCO, University of Arizona, University of Frankfurt, University of Texas, Utrecht University, Vitens and Deltares

IGRAC is the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Center, an initiative by UNESCO and WMO, financed by the Dutch government and hosted by Deltares.