wmo flow measurement instruments & techniques awra conference, 3-7 november 2014 world...

WMO Flow Measurement Instruments & Techniques AWRA Conference, 3-7 November 2014

World Meteorological Organization’s Project X

Janice M. Fulford1, Paul Pilon2 and Claudio Caponi2

1U.S. Geological Survey, Hydrological Instrumentation Facility, Stennis Space Center, MS, USA2World Meteorological Organization, Hydrology and Water Resources Dept., CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland

AWRA Water Resources ConferenceNovember 4, 2014 Tyson’s Corner VA


What is WMO’s Project X ?

• Shorthand for:

Assessment of the Performance of Flow Measurement Instruments and Techniques

• WMO project to provide accessible information on the use of instruments and techniques used to measure flow in rivers and streams.

• WMO CHy recognized existing WMO guidance documents; do not provide detailed results of testing, do not always address recently available instrumentation


Overview

· WMO and the Commission for Hydrology (CHy)· Project’s beginnings· Project’s management structure· Project objectives· Core activities· Progress on project activities· Expected Results· Project web site


WMO and the Commission for Hydrology (CHy)

• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)Agency of the United Nations (1950)Works in meteorology, climatology and hydrologyCooperative action by National Meteorological and

Hydrological Services of 188 member countries and territories

• Commission for Hydrology (CHy)One of eight technical commissions of WMOPromotes in hydrology the international exchange

of experience, technology, data, standards, and forecasts and warnings


Project X – Beginnings

• Oct. 2004 - CHy XII Session finds need for information on new flow measurement instruments and methods

• Apr 2007 – small team of experts assemble and agree to work on the issue and develop a workplan

• Nov 2009 – CHy XIII endorses project & establishes a management committee (MC).

• Dec 2009 – MC meets. Dr. P. Pilon chair


Project’s Management Structure

• Steering Committee CHy Advisory Working Group• Management Committee

manages the project

• Membership Professional Associations: IAHR, IAHS, ISO, HMEI WMO Chy (chair) WMO Regional Associations Working Group on Hydrology Ad hoc experts


Objectives of Project X

Develop a framework and identify/build the required “infrastructure” that will allow:

Increased understanding and tools to assess…o the uncertainty of the estimates of flowo the limitations of the instruments and techniques

Enhanced instrument and technique assessment capabilities

Encourage and solicit testing of the newer hydrometric instrumentation and methodologies

Posting of results in agreed upon formats so that they may be “pooled” and used by others

Seven Core Activities identified by project members


Project X – Seven Core Activities (1-4)

1. Survey on field discharge measurement instrumentation and techniques used by NHSs

2. Discharge techniques database

3. Guidelines for the assessment of uncertainty of hydrometric measurements

4. Guidelines for conducting and reporting on the calibration and verification of the performance of discharge measurement instruments

.


Project X – Seven Core Activities (5-7)

5. Collection of test reports on the performance of instruments and techniques with the creation of a website to make available the collected information. (requires completion of 4)

6. Uncertainty analysis of discharge determination via various techniques.

7. Provision of guidance and recommendations to NHSs, manufacturers, organizations and users of hydrometric data.


1. Survey on field discharge measurement instrumentation and techniques used by NHSs

27 of 188 WMO members responded


2. Discharge techniques database



1. Adoption of “Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement” (GUM, 2008) February 2009

• Guidelines for the Assessment of Uncertainty of Hydrometric Measurements Basic concepts and

terminology UA frameworks Implementation guidance



2. Three demonstration examples

Weighing and Timing Measurement of Discharge

Measurement of discharge using point velocity meters and the velocity area method

Measurement of discharge in a sewer pipe flowing with free surface



3. Development of the decision-aid tool

Phase I, review of toolsPhase II, development of examples for UADAT implementation


4. Guidelines for conducting and reporting on the calibration and verification of the performance of

discharge measurement instruments

• Draft document available• Undergoing review and

revision

5.Collection of test reports on the performance of instruments and techniques with the creation of a website

to make available the collected information. (requires completion of 4)


Project X – Recent Activity

• Nov 2012- CHy XIV Session renewed the project noted that this project serves as an excellent model for use within the other CHy theme areas and suggested new activities for the project

• Dec 2013 – MC meets face to face. New chair Jean-Francois Cantin appointed. Work plan modified to include new activities.

• Summer-Fall 2014 – New Survey on field discharge measurement instrumentation and techniques

composed and sent to NHSs. Work on core activity six.


6. Uncertainty analysis of discharge determination via various techniques.

Three initiatives

1. Literature review of the methods for estimating the uncertainty of the most frequently used techniques as identified in the survey in activity 1 – stage-discharge relation

2. Identification and recommendation of a general methodology including terminology to be used in the estimation of uncertainty of the determined discharge

3. Development of examples that illustrate the application of the proposed methodology for estimating uncertainty of the determined discharge.


Literature review of the methods for stage-discharge relation

• Draft documents available• Undergoing revision


Identification and recommendation of a general methodology including terminology to be used in the estimation of uncertainty of the determined

discharge

• Draft documents available• Undergoing revision


Specific Activities and Products

• Project Proposal Purpose and Scope Approaches Implementation Plan

• Work Plan• Approved Documents• Documents under Development

On-line at: www.wmo.int/pages/prog/hwrp/Flow/index.php


Expected Results

1. Improved understanding of the accuracy of hydrometric instruments;

2. Appropriate selection or development of instrumentation that meets the measurement needs for water planning and management;

3. Standardization of hydrometric measurements and the computation of estimates of measurement uncertainty (known data quality to possibly improved quality of data);

4. Improved cooperation among NHSs.