Interoperable Hydrological Data Exchange
Online Webinar on Unlocking the Power of Hydrological Data: Empowering People, Enabling Applications, Informing Policy, and Protecting the Environment
01 October 2026 from 16:00 to 17:30 CEST
“Interoperable Hydrological Data Exchange “
Background
The increasing frequency and severity of hydroclimatic extremes, combined with escalating pressures on water and environmental systems, global initiatives such as EW4All, the SDGs1, new potential use of data for validating Artificial Intelligence models and earth observations, the global scale of hydrological cycle, and climate action, highlight the urgent need for seamless data exchange across disciplines, institutions, and jurisdictions. Weather, climate, hydrological, and environmental datasets are frequently fragmented across platforms and governed by varying standards, formats, and policies. This fragmentation constrains institutions' ability to provide services that protect life and property, promote the well-being of all nations, and support sustainable resource management. The hydrology domain is characterized by significant heterogeneity in data publication systems among providers. Interoperability allows data from diverse sources to be discovered, accessed, integrated, trusted, quality controlled, and reused efficiently across sectors and scales. Interoperable data exchange is essential for building resilient, data-driven environmental systems capable of addressing complex global challenges.
In response to this need, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and its partners have proposed a collaborative initiative, the WMO Hydrological Observing System (WHOS2), which focuses on interoperable data exchange frameworks and practices for integrated hydrological data. WHOS functions as the hydrological component of the WMO Information System 2.0 (WIS2), facilitating the interoperable sharing of hydrological data. WHOS advocates the use of standards. Where the data provider has not implemented standard, it employs a brokering approach, supported by FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles, in which a central broker component enables interoperability between heterogeneous publication systems and end-user tools and applications. Currently, over 3.7 million time-series datasets are published through Global Hydrological Data Centres such as IGRAC3, GRDC4, HYDROLARE5, and CUAHSI6, as well as through transboundary and regional basin organizations and directly via national endpoints. Many organizations such as Brigham Young Universityand GEGLOWS, Aquaveo, CNR-ITIAm, etc have contributed to the development of WHOS technologies.
To promote dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of experiences, the WMO, the University of Waterloo, DataStream, Global Water Futures Observatory, CUAHSI, CNR-ITIAm 7propose an online webinar. This event will bring together experts, researchers, practitioners, standard organizations, and operational agencies to discuss advances, challenges, and opportunities in interoperable hydrological data exchange.
Topics
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Hydrological data interoperability and sharing
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Hydrological Data Brokering: WHOS Brokering Approach
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Discovering and Accessing the Hydrological Data: WHOS Portal
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Leveraging Research and operational data repository for WHOS implementations
Objectives
The webinar will provide a platform for stakeholders from academia and research, government, private sector, standards organizations, and operational agencies to exchange knowledge, identify technical and policy gaps, and co-develop pathways toward interoperable hydrological data ecosystems.
The initiative will pursue the following objectives:
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Demonstrating the benefits of exchanging hydrology data though WHOS and central access for different data repository
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Showcase the brokering approach for reducing interoperability burden of hydrology data
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Promote adoption of open standards and FAIR data principles for hydrological and hydrogeological data exchange.
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Strengthen collaboration between research and operation communities, capacity development and knowledge sharing among different stakeholders and communities.
Expected Outcomes
The initiative is expected to deliver:
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More awareness and knowledge of WHOS as platform implementing hydrology standards and brokering approaches
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Enhanced collaboration between international standards bodies, research institutions, and operational agencies as part of a community of practice focused on the implementation of interoperable data exchange
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Identification of priority interoperability gaps, technologies implementation pathways, harmonized data exchange architectures, and governance, technical tools to address the research and operational users
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Better understanding of navigating the WHOS portal and existing data repository
Target Participants
The webinar will be open to a wide range of participants as indicated below
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National Meteorological and Hydrological Services
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Geospatial and Earth observation organizations
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Water Management National Authorities
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Academic and research institutions
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Standards development organizations, technology providers, and cloud service platforms
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Graduate students and early-career researchers
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Global and regional Data Centers
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Basin and transboundary organization
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UN organizations and Agencies
Format of Webinar
The webinar will be held online and will include technical presentations, demonstrations and interoperability showcases, discussions, etc
Draft Agenda – 16:00 to 17:30 CEST , 10:00 to 11:30 am ET
Moderator: Dr. Philippe Van Cappellen (University of Waterloo//Global Water Futures Observatory)
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Time |
Agenda item |
Presenter |
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Introduction |
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5’ |
Welcome remarks |
Jamieson Elizabeth, Acting Hydrological Adviser, Environment and Climate Change, Canada Berny Fallas, Vice chair, RA IV RHA, |
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8’ |
Hydrology data interoperability and sharing: Challenges, benefits, portal, and opportunities
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Henrik Dissing, Business Developer, Senior Advisor, Danish Environmental Portal, and Governing Board representative, Water4All |
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7’ |
Hydrology data interoperability and sharing: WHOS: Concept, technologies, collaborations and data needs i.e HydroSOS, EW4All |
Philipp Saile, Head of GEMS/Water Data Centre, the International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change, Chair TT-W2FH
|
|
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Questions |
All |
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Data Interoperability and Discovery Frameworks |
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15’ |
WHOS in the Data Sharing Landscape: WHOS Brokering Approach (DAB and hydrology data standards), including examples of DataStream
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Dr. Enrico Boldrini, Researcher at the Florence Division of the Institute of Technologies and Environmental Intelligence (CNR-ITIAm), Vice-chair TT-W2FH |
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5’ |
Questions and Discussion |
Moderator and All |
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15’ |
Discovering and accessing the Hydrology Data: WHOS Portal for data discovery and access and monitoring
Leveraging of Research and operational data repository for WHOS implementations DataStream |
Dr. Enrico Boldrini, Researcher at the Institute of Technologies and Environmental Intelligence (CNR-ITIAm), Vice-chair TT-W2FH
Lindsay Day, DataStream Team |
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10’ |
Leveraging Hydroshare -Enabling FAIR Water Data Sharing
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Martin Seul, Lead of Software Engineering (acting), CUAHSI, Member TT-W2FH |
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10’ |
National Hydrology Data Management and Interoperability (Including collaboration with Research Institutions) |
Doug Stiff , Manager for Hydrometric Technology, Data Systems and Dissemination, ECCC, Canada |
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5’ |
Questions and Discussion |
Moderator and All |
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Closing |
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5’ |
Feedback: Webinar evaluation by participants and presenters, and priority topics for next webinar
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Moderator and All |
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5’ |
Closing remarks |
Rodney Martinez Guingla (WMO Rep. for North & Central America & the Caribbean) Philippe Van Cappellen ( (University of Waterloo/Global Water Futures Observatory)
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