From Data to Information and Knowledge through Cyberinfrastructure-based Observatories (Invited)

There are well-known, substantial concerns that peoples’ uses of water may significantly alter the quantity and quality of water-cycle processes at the local and regional scales. Addressing these concerns requires a substantially better understanding of the linkages and feedback between the various systems than presently is available. Although many studies have examined human-water dynamics, the complexity of such coupled systems is not well understood largely because: (a) there are still gaps in our knowledge of water-related processes and their interaction with socio-economic drivers; (b) typical analyses are based on narrow disciplinary expertise rather than integrative, and, (c) the data and tools for multidisciplinary natural scale studies are not available yet. The recent information and communication technology advancements, collectively labeled as informatics (or hydroinformatics for the water-related domain), enable to address a new class of problems around the organization of data and information leading to knowledge extraction. Hydroinformatics embraces not only methods of data capture, storage, processing, analysis and graphical display, but the use of advanced modeling, optimization, knowledge-based tools and computational infrastructure (cyberinfrastructure). This presentation describes initial activities carried out by a University of Iowa hydroinformatics research group for assembling cyberinfrastructure components and functions in an end-to-end cyber-Observatory for the investigation of natural systems. Emphasis is placed on the group’s strategy and implementation efforts to adapt and integrate the Consortium of University for Advancement of Hydrologic Science Inc. - Hydrologic Information System (CUAHSI-HIS) project products for creating innovative workflows that could uniquely facilitate scientific investigation and decision making. Two examples of workflows embedded in the pilot Clear Creek digital watershed are used to illustrate the potential the cyber-Observatories to approach the science discourse in unprecedented ways. The examples predict water quantity and quality at the watershed outlet using datastreams from multiple sources ingested in an integrated workflow of domain models. Lessons learned, challenges, and future needs are also discussed with special emphasis on the use cases aimed at continuous forecasting of water indicators and the development of scientific-sound strategies for sustainable management of watershed resources.