MIDDLEBURG, VA, Nov. 3, 2014 -- The American Water Resources Association (AWRA) -- a multidisciplinary association for water resource managers, scholars and students -- and its Technology Committee will introduce a national discussion titled "The Open Water Data Initiative - Unifying Water Data for the Nation" in coordination with The White House Climate Data Initiative; Federal Geographic Data Committee; and Advisory Committee on Water Information.
The AWRA Technology Committee will host the discussion during its Annual Water Resources Conference and 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Sheraton Tysons Hotel in the community of Tysons Corner, Va., on Nov. 3-6. The organization has organized an entire track surrounding the Open Water Data Initiative on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sessions in the track will include:
- Session 61: Open Water Data 1 - Assessment of National Priorities
Moderator: David Maidment, Professor of Civil Engineering, UT Austin. A panel of high-level federal decision makers discusses the priorities for a national water data infrastructure. Panelists include: Jerad Bales, Chief Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Tom Graziano, Chief of Staff, National Weather Service; James Dalton, Chief, Engineering and Construction, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Joseph Nimmich, Deputy Administrator of FEMA, Dept. of Homeland Security.
- Session 67: Open Water Data 2 - Lightning Talks - Data Access and Analytics
Moderator: David Blodgett, USGS. Lightning talks on recent critical advances in data provision, access, processing, and analysis.
- Session 73: Open Water Data 3 - Lightning Talks - Modeling and Integration
Moderator: Dan Ames, Brigham Young University. Lightning talks highlighting innovative and proven models, as well as analytic and integrative applications that rely on ever-growing data stores and data streams.
- Session 79: Open Water Data 4 - Panel on Digital Infrastructure Futures
Moderator: Jack Hampson, Atkins. Federal, regional, university, and private partners envision what is possible with highly-available and reliable water and climate information. What can help each community find the best path to sustainable growth and resilience in the face of natural disasters? Panelists include: Al Rea, Co-Manager, National Hydrography Dataset, USGS; Kenneth Ashe, Deputy Director, NC Floodplain Mapping Program; Carey Johnston, Office of Compliance, EPA; Steve Kopp, Program Manager, Esri; David Maidment, Professor of Civil Engineering, UT Austin.
For further information on the event and its many offerings, click here.
See also:
"Students awarded AWRA scholarship for water resource management efforts"
"AWRA recommends national move to integrated water resources management"
About AWRA
Since 1964, American Water Resources Association has been dedicated to the advancement of water resources management, research and education, as well as a balanced approach toward solving water resources challenges. AWRA’s membership is comprised of professionals who share a common interest in working and learning across a wide range of disciplines focused on water resources policy, practice and education. For more information, visit http://www.awra.org.
###
