Use of open source platform for hydrological modelling of data sparse region in Nepal

Flooding has always been a major cause of natural disasters in a mountainous country like Nepal. Among the many natural disasters that affect Nepal, the recurring floods during the monsoon season have catastrophic consequences every year. Nepal’s fragile geological conditions and complex topography combined with frequently occurring extreme rainfall during the monsoon poses risks to...

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First SPHY-model User Day organized

On 18 March FutureWater organized the first SPHY-model User Day for core developers and users of the SPHY-model. Ten core developers and users from FutureWater, Utrecht University, Wageningen University & Research and CEBAS Spain gathered at the Wageningen International Congress Centre to discuss the upcoming new release of SPHY and the way forward for effective...

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TWIGA Blog: Added value of Flying Sensors: irrigation advice to pineapple farmers

In November 2018, just after the TWIGA days in Kumasi, Ghana, FutureWater, together with partners Hiview and Farmerline, conducted a pilot study using flying sensors (drones) to enhance irrigation water productivity and yields of pineapple farmers. Pineapple is a key economic resource in Ghana, but pineapple yields generally remain low. Yield losses occur due to...

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Drones used to aid emergency efforts in Mozambique during the aftermath of Cyclone Idai

On 15 March 2019 Cyclone Idai hit the coast of Mozambique causing devastating damage and severe flooding in the region. The APSAN-Vale project, which is implemented in the Beira Agricultural Growth Corridor of Mozambique, is working closely with rural farming communities in the region affected by Cyclone Idai. The project team are searching ways to...

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TWIGA Blog: Flying Sensors, a catalyst for revolution in farming

How can drone technology support our farming activities? This was the question that Kumasi farmers had when they went into the field for a drone workshop. Under the TWIGA Project, a consulting firm from the Netherlands called HiView was contracted by Future Water to deliver training on Flying Sensors to support Farmers’ Decision Making and Flood...

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TWIGA Blog: Project meeting in Kumasi, Ghana

TWIGA aims at the provision of currently unavailable geo-information on weather, water, and climate for sub-Saharan Africa. This is done by: Enhancing satellite-based geo-data with innovative in-situ sensors and; Developing related information services that address local needs of African stakeholders and the GEOSS community. The TWIGA days organized at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science...

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TWIGA Blog: Successful drone training at KNUST in Kumasi, Ghana

Eleven motivated participants. A Flying Sensor. A challenging task to perform. Perfect facilities (Thank you Mr Isaac Duodu from Kumasi Business Incubator!). The right assistance (Mr Joel Budu from Farmerline!). That’s what it takes to perform a week’s training and finish it successfully. Coming from different professional backgrounds most of the trainees did not know...

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Socio-economic development is the key driver for the future South Asian water gap

The current United Nations Climate Change Conference COP24 held in Katowice, Poland once more demonstrates the world’s climate change concerns. In the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra river basins, a global climate change hotspot and home for about 900 million people, these concerns are pressing, since the river systems provide water resources for the important agricultural,...

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Satellite technology and drone images to reduce groundwater use in Iran

The SMART-WADI project (SMART Water Decisions for Iran), carried out by a consortium of FutureWater, IHE-Delft, and local partner EWERI, focuses on farmers who irrigate their crops with groundwater. The aim is to provide up-to-date information and advice on water productivity, irrigation and farm management. The project combines the latest satellite technology for the quantification...

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FutureWater to launch RainMyanmar at the 2018 Greater Mekong Forum on Water, Food and Energy

Although rainfall stations continue to be an irreplaceable source of data, satellite-derived products provide valuable additional information on spatial patterns and remote sites where no stations are present. Thanks to Google Earth Engine, these data products are now publicly available and can improve water management policies, practice and research worldwide. RainMyanmar is an app targeted...

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