Project and Water News

School’s out—what will the kids do? Here’s a list of cool programs and activities to keep them busy.

• UEN’s Preschool Pioneer. Find free, educational interactives that support math and other skills, plus resources for caregivers, including an events calendar. Spanish-language version available.
• Model Earth. Deepen understanding of models and water systems with a range of online resources from the University of Utah Genetic Science Learning Center.
  
  
• Zula Patrol: Mission Weather. Enjoy this interactive exhibit throughout June. The Science Zone, 111 W. Midwest Ave, Casper, WT.
  
  
• Wyoming-based Science Programs. Science adventures for kids of various ages can be found via the University of Wyoming’s website.
  
  
• Waterwise Garden Tour. Beautiful, water-smart gardening tips are shared; register online. Conservation Garden Park, 8275 S. 1300 West, West Jordan, UT. Weekly. 7–8 p.m.

Going from a weather forecast to a model of flood risk is a multi-stage process that can take more time than a community has to address a potential crisis. CI-WATER researcher and doctoral candidate Herman Dolder, with CI-WATER PI Dr. Norm Jones and Dr. Jim Nelson, have developed a method that can help.

In a paper published May 18, 2015 in the Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, the Brigham Young University researchers describe a method that can deliver faster flood predictions than running a model from scratch. The paper, “Simple Method for Using Precomputed Hydrologic Models in Flood Forecasting with Uniform Rainfall and Soil Moisture Pattern,” includes a description of the method and a test case.

On May 21, 2015, participants in the Utah Digital Government Summit learned about CI-WATER’s work to combine robust cyberinfrastructure, big data about climate and modeling to visualize scenarios for water in the west.

CI-WATER researcher Dr. Steve Burian presented “Data in Action: An Example of Collaborative Modeling.” Key messages included the role of data visualization in helping water resource managers accurately predict water availability.

”This is a great story of how research translates to helping city water managers be more effective in their jobs,” he says. “It's also a story showing how high performance computing and robust cyberinfrastructure, along with effective partnerships, are changing our view of Utah's water future. “

Dr. Burian, Ph.D., P.E., is Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Co-Director of Sustainability Curriculum Development at the University of Utah.

It’s time to register for the Third CUAHSI Conference on Hydroinformatics, to be held July 15–17 at the University of Alabama and the National Water Center in Tuscaloosa. The conference theme is “Model and Data Interoperability: From Theory to Practice.”

The event will include a CI-WATER Tethys/ADHydro Workshop. Participants will learn more about the cyberinfrastructure CI-WATER has developed to improve access to advanced high performance computing for water resource analysis and management.

Travel support may be available to the CI-WATER workshop participants. Proposals for papers on applications of advanced informatics techniques in water science are being accepted through June 15.

CUAHSI is the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, a research organization that represents more than 130 universities in the U.S. as well as numerous international water science-related organizations. CUAHSI receives support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop infrastructure and services for the advancement of water science in the United States.