Transcript Improving National Water Information and Data Management

A Water Sector Initiative
Improving National Water Information and
Data Management: A Sector Initiative
Dr Heidi Snyman, Water Research Commission
MP Nepfumbada, Dept of Water Affairs
M Ginster, WSLG EXCO
18-19 Nov 2009
Water Sector Leadership Group
Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za
Improving National Water Information and
Data Management: A Sector Initiative
Recognizing that there are shortcomings (in some cases major
gaps) in data and information management, the DWA, WRC
and WIN-SA organized a workshop on 2 Sept 2009 to:
Establish the sector knowledge and information
requirements
Establish the sector requirements regarding monitoring
and other data such as water balance data
To develop the terms of reference on the way forward
for knowledge sharing and data management
Establish a National Water Knowledge Reference Group
tasked to steer the implementation of National Water
Information and Data Management strategy.
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Sector representation (> 50 participants)
DWA – Water Services
and Water Resources
WRC
WIN-SA
SASOL
BUSA
SAEON
NRF
DBSA
ESKOM
SALGA
eWQMS
Chamber of Mines
SAICE
WISA
eWISA
TCTA
Dept of Social Dev
IMESA
P-Systems
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Summary of Outcomes and Recommendations
- Gaps in data & information management
The group recognised that some of the sector role players
were not present and these need to brought on board as
soon as possible.
The sector identified gaps in data and information
management that need to be addressed. These include:
The long term requirements for hydrological data are not
addressed adequately.
Long term needs are not addressed and therefore a lack of well
planned monitoring plans
Data that is collected is not readily accessible
Not realizing the value of data for other purposes other than own
and not centralizing it to make it available
It is not only data accessibility but also the quality, incompleteness,
reliability and lack of spatial representatively of data
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Gaps (continued)
Users often have to purchase data that has been collected using public
money- resulting in researchers using old information
Problems related to rainfall data input and rainfall data management
Different institutions have different mandates which are not
optimized. Data scale and compatibility is therefore problematic
Concern over duplication and data quality related to services
information and data: National government, researchers and
consultants rely on data from WSP and WSA .
A serious concern related to the allocation of resources to sustain
good monitoring (short to long term) and data management. IT
budgeting is a challenge – should be in the order of 10% a knowledge
rich environment such as the water sector.
Lack of data stewardship and clear communication in some instances
such as:
Metadata at country level
common data/information repository
Verification not done at correct level
Inconsistent data collection and data verification needs improvement
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Gaps (continued) – knowledge management
The sector identified gaps in information and knowledge management
that need to be addressed. These include:
Access to information (books and reports) as well as where these knowledge
products are located.
Packaging of information
Loss of old material that was not electronic.
Gap between water science and application i.e. information not well
communicated to the citizens. Poor information uptake
Fragmentation of research topics ( different organizations doing the same
research) leading to waste of resources
Transfer of knowledge and skills development. Capturing of tacit knowledge
and ageing of researchers.
Losing institutional memory
Availability of data/ information in time
Encourage the culture of sharing
Technical products must be repackaged to enable decision makers to take
proper decisions
Use of various and correct media to disseminate knowledge
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Proposed way forward
It is clear that the sector requires intervention and more
resources to manage our data and information better.
The following was proposed:
A task team consisting of DWA, WRC and one representative of the
WSLG (BUSA representative) was nominated to oversee the
development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to:
Improve knowledge, information and data collection, management
and sharing
Create closer links between knowledge rich institutions
Centralise or enhance access to data for further “mining” and
interpretation
Develop mechanisms to enhance the flow of information in and
between institutions
Present the initiative and challenges to the WSLG and request
commitment from the sector leadership to improve data and
information management in the sector
Feedback to the sector in Feb 2010
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Thank you for your attention
Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za