Project description
The purpose of the PRASDES -project was to strengthen the development of water, climate and weather services in the Andean region (Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru). The objective was to improve the capabilities of the persons in charge of the services to exchange and manage information, and consequently countries’ capacities to prepare for the risks caused by climate change. A particular objective was to create an early-warning and risk management services in the three pilot sites, which are all located in areas of transboundary river basins.
The project consisted of five components:
- Development of databases
- Development of weather and climate services
- Development of hydrological services
- Development of communication and warnings
- Financial stability.
SYKE was mainly in charge of developing the hydrological services but participated also in the development of databases.
During the project, countries began exchanging weather data and hydrological observations between them and the cooperation between country experts improved significantly. A regional database and program for exchanging data was developed for the data exchange. Moreover, the knowhow of the meteorologists, hydrologists and technical staff of the participating institutions to work with both data systems, quality assurance of observations and weather and hydrological forecasts improved. In terms of hydrology, the prerequisites for hydrological modelling and preparation of flood maps were created for pilot sites in all countries. Consequently, the capacities of countries to prepare for climate risks were enhanced and countries created a new regional hydrology expert network to continue the well established cooperation.
SYKE's experience in hydrological services and open data policy as examples
The project benefited from SYKE’s experts’ international knowhow in developing hydrological services, comprising the whole chain from observations and measurements to data systems and modelling, and products. In addition, SYKE’s experts successfully trained local hydrologists. During the project, altogether twenty hydrological training events and workshops were organized in the countries of the region, in addition to which, one study tour in Finland was carried out. Practical knowhow was developed based on participants’ own materials both in classrooms and in the field.
Due to the project, the knowhow in hydrological measurements was improved in all countries. Especially data management and exchange between countries was enhanced with the help of new information systems, and hydrological modelling was tested in the pilot sites and a flood map was produced for one site. The project provided the basic capabilities to produce flood maps also in other areas, which affects the capacity to manage climate risks.
The hydrological observation stations procured and installed during the project will strengthen the chances of pilot sites to prepare for climate and weather risks in the future. Warning and evacuation rehearsals were tested in practice in the pilot sites.
The capabilities for producing up-to-date hydrological service were initially somewhat weak in the pilot sites; countries didn’t, for example, exchange observation data between themselves. To this effect, the project was able to significantly improve the situation, and the trust between countries was enhanced, and regional database and a new observational tool for exchanging hydrological data now answer the transboundary information needs of the Andean region. SYKE’s open data policy and long experience in transboundary water cooperation were encouraging examples for the institutions. In addition, the Finnish Flood Center was regarded as an interesting model of functioning and efficient cooperation between different institutions. A large part of SYKE’s trainings were carried out with open and free programs so that their use in the pilot countries would be economically feasible in the future as well.
Capacity-building cross borders and enhanced risk preparedness
When the project started, the chosen three pilot sites in the transboundary basin areas had only limited knowhow and experience in hydrological modelling. During the project, countries cooperated in the development of hydrological forecast modelling in transboundary waters. For many local hydrologists, who participated in the project, PRASDES gave the first opportunity to get to know the colleagues of the neighboring countries. The project enabled learning of new methods and created a basis for completely new kind of cooperation. Along with the project, a hydrological workgroup for the Andean region was established and continues the cooperation after the project. Due to the project, Peru decided to start operational hydrological forecasting in the pilot sites in December 2016.
In addition to the hydrological forecasting, SYKE organised training in hydraulic modelling and production of flood maps. Due to the project, a flood map in Titicaca lake for the Suches basin area in Escoma county was produced and this was a completely new product in the region. As a flood prone region, Escoma suffered from the worst flood in hundred years in March 2016. SYKE’s flood mapping trainings were organized only after the flood, but with the help of the map, future flood damages can be minimized, and inhabitants informed of the risk areas. The project also carried out Bolivia’s third national preparedness rehearsal for flood situations in Escoma county.
The real time weather stations and hydrological measurement stations installed in the pilot sites improved significantly hydrological forecasts. The stations produce information not only for the National Hydrological Service but also for local authorities in order to make flood warnings. Consequently, the preparedness rehearsals showed that in the occurrence of an extreme situation, the actions taken are now more organized and quicker.
The Finnish Flood Center service concept, which is an operative service provided jointly by SYKE and FMI, was regarded as highly interesting model also for the countries in the Andean region. PRASDES also served to reinforce mutual learning. The ideas and lessons learned from the pilot countries have utilized to further develop SYKE’s hydrological services (databases, observations and models). The project served as a good basis for networking and making SYKE’s knowhow and activities in the water sector more internationally known.