Delft-FEWS is an information platform for importing, validating and processing flood and environmental resource forecast data. This makes it possible to anticipate certain events
and, in this sense, constitutes a fundamental tool for decision-making.
Montevideo, Uruguay. 22 April 2022. In the framework of the Adaptation in Action - Santa Lucia Basin project, on 20 April, the Delft-FEWS configuration training by the Dutch institute Deltares started.
Delft-FEWS is an information platform for importing, validating and processing flood and environmental resource forecast data. This makes it possible to anticipate certain events and, in this sense, constitutes a fundamental tool for decision-making.
The platform is open source software, allowing the integration of different models and It is highly scalable.
The training has a strong practical component through the development of a series of exercises developed by the participants from the different institutions.
This first introductory day was attended by technicians from the Water Department of the Northern Regional University Centre (CENUR) of the University of the Republic (UdelaR); from the Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Environmental Engineering (IMFIA) of the Faculty of Engineering of the UdelaR; and from the National Directorate of Environmental Quality and Assessment (Dinacea) and the National Water Directorate (Dinagua) of the Ministry of the Environment.
This action is linked to Output 1 of the Adaptation in Action - Santa Lucia Basin project, which refers to the adoption of an operational early warning system for water quantity and quality. In particular, the strengthening of the Situation and Forecast Room of the National Water Directorate (Dinagua) of the Ministry of Environment through the incorporation of technicians specialised in meteorology, hydrology and information technology, and the training of local capacities.
Background
Cabe señalar que, en el 2019 el Sistema Nacional de Emergencias (SINAE), con la participación del Instituto Nacional de Meteorología (Inumet) y Dinagua, implementó la plataforma Delft-FEWS en Uruguay (FEWS-Uruguay), el cual se encuentra en operación en los servidores de Presidencia. Tanto Inumet como Dinagua son responsables de los pronósticos hidrometeorológicos en el SINAE.
It should be noted that in 2019 the National Emergency System (SINAE), with the participation of the National Institute of Meteorology (Inumet) and Dinagua, implemented the Delft-FEWS platform in Uruguay (FEWS-Uruguay), which is in operation on the Presidency's servers. Both Inumet and Dinagua are responsible for hydrometeorological forecasts in the SINAE..
The system provides flood forecasts for the cities of Durazno and Artigas and supports the issuing of situation and forecast reports by Dinagua's Situation and Forecast Room.
This project, developed in 2019, also had the participation of the CENUR Water Department and Deltares.
About the Adaptation in Action project – Santa Lucia Watershed
The project is led by Dinagua, with funding from the European Union, through EUROCLIMA+ and with the support of the implementing agencies French Development Agency (AFD) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
The objective of the project is to strengthen resilience to the impacts of climate variability to ensure the quantity and quality of the drinking water source, advancing in the integrated management of water resources. To this end, it is proposed to adopt technology and modelling for integrated water management and to strengthen governance to support decision-making and public policy formulation, from a human rights perspective that includes gender equity.
About EUROCLIMA+
EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union and co-financed by the German federal government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as by the governments of France and Spain through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.
The Programme's mission is to reduce the impact of climate change and its effects in 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting mitigation, adaptation, resilience and climate investment. It is implemented according to the "Spirit of Team Europe" under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the French Development Agency (AFD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), the International and Ibero-America Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).