Hydrological Sensor Networks in Germany- Introducing SensorWeb-WSV

Abstract: Sensor networks are important infrastructures for monitoring environmental systems on a routine basis. In response to climate change and adaptation strategies, environmental monitoring data is becoming increasing valuable as a mean for observing the impact on natural systems. Recent flood events in Europe (e.g. the Elbe floods in 2002 and 2006) show that environmental monitoring and subsequent data analysis lack standardized procedures for data availability and system interoperability. The existing systems do not fully meet the demands for in-time warning, efficient alerting and informing the public. One of the major hydrological monitoring networks in Germany is operated by the Federal Waterway and Shipment Administration, which belongs to the Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs. Additional hydrological monitoring systems are operated on state and local water board level. The analysis of the different networks shows that a common architecture and a system interoperability using standardized data description and data servicing is missing. In most cases, the monitoring data is exchanged via E-mail or ftp in different data formats. Different web service solutions are just developing. Global climate change research projects as well as increasing natural hazards (see the mentioned Elbe floods) have put an additional pressure on the different stakeholders to closely line up recent environmental monitoring systems with emerging technologies