SR-27 : Hydrologic data collection processing and analysis

Abstract

Hydrological and related meteorological data are needed for proper planning in development, management and optimal utilization of water resources of the country and its water related environment. Advances in hydrology are dependent on good, reliable and continuous measurements of the hydrological variables. The data collected by various agencies in our country is generally in raw form. The first important task in the whole gambit of hydrologic analysis is the collection true, accurate and regular data. This needs a through understanding of methods of measurement, on the part of the people responsible to collect such data. The conventional and responsible to collect such data. The conventional and modern methods need to be imbibed into, not only observers, technicians but also in water resources engineer & managers. The second concern is the processing of such raw data. Data processing classified as preliminary and secondary data processing is essential before putting the data for further use in analysis. Processing of hydrological data has two major objectives : One to evaluate the data for its accuracy and the other to prepare the data in a form most valuable to the users. The measurements of hydrological data are recorded and processed by a wide range of methods, from the manual writing down and processing to the invisible marking and processing of electronic impulses on a magnetic tape. Automated data processing using high speed computers has immense potential for handling large volume of hydrologic data in a quick and economic way. The third step in this link is the analysis of hydrologic data by existing methods and use of new and modern methods like hydrologic modelling etc.

In the study reported herein various aspects of hydrologic data collection, processing and analysis have been dealt in detail. In the present study an attempt has been made to cover in depth one of the most important, crucial and need of the day i.e. collection, processing and analysis of hydrologic data. The report opens with a basic discussion on data processing including important definitions and concepts after this a section has been devoted to hydrologic data collection/estimation, existing system of data collection in India and the various organisations involved in these activities. Though more stress has been focused on precipitation and discharge data however, other data like ground water, water quality, sediment, and other meteorological data have also been covered. The next part of the report deals with the processing of various hydrological parameters. The stress has been made en the use of computers and electronic data processing. This is followed by the recent developments in hydrology i.e. mathematical modelling. The chapter cover the basic definition, classes of mathematical models and provides a brief review of available hydrologic models. Finally the conclusions brings out the importance of data processing and usefulness of automated data processing in present context. It has also been concluded from the study that the automated data processing and persons trained in this field are needed to maintain the pace with the development in hydrological data analysis and modelling.