Abstract
The FREEWAT platform is an innovative Free and Open Source water resource modelling platform integrated in the QGIS geospatial software, using the SpatiaLite database, and including globally-established simulation codes from the USGS MODFLOW models family. This paper demonstrates its application to the Lugano Lake basin case study, Switzerland and Italy. Two specific modules of the platform were used to execute data integration and analyses: the Observation Analysis Tool and the Lake Package. The first one is a newly developed module facilitating the integration of time-series observations into modelling by enabling pre- and post-processing in the model environment; the latter is an existing MODFLOW package allowing dynamic evaluation of groundwater/lakes interaction. In the case study implementation, a participatory approach was adopted to enhance trust and acceptance of results. These show that integration of simulation codes within GIS is highly appreciated. Furthermore, its openness and freeness allow easily sharing of developed analysis and models. Stakeholders also positively evaluated the participatory process as it empowers decision making with a better understanding of model results and uncertainties. The combination of the FREEWAT platform and the participatory approach may constitute a valuable methodology to include scientifically based analysis to be used for policy design and implementation.
Highlights
Regulations such as the EU Water Framework Directive enforce monitoring requirements of water bodies increasing the number of water-related datasets
This paper demonstrates its application to the Lugano Lake basin case study, Switzerland and Italy
The FREEWAT platform was applied to the Lugano Lake case study, a transboundary water-body shared between Switzerland and Italy
Summary
Regulations such as the EU Water Framework Directive (the operational tool which set the objectives for water protection and implements the European water policies; [1]) enforce monitoring requirements of water bodies increasing the number of water-related datasets. The availability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools performing spatially and temporally based analysis can greatly help to better exploit the information content of such data and to get a better insight on water bodies’ behavior and dynamics. This would likely translate into a more efficient water management and into a better implementation of water regulations. The project FREEWAT (FREE and open source tools for WATer resource management; [2, 3]) fosters the adoption of water related regulations by taking full advantage of collected data and their usage in analyses for producing scientifically and technically sounding decisions and policies. Within the FREEWAT project, the analyses are run using a participatory approach at 14 case studies to demonstrate the platform relevance in the production of shared and evidence-based decision making in Water Resource Management (WRM)
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