Hydro-meteorological networks
OFITECO provides hydrometeorological forecast services, specifically targeted to the prognosis of stream flow and expected volume of water in points of interest, such as hydroelectric dams, water supply dams or irrigation dams, areas at risk of flooding, etc.
Hydrometeorological forecasting service includes the following variables:
- Stream flow / volume.
- Precipitation (rain and snow), with probabilistic or deterministic forecasts.
- Volume stored in the form of snow in the watershed.
Offered forecasts have the following characteristics:
- Forecasts to 3-9 days.
- Temporary interval of 1 hour.
- Probable forecasts with confidence interval.
- Delivering forecasts completely adaptable to the needs and means of the client (data format, medium and frequency of delivery, etc.)
- Sending alerts by e-mail or SMS configurable and adaptable to the customer.
Knowing flow rates and expected water volume in advance to its occurrence has obvious advantages for the management of water infrastructure, whether it is a hydroelectric operation, or for water supply, irrigation, flood protection and warning, etc.
On the other hand, assessment and forecasts of the volume of water accumulated in the basin in the form of snow is very valuable information for the planning of the operation of the water infrastructure in the medium term.
Optimisation of hydropower operation
The advance knowledge of the flows and water volume that will receive a hydroelectric dam, or a work of derivation, enables to optimise and maximise the performance of hydroelectric production, avoiding or minimising the discharge of flow surpluses.
Optimisation of the operation of water supply and irrigation
Forecasts of flow rates and water volume allow the optimisation of the use of water storage systems (deposits, ponds) and minimising pumping costs and facilitating optimal joint operation of surface and groundwater resources.
Flood forecast and early warning systems
The hydrometeorological forecasts are inherent to flood forecasting and early warning systems. Forecasts of stream flow can trigger different actions in order to minimise damage by the flooding of rivers: emergency plans and notices to the population affected, operation of hydraulic infrastructure, strengthening or heightening elements of protection, etc.
Automatic System of Hydrological Information
This is a real-time information system, based on the capture, transmission and processing of values adopted by the hydrometeorological and hydraulic variables obtained at different control points distributed in strategic areas of the hydrological catchment area.
These control points generally consist of: flow rates in rivers, reservoirs, control points in bridges, supply connections, flow rates in channels, rain gauges or snow gauges, and they are connected via satellite with the Cuenca Control Centre (CCC) and Data Presentation Centres.
OFITECO has extensive experience in the design, execution and control of projects, operation, maintenance and upkeep of these systems, and is able to offer a comprehensive solution, which includes all the implementation phases. In addition, OFITECO is currently working on the design and implementation of a management and analysis system of hydrologic information from ROEA (Official Network of Gauging Stations) in eight Spanish Catchment Areas.
Non-automatic control networks
Their objective is the same as the automatic ones, but their differences lie in their equipment, which consists of a limnimeter (measurement of the height), which can be supplemented by a conventional graphic water-level recorder, which means that the data is recorded twice, thus making the measurement more accurate.
OFITECO has extensive experience in the maintenance and upkeep of non-automatic gauging stations.
“Rating curve: relationship between discharge and the water depth (stage) in the watercourse or channel”.
Flow rate or level data are obtained from flow measurement campaigns directly in the field, which make it possible to represent the rating curve in a section of interest.
The flow rate can be obtained by measuring the velocity (water current meters and electromagnetic sensors) or velocity+depth (on-board Doppler).
The measurement level can also be taken using on situ scale readings.
Validated rating curves can be used to estimate water resources and balances, flood studies, hydrological and hydraulic models, and they are an important part of decision-making.
