“Making Hydrometry Better for Everyone”
The International Hydrometry Association (IHG) is a voluntary working group focussed on advancing methods, technologies, and standards within hydrometry to share with the international water monitoring community.
This document outlines the operational charter of the IHG.
Objectives
The objectives of the IHG are to share information about techniques and tools for monitoring rivers and estuaries and to represent the goals and needs of hydrometry professionals around the world.
These objectives are, but not limited to:
- Facilitate development and testing of new technologies,
- Improve hydrometric monitoring, especially of extreme conditions,
- Strive for greater standardization worldwide,
- Facilitate development of standardised training, testing procedures, and operational guidelines.
- Recognition as a representative association for hydrometry.
Scope
The scope of the IHG will consist of, but not limited to, the following:
- Coordinating of effort between agencies, including sharing documentation, training opportunities, and test results.
- Providing feedback to manufacturers in a bid to improve measurement techniques and technologies.
- Evaluating and sharing new technologies and techniques.
- Refining and enhancing existing measurement methods.
- Developing and sharing of operational standards and technical expertise with monitoring agencies, manufacturers, and associations.
- Promoting the consistency and reliability of long-term data records, including standard data formats.
- Undertaking information sharing, training, and technical workshops
- Developing a list of annual “goals” to focus group activities in relation to its objectives.
- Forming technical work groups consisting of industry experts in a particular field of hydrometry or an area of need.
- Promoting the groups goals and objectives to the wider hydrometric community.
- Engaging with individuals and organisations that will assist the IHG in meeting its objectives.
- Engaging with those organisations that may benefit from the IHG’s expertise.
Membership
Membership is open to those organisations willing to commit on a voluntary basis to achieving the IHG’s objectives.
Leadership and Coordination
Leadership roles require a considerable commitment of time and effort to maintain the focus of the IHG in achieving its objectives. To ensure efficient and effective operation, a board of manageable size will be maintained to provide leadership for the IHG. A chairperson and a vice chair, selected from the board, will be responsible for organizing meetings, checking on progress with any subgroups, and will provide a conduit for suggestions and concerns about the operation of the Group.
- Group meetings will be scheduled approximately every six weeks, subject to change.
- Meeting minutes shall be documented through collaborative note taking via Google Docs or the equivalent.
- The chairperson will have the primary responsibility for organizing an agenda for the meeting, with support from the vice chair. When necessary, the vice chair or a board member will temporarily take on this responsibility.
Outreach and Communication
To ensure information sharing and active discussion within the entire IHG, the following resources will be utilised:
- Share information online, through discussion forums such as the forum on the IHG website.
- Promote and share group activities via IHG website and mailing lists.
- When possible, allow guest participants to contribute to the leadership conference calls.
- Organise online technical events with open invitations to other organisations.
Subgroups
Due to the size of the IHG, subgroups will be formed to oversee or conduct various tasks. Most of the technical details and decision-making regarding these tasks or projects will be made by the members of the subgroup. However, the outcomes of these discussions and the recommendations of the subgroup will be shared during IHG meetings and via email or forum communications. Some examples of subgroups may include:
- QRevInt and QRevIntMS
- Surface velocity measurement
- Quality assurance activities
- Dilution flow measurement techniques
In general, the subgroup will be self-organized.
English will be the primary language for the IHG’s activities and publications. Translation into other languages will be considered as and when appropriate.