The first edition of the IAHR*-WMO Short course on Stream Gauging was held from 6 to 9 September at the University of Brescia, in Italy. The course was mainly based on the 2nd edition of the Manual of Stream Gauging (WMO N° 1044), published in 2010 and on recent advancements in research, technology and instrumentation for hydrometry, to which members of IAHR have contributed to. Stream gauging is one of the critical areas for both routine monitoring of catchment and estuarine environments and for the provision of essential information for hydrological and hydraulic modelling of these environments. It is recognised that continued education and training on methods for hydrometric data collection, validation and publication are the backbone for the consolidation and dissemination of a sound ‘hydrological culture’.
The instructors were University professors of hydraulics and hydrology and officers of Hydrological Services from Italy, Claudio Caponi, from WMO, and Marian Muste, Michele Mossa, Roberto Ranzi and Boosik Kang, experts from the Working Group on Applied Hydrology and the Committee on Experimental Methods and Instrumentation of IAHR.
The 50 registered participants included officers and technicians of hydrological and hydro-meteorological services, water engineers, staff of public water authorities, hydropower companies, Master and PhD students. The subject of the course, which included also one day of field work (see photos), covered both traditional measurements methods, including mechanical current-meters and pre-calibrated measurement structures, and advanced technologies based on ultrasonic, laser and Doppler velocimetry.
The course is a further important step in the cooperation between IAHR and WMO in the field of flow measurements, which was initiated at the Thirteenth Session of the Commission for Hydrology in November 2008. IAHR is The International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research, a worldwide independent organization of engineers and water specialists working in fields related to the hydro-environmental sciences and their practical application.
 | Students and instructors visiting the Mella river at Stocchetta hydrometric station, during the 1st IAHR-WMO short course on Stream gauging | |
| Preparation of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler measurement in the field exercise during the course |  |
* International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research
