The Water Data Hub

What does it do?

Gathers primary data sources at "the hub." WDH does not generate its own data.
Facilitates comparison of overlapping sources and identification of missing data
Allows visitors to add new data sources and comment on existing sources
Allows visitors to aggregate data from various sources for their own use

Steps to realization:

Make it easy for visitors to contribute to the "data census" by listing primary sources at WDH
Create "filters" that translate source-specific data labels into global labels
Create queries that can assemble data from many sources into one table of output

We will begin with Step 1. To do this, we need volunteers, advisers, and financial support (maximum total projected budget < $250,000 year).

The WDH will be run as a stand-alone "academic" non-profit with the single purpose of connecting water data from around the world. The WDH is unique becaue it overcomes the "provincial" (or "core competancy") problem in which organizations with different geographical or sector-specific concerns do not have the inclination or resources to connect their data to the data of others.

For more information, read this [PDF] or email David Zetland.