2005 Progress Report

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Information and Knowledge Management Programme

The Information and Knowledge Management Programme (IKMP) is a new MRC development, which provides a common information base and communication platform for all programmes. It is also supported financially by all the programmes.

The programme facilitates access to and use of the data, information and decision support tools comprising the MRC-Information System (MRC-IS) and isnecessary to promote and co-ordinate sustainable development of water and related resources in the Mekong Basin.

As part of its hydrological information work, it maintains a network of hydrometeorological measuring stations along the Mekong which transmit near real-time information on water levels and rainfall for flood forecasting and other uses.

The programme has four components:

• Data Exchange and Sharing
• Information Management
• Decision Support Systems
• Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening

The Information Knowledge Management Programme was formerly known as the Decision Support and Information Management Programme, and operates within the Technical Support Division. It was introduced into the 2005 Work Programme following the request of the Joint Committee at its 18th Meeting in 2003 to act regarding sustainability of the MRCInformation System (MRC-IS), and to prepare a proposal on allocation of funds for the development, implementation and maintenance of the MRC-IS for submission to donors.

Activities related to IKMP’s objectives were carried out in 2005 under the Technical Support Division (TSD) of the MRCS and included:

• Development of the MRC-IS Portal. This information system has been developed with the assistance of The Canadian Space Agency and the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing/Natural Resources Canada. The Portal was completed by December 2005 and launched in-house at the MRCS in January 2006. There is ongoing investigation into options for external access. The Portal includes key information services such as interactive maps, and a geographically-enabled metadata explorer with metadata for spatial datasets.
• Final development of the Document Management System (DMS), which is also part of the MRC-IS Portal. The DMS is designed to improve sharing of and access to documents and provide fully controlled access to a wide range of documents. The Document Management System is planned to be opened for external access in 2006.
• Implementation of international standards applying to MRC’s metadata to conform to ISO 19115.
• Significant progress in the ‘Data Exchange and Sharing’ component: The first comprehensive list of Primary Custodians (the particular line agency in a country responsible for collection and management of a particular dataset was completed toward the end of 2005. Guidelines for Implementation of Procedures for Water Use Management were also developed in collaboration with the Water Utilisation Programme and finalised in late 2005. Guidelines for Management of the MRC Hydro-meteorological Network were also approved by the Joint Committee in August 2005.
• Official acceptance of the Sustainability Plan for the MRC Hydro-meteorological Network by all MRC member countries in March 2005. The Appropriate Hydrological Network Improvement Project (AHNIP), scheduled to end in March 2006, is now in its final stage. AHNIP has continued to assist the NMCs and Line Agencies to consolidate and build their capacity to collect and share near real-time hydrometeorological data. AHNIP has also assisted the MRCS to draft guidelines for the management of the MRC Hydrometeorological Network and Memorandums of Understanding with the NMCs and Line Agencies for operation of the AHNIP systems and monitoring stations.
• Continued collection and supply of timely hydro-meteorological information to all MRC programmes. The hydro-meteorological data collected from member countries through 2002 were also completely processed. The hydrologic yearbook in 2001-2002 was reproduced in an electronic version and disseminated to the member countries in late 2005.
• Provision of decision support to the Water Use Management Programme and the Basin Development Plan. Decision Support Framework modelling and knowledge base enhancements have also been realised.
• Implementation of Procedures for Data and Information Exchange and Sharing and Procedures for Water Use Monitoring has also continued in the member countries.

IKMP activities in 2006, in parallel with the programme’s continued preparation, will put emphasis on facilitating the implementation of the framework of procedures and guidelines developed in the last three years through technical support and assistance.

The implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding for Management of the AHNIP Network, which will be continued in 2006, will also be an important activity not only to the remainder of the project but also for the longterm sustainability of MRC hydro-meteorological data collection.

A key project in preparation is the Mekong Hydrological Cycle Observing System (Mekong- HYCOS). Designed to improve river monitoring and flood forecasting capacity, IKMP will be formulating and developing the inception phase of the project.