PPPs as Accelerators, Connectors and Translators in CIROH’s R2O Activities

Well-functioning Research to Operations (R2O) pipelines between and across public and private sectors are essential to ensure water security and resilience for communities worldwide. This is becoming truer every day as extreme weather events, water scarcity, urban development and other stressors are creating the need for new ways of thinking, new methods, new tools, and new science in all facets of water resources management. We all recognize this, but the reality of infusing new concepts into practice is a massive challenge. And the challenge is not only technical. Roadblocks to R2O also arise due to time, resources, communication, terminology and other disconnects between practitioners and researchers. Given the growing need for R2O, however, we need to continue to find ways to overcome these challenges.

From an operations perspective, an effective R2O pipeline leads to better information, better decisions, and better outcomes. Operations in this sense refers not only real-time operations, but any practical implementation of water resources science for water management and decision-making with some societal impact. In these environments, water practitioners rely heavily on science, tools, decision support systems, etc. but often do not have the time or resources to make improvements to their processes. Without effective R2O pipelines to support modernization efforts, operations and practitioners may become ‘stuck’ using methods or tools based on long-outdated science and technology. R2O pipelines with external support are often the only realistic avenue for modernization and improvement. From a research perspective, an R2O pipeline provides a mechanism for research to have a real, positive impact on society. A research environment will always, by itself, be limited for testing the realistic applicability (and feasibility) of new science or technology for operational application. Our experience demonstrates that R2O pipelines that include partnerships and direct collaboration between the research and practitioners lead are far more effective results than siloed efforts. More unique and cross-cutting partnerships are needed to smooth the pathway toward effective R2O.

The Cooperative Institute (CI) for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) is a recently established CI with a focus on R2O for water related objectives within NOAA. As such, CIROH is working toward establishing multiple R2O pipelines between the research community and the NOAA Office of Water Prediction (OWP). These efforts include fostering public-private partnerships (PPP) to connect private industry with academia and NOAA, and ultimately to accelerate R2O from CIROH members to OWP operations. PPPs bring not only cutting-edge technology but also bring first-hand experience, perspective, language, and, in some cases, a level of trust that can serve as a bridge between research and operations. As one example, as a private industry partner within CIROH, we are collaborating directly with the OWP operations division and other CIROH researchers to build tools to better understand the quality of National Water Model forecasts and associated implications for operational use. Because we also have direct operational forecasting experience and are also currently working with water managers outside of NOAA across hydropower, water supply and other industries, we have a solid appreciation and understanding of the decision-making challenges operations faces every day. Combining this understanding with close coordination with both research and operational users, the tools we are building under CIROH are on a fast track for use to support operations. Likewise, because we are working with NOAA through CIROH in the development of publicly available tools and datasets, we are better able to support external practitioners in their missions to provide flood protection, power and/or drinking water to communities nationwide. The same benefits of PPPs also apply in the opposite (O2R) direction.

In short, successful R2O and O2R pipelines need the research and operations entities to be on the same page and speaking the same language, and PPPs help to make that happen. Serving as accelerators, connectors, and translators in the process, PPPs are emerging as a key element of CIROH’s R2O mission. This panel will provide an opportunity to discuss PPPs and their role in R2O efforts within CIROH.