Technology Solicitation To: "E - All WRD Employees" Subject: Technology Solicitation Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 15:06:52 -0700 From: "Alicia M Hinds, Secretary, Tucson, AZ" From: "Nick B Melcher, District Chief, AZ, Tucson, AZ" ************************************************ Rev version 3.0 CALL FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR HYDROLOGIC DATA COLLECTION SPONSORED BY HYDRO-21 Introduction During the past 20 years, great technology advances have been achieved in many engineering and science disciplines. Much of the progress has been attributed to the successful mass-marketing of microchip technologies and computer hardware. Unfortunately, the needs of the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) in hydrologic field measurements represent a highly specialized niche of technology with a very small market. Consequently, industry has been reluctant to invest in research and development of products specifically for hydrologic measurements. Some advances in water resources investigation have been achieved utilizing computer hardware and software, massive data storage and retrieval, satellite telemetry, and automated hydrologic data processing and data dissemination. Despite the progress achieved in hydrologic data handling, many methods and techniques for hydrologic field measurements were developed over 50 years ago and remain unchanged. While these methods are time proven, reliable, and are highly regarded by water managers and legal authorities, the procedures are often labor intensive and not cost-effective. The U. S. Geological Survey does not have a sufficient budget for instrumentation research and development to meet the needs of modern water science. However, many instrumentation needs in Survey's data programs are similar to the fields of medicine, transportation, engineering, communication, and defense which have large research and development budgets and are investigating new methodologies for making measurements of fluid flow properties. Recognizing the paucity of the hydrologic market and limited inducement for industry to aggressively market new products, the USGS will benefit from a more formalized process to assess and to adopt new technologies for hydrologic applications. The Chief Hydrologist established "Hydro-21 committee (Hydro-21)" to develop mechanisms by which new technologies are identified and incorporated into the Water Resources Division (WRD) data programs. The committee was established under WRD Memo No. 96.34. Approach The main objective of Hydro-21 committee is to identify and incorporate new technologies into the USGS hydrologic-data program and to ensure the vitality of the program. To achieve this objective, Hydro-21 committee will consider the following approaches: 1. Creating Technology Network 2. Identifying Potential Technologies 3. Establishing Procedure for Assessing Technologies 4. Development and Prototyping 5. Recommendations for Implementation Through the network of contacts, potential technologies that might be useful in hydroscience could be identified. This initial step is critical and more difficult, the subsequent assessment of technologies leading to development and prototyping are relative easy. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY SOLICITATION In order to cast the net as broadly as possible, Hydro-21 is following several directions to establish a network of contacts concurrently. One of these approaches is to organize an internal solicitation of innovative technologies. Over the years many of the best ideas have come from Survey's field staff actively conducting field data collection. This solicitation will provide a more formalized process for identifying new ideas. To confine the scope of the present solicitation to a definable area, Hydro-21 is inviting entries of new and practical methods that can improve stream gaging procedures. If this approach proves to be useful, HYDRO-21 Committee will solicit ideas for new technologies applicable to different problem areas of hydroscience. THE PROBLEM One of the basic tasks of the USGS concerns the methods for determining discharges from small streams to large rivers. Obtaining reliable discharges for streams and rivers require periodic direct measurements of river width, depth, and velocity and require continual monitoring of river stage. The labor, travel, and equipment needed for these measurements are a major part of the costs associated with hydrologic-data collection. To date, there have been few changes in field procedures for stream gaging and discharge measurements. The costs and limitations associated with these field procedures are severely affecting the ability of the USGS to provide critical hydrologic information needed for resource assessment, future planning, economic growth, and natural-hazard mitigation at a reasonable cost. This solicitation invites entries of new ideas and methodologies that can improve the efficiency of the surface-water basic data collection program. A response needs to show how the new technology works by means of a prototype or an illustration that the technology has been used in another field of science successfully. In the latter case, the entry should describe the needed modification or adaptation to the existing methods for stream gaging applications. The entry should also describe the potential savings when compared to the present USGS standard operations. Detailed descriptions of the procedures for discharge measurements and stream gaging are included in WSP 2176, vols. 1 & 2. RECOGNITION The implication of a breakthrough technology related to stream gaging and discharge measurements cannot be overstated. The operational costs for gaging station are under constant scrutiny by Survey's cooperators. Any innovation that would improve efficiency of field procedures, reduce costs, or provide more discharge information would receive wide acclaim. Past communications with international hydrologic communities suggest that the USGS is expected to lead the way towards changes in stream gaging technology. Clearly, the submission of an idea that is eventually incorporated into stream gaging procedures deserves significant recognition. The hydro-21 committee will insure that the individuals submitting the ideas remain involved in the development process and receive appropriate recognition. The implementation of a new technology that would result in major cost savings provide sufficient justification for a significant cash award. RESPONSE TO THIS SOLICIATION IS REQUESTED BY AUGUST 31, 1997. The Hydro-21 Committee plans to study and review the entries in September 1997. The United States Geological Survey has had an excellent tradition of implementing new ideas and procedure for use in Earth Science. This solicitation establishes a formal process by identifying an area of water resources investigations that might benefit from recent technology advances. Hydro-21 appreciates your anticipated ideas in response to this solicitation. Please send your response to solicitation to: Ralph T. Cheng Water Resources Division USGS, MS-496 345 Middlefield Road Menlo Park, CA 94025 Any questions regarding this solicitation, please contact any of the Hydro-21 members: Nick Melcher, Chair, Tucson, AZ e-mail: nmelcher, Tel: (520) 670-6671, ext. 221 Ralph T. Cheng, Menlo Park, CA e-mail: rtcheng, Tel: (415) 329-4500 Bob Bubeck, Menlo Park, CA e-mail: rcbubeck, Tel: (415) 329-4413 Pete Haeni, Storrs, CT e-mail: phaeni, Tel: (860) 240-3299 Mike Thurman, Lawrence, KS e-mail: ethurman, Tel: (913 )832-3559