By: Staff Writer
May 9, 2025
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently published its final report on from HydroHub Innovation Call – Latin America and the Caribbean to provide open source software under the RIVeR LAC project.
The RIVeR-LAC” implemented by the National University of Córdoba (UNC) through the Hydraulics Linkage Center of the Faculty of Exact, Physical, and Natural Sciences (FCEFyN) of Argentina, in consortium with National Water Institute of Argentina (INA) and the company ORUS, concluded in April 2025. The RIVeR-LAC project, supported by the WMO HydroHub and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), has contributed to improving hydrometric monitoring in Latin America and the Caribbean by promoting image-based techniques such as Large-Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV). The project focused on developing accessible, open-source software, producing step-by-step guidelines, and testing the approach in diverse field conditions. With multilingual tools and regional training activities, RIVeR-LAC supports more inclusive and efficient streamflow monitoring practices in the region.
The report also said: “The initiative was designed to strengthen technical capacity, enhance data quality, and promote innovation in water resources monitoring. Its integrated approach combines open-source software development, the production of regionally adapted guidelines, and the validation of techniques in diverse field conditions. Emphasis was placed on fostering regional collaboration, accessibility for nonexperts, and long-term sustainability through training and community engagement.”
The project delivered the new RIVeR software, featuring a modern, user-friendly interface with basic and advanced modes, multilingual support (English, Spanish and French), and automated workflows and the completion of the Best Practice Guidelines, which provide step-by-step instructions for fieldwork, desk work, and data analysis. The guidelines are complemented by high-quality 3D-modeled visuals and hosted in a public GitHub repository for continuous improvement and accessibility.
The report added: “The structure of the WMO HydroHub Innovation Call played a key role in supporting our project’s success. The milestone-based approach provided clear timelines and deliverables, helping us maintain momentum throughout the year. The regular virtual meetings kept us accountable, though we found they required substantial preparation time that occasionally competed with implementation work. For future calls, a more streamlined reporting approach with fewer but more focused virtual meetings might help balance oversight with execution time.”