Open Collaboration Hydrology

Non-participation in water modeling leads to ignorance. 💧

Too often, water models are built without the people who live with the water every day.
On one hand, when local communities, stakeholders, and those who are directly affected by water decisions are excluded from the modeling process, they lose the chance to strengthen water governance and maintain meaningful influence over their territories.
On the other hand, modelers miss a crucial opportunity to engage with alternative and valuable forms of knowledge about the water system.

Non-participation in water modeling doesn't just exclude people; it weakens decisions. 🔍

Let’s build water models with people. 🤝


Read more at: Basco-Carrera, L., Warren, A., van Beek, E., Jonoski, A., & Giardino, A. (2017). Collaborative modelling or participatory modelling? A framework for water resources management. Environmental Modelling & Software, 91, 95–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.01.014

Rethinking Our Water Systems 💧

"Changes in mental models are considered a form of learning..." (Henly-Shepard, Gray, and Cox, 2015).

🧠 How do you shape your mental models about water systems?

---O P E N---C O L L A B O R A T I O N---H Y D R O L O G Y---



Henly-Shepard, S., Gray, S. A., & Cox, L. J. (2015). The use of participatory modeling to promote social learning and facilitate community disaster planning. Environmental Science & Policy, 45, 109–122.

How Can Ecological Design Improve Water Management Planning?
enhances by promoting adaptability to changing conditions. Rather than relying on rigid systems, it embraces flexible strategies that can evolve over time.

This means fully recognizing that water conditions can shift due to:
🌦️ Seasonal variations – fluctuations in rainfall and water availability
🌍 Climate change – long-term shifts impacting water cycles
⚠️ Unexpected events – extreme weather, droughts, or infrastructure failures

By integrating adaptive solutions, water management systems can respond effectively and resiliently to these challenges.

Through , we can foster water management approaches that are sustainable, dynamic, and future-ready.

📖 Reference:
du Plessis, Chrisna. 2012. Towards a Regenerative Paradigm for the Built Environment. Building Research & Information 40(1):7–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2012.628548