Big data open platform for water resources management

Nowadays Big Data are becoming a popular topic and a comparatively new technological concept focused on many different disciplines like environmental science, social media and networks, industry and healthcare. Data volumes are on an upward trajectory associated with increased data velocity, and variety. Furthermore, they are needed to develop effective solutions to support intelligent, proactive and predictive processes. In this paper we exploit Big Data concepts for environmental sciences and water resources. The aim of this article is to present the concept and architecture of our Big Data Open Platform used for supporting Water Resources Management. This Platform has been designed to provide effective tools that allow water system managers to solve complex water resources systems, water modeling issues and help in decision making. The Platform brings a variety of information technology tools including stochastic aspects, high performance computing, simulation models, hydraulic and hydrological models, grid computing, decision tools, Big Data analysis system, communication and diffusion system, database management, geographic information system (GIS) and Knowledge based expert system. The operators' objectives of this Big Data Open Platform are to solve and discuss water resources problems that are featured by a huge volume of collected, analyzed and visualized data, to analyze the heterogeneity of data resulting from various sources including structured, unstructured and semi-structured data, also to prevent and/or avoid a catastrophic event related to floods and/or droughts, through hydraulic infrastructures designed for such purposes or strategic planning. This first paper will focus on the first part developed and based on J2EE platform and specifically the hypsometrical approach considered as a decision tool allowing users to compare the effects of different current and future management scenarios and make choice to preserve the environment and natural resources.