The BOBER project was completed in 2015 and it is the largest project for monitoring the environmental conditions across Slovenia. The project goals were to upgrade the national system for monitoring and analysing the state of the water environment in Slovenia. It was undertaken by the Slovenian Ministry of the Environment – Repulika Slovenija Ministrstvo Za Okolje in Prostor Agancija Republike Slovenije Za Okolje.
Its key objectives were to improve forecast models, develop new national water cycle models, detect potential flooding events, analyse the danger posed, and then inform and warn the affected people.
Introduction
Slovenia is located on the southern side of the Alps and, because of its geographical position, receives significant annual precipitation. Nevertheless, local disruptions to the water supply are on the increase. During the last two decades, droughts have become more frequent, reducing groundwater reserves and decreasing the quantity of surface water flows. In light of current understanding of the impact of climate change, droughts and floods are expected to become more frequent and severe. Additionally, underground water pollution in areas of intensive agriculture, where there are important aquifers, has resulted in clean water reserves being quickly and, in many cases, irreversibly depleted.
Therefore, reliable data on precipitation and other atmospheric parameters were required to perform real-time analysis of the current situation. This data can then be used to issue warnings about potentially destructive natural events, such as flooding.
The Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia (ARSO) is responsible for this data network. In order to speed up and extend this network of sensors and stations, and with the assistance of EU funds, ARSO implemented a major project entitled “Upgrading the system for monitoring and analysing the state of the water environment in Slovenia.”
Objectives
The essential objective of the project was to ensure reliable, high-quality, and spatially representative meteorological and hydrological measurements, which will facilitate comprehensive monitoring and analysis of the state of the water environment in Slovenia. This data allows for more accurate forecasting of extreme hydrological phenomena. The total investment in the project was €33 million.
Instrumentation
Biral’s VPF-710 was chosen as the visibility sensor to be used across Slovenia for this important national project. This highly advanced and rugged sensor was ideal to link into the new data networks and report back local environmental conditions in real-time, along with other key meteorological parameters. With a working life in excess of 10 years, the VPF-710 will be an integral part of this new meteorological network for the life of the project.
Outcome
The wider purpose of the project was to improve the ability of the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia to monitor, examine, and forecast the national water cycle. In terms of environmental protection and the effective and sustainable use of water resources, protecting drinking water is especially important. The protection of human health and life against the consequences of natural disasters (protection against floods and droughts) is another vital aspect, now based on accurate and timely meteorological and hydrological forecasts and provision of data in real time.
The upgraded system provides linkage and improved data sources for the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia to other professional institutions, extending and improving upon the current models.