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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
Hof, March 18, 2026 – Extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, flooding, and drought are occurring more frequently. In order to respond appropriately, public authorities and infrastructure operators depend on reliable data. This primarily concerns hydrometeorological measurements—data on precipitation as well as other climate- and water balance-related parameters. Two interconnected projects at the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (inwa) address precisely this issue.
A growing problem is that many hydrometeorological monitoring stations still operate with outdated technology, have inconsistent designs, or deliver faulty data. These shortcomings create uncertainties that can directly affect decision-making—for example, in flood warning systems.
Modern technology for a digitalized hydrometeorological monitoring network
This is where the project “DMeStHyA” (Development of a Digital Measurement and Control System for Hydrometeorological Applications, including application-oriented upscaling with field testing) comes in. Its goal is to modernize, standardize, and digitize an existing hydrometeorological monitoring network, as demonstrated by the network operated by the State Agency for Nature, Environment and Climate of North Rhine-Westphalia (LANUK NRW).
The focus lies on upgrading measurement technology, implementing a standardized station design, and digitizing operational processes. This includes standardized control cabinet solutions, modern communication structures, and the integration of stations into digital systems for monitoring and managing network operations. As a result, the measurement stations are technically harmonized and digitally interconnected. This facilitates maintenance and operation, improves data availability, and enables early detection of system malfunctions.
The Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (inwa) provides scientific support for the project. Its responsibilities include analyzing project implementation, evaluating surveys and interviews with monitoring network staff, and transferring the results into both research and practical applications.
“Reliable collection and evaluation of hydrometeorological data is becoming increasingly important in light of climate change, extreme weather events, and the protection of critical infrastructure,” says Günter Müller-Czygan, professor at Hof University of Applied Sciences and scientific director of the projects. “This is precisely why our involvement is so valuable—we combine scientific analysis, practical relevance, and the transfer of results.” Modernization enables faster detection of malfunctions, more rapid data processing, and more efficient operational workflows. A key focus of the scientific support is to assess how digitalization is adopted in day-to-day operations. To this end, LANUK staff were surveyed to systematically evaluate their practical experience and incorporate it into the further development of the systems.
“Our involvement in both projects from the very beginning allows us to continuously monitor the progress of digitalization in monitoring network operations,” says Dr. Viktoriya Tarasyuk from inwa. “It also highlights how the roles of staff at hydrometeorological stations are evolving and how they are increasingly integrated into digital processes.”
Plausibility checks for precipitation data using AI
Building on this foundation, the follow-up project NIQKI (Quality Control of Precipitation Data Using Artificial Intelligence) takes the next step. Its core focus is the automated plausibility checking of precipitation data using AI. In practical terms, this means automatically verifying whether measurement data are realistic and complete. For example, if a time series from a monitoring station suddenly shows a gap or anomalous values, the system automatically checks whether this is due to a technical malfunction, a transmission error, or a real-world event.
The goal is to develop methods that enable faster and more reliable evaluation of measurement data. The plausibility checks combine physical threshold values, heuristic rules based on operational experience, and artificial intelligence methods. This makes it possible to identify measurement errors, sensor failures, or transmission issues at an early stage and to systematically assess data quality.
The Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (inwa) also provides scientific support for this project. Its tasks include analyzing the current state of research and technology, supporting the evaluation of the developed methods, and assessing potential application areas.
“We combine physical limits, practical experience, and AI to detect measurement errors, sensor failures, or transmission problems at an early stage,” says Günter Müller-Czygan. “This allows us to significantly improve data quality.”
A solution with impact beyond the region
The two projects are closely interlinked: while DMeStHyA establishes the technical foundation through a modernized and standardized monitoring network, NIQKI enables the systematic assessment of data quality through automated plausibility checks. Together, they enhance the reliability of hydrometeorological data and improve their usability for operational applications.
“Our involvement in both projects allows us to support their development scientifically from the outset and to transfer insights directly into practice,” emphasizes Günter Müller-Czygan. The importance of this work extends far beyond the region. Reliable hydrometeorological environmental data are not only crucial locally but are also becoming increasingly important in an international context—for example, in flood forecasting and disaster management.
Collaboration as the foundation of project implementation
Both projects are being implemented through close cooperation between research institutions, public administration, and private companies. The DMeStHyA project involves, among others, the State Agency for Nature, Environment and Climate of North Rhine-Westphalia (LANUK) and HST Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG. The follow-up project NIQKI is coordinated by Cologne University of Applied Sciences, with additional partners including LANUK NRW, hydro & meteo GmbH, and HST Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG.
In both projects, the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems at Hof University of Applied Sciences (inwa) is responsible for scientific support and contributes to the systematic evaluation of results and their transfer to further applications.
Prof. Günter Müller-Czygan
+49 9281 409 - 4683
guenter.mueller-czygan(at)hof-university.de
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