Observations are the foundation of Scientific Understanding. Instrumentation services to advance development of and promote access to new instrument technologies are a core part of CUAHSI's mission.

The Virtual HMF

CUAHSI's pilot hydrologic measurement facility (HMF) program ran from 2004 through 2008, and led to our Virtual HMF approach. The Virtual HMF is a series of distributed nodes that provide for community access to cutting-edge technologies in water science. Advances in instrumentation technology hold the potential to provide data at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution, contributing to the capacity to observe new patterns and to discover new processes. However, for many promising and exciting technologies, the cost of acquiring and maintaining the instrumentation can be substantial, limiting the use of the technology by the broader water science community. At the same time, investigators trained and in possession of instrumentation often find substantial "down-time" in their use, or find logistical barriers to sharing or wider use of their equipment. The Virtual HMF is a community service that connects potential users to instrumentation providers, promoting access and use of cutting edge technology, fostering scientific advancements, and broadening the impact of individual instrumentation programs and projects.

What Are the Nodes of the HMF?

There are currently three operating nodes of the Virtual HMF that provide users access to advanced instrumentation and technology:

• Center for Transformative Environmental Monitoring Programs (CTEMPs)
• The HydroGeoPhysics Facility
• Mobile X-Band Radar

Node Providers are individual or teams of PIs that have or seek to acquire instrumentation facilities that they want to allow the larger water community to access. The Virtual HMF is a way for these researchers to broaden the impact of or demonstrate demand for their instrumentation project, to serve the water science community by promoting use of new and important technology. CUAHSI works with providers to advertise and promote access to instrumentation facilities or programs, and to design fair, transparent, and logistically sound access procedures that are individualized to each node and/or provider. Learn more about becoming a Virtual HMF Node.

Instrumentation Users can request access to equipment and facilities through the Virtual HMF. There are currently three VHMF nodes in operation that provide access to geophysical techniques, wireless environmental sensors, and mobile radar. Investigators can arrange the use of equipment or services for upcoming projects or funding opportunities. Each node has its own distinct instrumentation and access procedure. Learn more about accessing HMF resources.

Instrumentation Development and Training

The Virtual HMF is designed to provide and promote community access to advanced instrumentation that has the potential to transform our science. However, for the promise of advanced instrumentation to be realized, instrument development from prototypes to field ready technologies must be accelerated, and field scientists need to be continually informed and trained on new technologies. CUAHSI Instrumentation Programs seek to deliver both of these services to the water science community. Learn more about Hands-on Workshops.