The WMO RTC (NIHWA-YZU) in China, successfully conducted the international training workshop on flood forecasting and automated hydrological monitoring technologies from 3 to 16 September 2025, bringing together 31 professionals from eight countries and international organizations.

Participants from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cuba, Philippines, Gambia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, and Mexico enhanced their technical capabilities through comprehensive training that combined theoretical knowledge with practical applications. The workshop focused on advancing operational hydrological services and strengthening early warning systems for flood disasters.

 

 

Opening ceremony

The programme featured intensive classroom sessions led by 11 leading experts, covering China's integrated water management approaches, automated hydrological monitoring technologies, digital twin innovations and flood forecasting and earn-warning technologies in water resources management. Participants gained hands-on experience through field visits, operational facilities to research laboratories.

 

 

Classroom Sessions

A key component included study tours to Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai hydrological departments, where participants observed integrated monitoring systems and data collection networks in action. The training also encompassed visits to the China Water Museum in Hangzhou City, providing historical context for modern water management practices.

 

       

Study Tours

The cultural exchange programme along the Yangtze River Delta region allowed participants to experience traditional water management philosophy through visits to the Qinhuai River in Nanjing, West Lake in Hangzhou, and the Huangpu River in Shanghai, demonstrating the integration of cultural heritage with modern hydrological practices.

 

     

Cultural Exchange Programme

During interactive sessions, participants presented their national reports and shared experiences in hydrological monitoring and disaster risk reduction. Four participants competed in the third "Belt and Road" Dam Safety Science Communication Competition, showcasing their enhanced technical communication skills.

 

               

Country Report

The closing ceremony emphasized the importance of continued international cooperation in addressing global water security challenges. Participants committed to implementing the knowledge gained to strengthen their national hydrological services and contribute to building more resilient water management systems in their home countries.

 

     

Closing Ceremony

This marks the fifth consecutive year that the WMO RTC (NIHWA-YZU) has successfully delivered this specialized training programme, having trained 309 professionals from 40 countries since 2020. The centre continues to play a vital role in enhancing technical capabilities across the global hydrological community through targeted capacity development initiatives.

The training contributes to WMO's efforts to strengthen hydrological services worldwide and supports the implementation of the Early Warnings for All initiative, particularly in developing countries that are most vulnerable to water-related disasters.