WaPOR data validation training in Sudan

In an three-day event from March 19th to 21st, 2023, the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education held a dynamic face-to-face training workshop on WaPOR Data Validation in Khartoum, Sudan. This anticipated training marked the second installment following the highly introductory training on WaPOR data.

The workshop aimed to accomplish two key objectives: firstly, to delve into the conceptual approaches for validating WaPOR data, and secondly, to empower the trainees to perform empirical validation through hands-on exercises. Building upon the foundation laid in the first training, participants also had the opportunity to refresh their knowledge on crucial topics such as the WaPOR database, data components, spatial and temporal coverages, and resolutions of WaPOR data layers. The training sessions were further enriched with insightful discussions on WaPOR application examples and the need for data validation.

A cohort of 17 participants (47% were women, and 40% had attended the introductory training), including representatives from ministries, universities, research centers, irrigation and agricultural boards, and the meteorological authority, actively engaged in fruitful discussions. Topics ranged from the importance of validation to the potential applications of WaPOR data in supporting agricultural water management. Collaborative group exercises and presentations added an interactive dimension to the training, allowing participants to exchange valuable experiences regarding data validation in their respective institutions.
Through hands-on exercises, they meticulously pre-processed observed data, seamlessly accessed WaPOR data via the user-friendly WaPOR portal, conducted thorough comparisons between observed and WaPOR data, and diligently computed performance metrics. The trainees left the workshop with a comprehensive understanding of how WaPOR data compared with ground-based observations, specifically for precipitation, evapotranspiration, and crop biomass/yield.

Feedback from the participants echoed an endorsement of the training's relevance and effectiveness. The comprehensive training contents, trainers, and the location all received overwhelmingly positive evaluations. Participants expressed their gratitude for gaining both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in validating satellite-derived WaPOR datasets.