This workshop is a program of APRU/CMAS and co-hosted by the University of Malaya and the APWF Water Knowledge Hub for Water and Climate Change Adaptation (NAHRIM). It is co-sponsored by University Malaya, NAHRIM, University of California - San Diego, and AguaJaring Southeast/CapNet and supported by UNESCAP.

There is a need to scientifically identify the types, severity, and location of critical climate change impacts in order to make more accurate regional assessments and to recommend specific adaptations requirements. The IPCC AR4 recommended downscaling of climate change projections from GCMs to 10km grids and below, and their integration with local atmospheric, hydrologic and other environmental and socio-economic data. In order to carry out climate change impact projection for Southeast Asia (SEA) at the regional and city levels, consistent and uniform, standardized-baseline hydrologic data collection and management is necessary.

This workshop was the first step in integrating data collection and data management efforts, and modelling designs, across SEA countries. The data infrastructure would be the foundation of hydrologic modelling adapted to patterns of water cycle and climate change impacts specific to the regions. These are the key challenges that must be overcome to enable integrative and interactive water resource management in countries of Southeast Asia. These challenges have been the focus of the CMAS project, conducted under the aegis of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) World Institute.

The purpose of the workshop was to demonstrate the available data management tools for hydrologic observations, and provide hands-on training on the use of these tools; to demonstrate available water balance and HEC-GeoHMS models from University of California, San Diego, and how they are implemented for watersheds in Malaysia; and to identify researchers in partner countries that would form the core interest group focused on building and standardizing a shared hydrologic data infrastructure in SE Asia. Three resource persons were brought in from University of California, San Diego.

A total of 20 participants from public agencies and other stakeholders involved with data collection and analysis from Malaysia and Southeast Asian countries and working in various areas of hydrology, climate change projection and water resources project planning, design and implementations, attended. Each participant was given a set of packaged workshop materials from University of California - San Diego, which will allow them to replicate the course in similar workshops in their respective countries and agencies. University of Malaya has offered to serve as a data contribution hub for hydrologic information for the SE Asian countries.

The workshop had enhanced the capacity building of implementing agencies, researchers and data collection agencies within Southeast Asia, as well as enabled them to use advanced hydrologic data management and hydrologic modelling techniques from the extensive hands-on sessions, in both hydrologic data management. Field trips to Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and Putrajaya, the Malaysia’s new administration centre were also arranged.