--- title: "Water: open | Nexus Observatory" description: "Open data, open source and methods for water and hydrology: River level and discharge, Rainfall and snow, Groundwater and Water quality." url: https://observatory.global/industries/water/open/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-11-02 --- Water: every catchment gauged: its open projects and data. [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Water](https://observatory.global/industries/water/) / **Open** # Open for water. Open projects, open methods and open templates this community builds on, with the licence of every source carried through. [Plan with us](https://observatory.global/industries/water/contact/) [Use cases](https://observatory.global/industries/water/use-cases/) Reference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn **01** Open projects ## What this community builds on. Open hardware, software and data projects, named as references. Each keeps its own licence and its own governance. - OpenAQ - Safecast - AudioMoth - FLUXNET and ICOS tools - Global Forest Watch - FloodNet NYC open hardware - UCAR 3D-PAWS - Open CAP editors - WIS2 reference nodes (wis2box) - Sensor.Community **02** Open methods and templates ## Every calculation, with a worked example. Observatory templates for this industry, each a starting design you can read, run and adapt on the open protocol. [Template Methane fenceline observatoryPoint sensors on the fenceline with optical gas imaging and quantification, feeding leak-detection reports.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/methane-fenceline/) [Template Bioacoustic biodiversity observatoryOpen-hardware acoustic recorders on solar power with low-power radio or satellite uplink, for species baselines.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/bioacoustic/) [Template Low-cost stream gauge networkRadar or pressure level sensors with low-power radio and solar power, as a cheaper tier beside a national gauge network.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/stream-gauge/) [Template Hybrid air-quality observatoryA few reference analysers and many low-cost nodes, with co-location calibration and an open-data feed.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/hybrid-air-quality/) [Template Research-infrastructure gap nodeA standardised observation package with a FAIR data pipeline, built to extend a research infrastructure's coverage.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/ri-gap-node/) [Template GBON gap-filler stationA WMO-grade surface station, optional upper-air ground station and a WIS 2.0 node, built to report reliably where the global basic observing network has gaps.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/gbon-gap-filler/) [Template Wildfire camera and fire-weather nodePan-tilt and thermal cameras with edge inference on a ridgeline tower, co-located with a fire-weather station.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/wildfire-camera/) [Template Street flood observatoryUltrasonic depth sensors on poles report street-level water depth as open data and alerts.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/street-flood/) [Template Deployable incident observatoryA trailer or vehicle with a cell on wheels, satellite backhaul, a mesh kit, a drone and weather and air-quality nodes for an incident base.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/deployable-incident/) [Template State or provincial mesonet siteA full weather station on a solar-powered tower with soil sensors, one of a dense network run by a university.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/mesonet-site/) [Template Highway corridor coverage and safety sensingSmall cells with satellite backhaul along an unserved highway, with road-weather and camera nodes.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/highway-corridor/) [Template Avalanche detection siteDoppler radar, infrasound and geophones with a snow and wind station, feeding a road or resort control room.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/avalanche-detection/) [Template Utility grid-edge private LTE and wildfire weatherPrivate LTE on substations and poles for distribution automation, with weather nodes that inform public-safety power shutoff decisions.](https://observatory.global/use-cases/utility-grid-edge/) **03** Open data ## Networks on the grid, with their licences. The open observing networks on the grid, each shown with its source and licence, and the protocol that lets new ones join. **01** ### Open networks Instruments from open networks, on real relief.[Earth and maps →](https://observatory.global/earth/) **02** ### Sources and licences Every dataset with its source and the terms it is used under.[Data credits →](https://observatory.global/credits/) **03** ### The protocol The open specification any instrument or network can implement.[Read the protocol →](https://observatory.global/protocol/) ## Bring us the site. Survey, design, deployment and operation for water. The form names who receives your details. [Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) [Plan a deployment](https://observatory.global/contact/deployment/) [Home](https://observatory.global/industries/water/) [Use cases](https://observatory.global/industries/water/use-cases/) [Solutions](https://observatory.global/industries/water/solutions/) [Systems and technologies](https://observatory.global/industries/water/systems/) [Frontier](https://observatory.global/industries/water/frontier/) [Open](https://observatory.global/industries/water/open/) [Community](https://observatory.global/industries/water/community/) [Countries](https://observatory.global/industries/water/countries/) [Resources](https://observatory.global/industries/water/resources/) [Contact](https://observatory.global/industries/water/contact/) [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/)**Water and hydrology** . Every catchment, gauged.[Talk to us](https://observatory.global/industries/water/contact/) Water - [Use cases](https://observatory.global/industries/water/use-cases/) - [Solutions](https://observatory.global/industries/water/solutions/) - [Systems and technologies](https://observatory.global/industries/water/systems/) - [Frontier](https://observatory.global/industries/water/frontier/) - [Open](https://observatory.global/industries/water/open/) - [Community](https://observatory.global/industries/water/community/) - [Countries](https://observatory.global/industries/water/countries/) Platforms - [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) - [Field services](https://observatory.global/field-services/) - [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) - [Data & licensing](https://observatory.global/data-products/) - [Earth observation & GeoAI](https://observatory.global/earth-observation/) - [Digital twins and simulation](https://observatory.global/digital-twins/) Earth and environment - [Climate](https://observatory.global/industries/climate/) - [Nature](https://observatory.global/industries/nature/) - [Oceans](https://observatory.global/industries/oceans/) - [Agriculture](https://observatory.global/industries/agriculture/) Open - [Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - [Technologies](https://observatory.global/technologies/) - [Industries](https://observatory.global/industries/) - [Countries](https://observatory.global/countries/) © 2026 Nexus Observatory Inc. 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