Data communication and storage

Monitoring programs in urban drainage systems generate, potentially, a huge amount of data from sources distributed in the urban environment, working at relatively high sampling rates for extended periods of time. Collecting data using adaptable and reliable communication systems is the first challenge. Then structuring the collected data is a first requisite for effectively managing the quality and accessibility of the data. In adjacent fields of research, the topic of managing huge collections of data has resulted in several (open) standards and protocols for database structure, transfer and storage to ensure unambiguous definitions on which parties can build their workflows/software. This chapter describes relevant approaches for urban drainage and stormwater management systems, and appropriate standards along with examples from case studies.