Information Delivery

How do I give specified water information to the Bureau?

Information delivery methods are different for Historical Information and for New/Ongoing Information

How do I deliver Historical Information

CD, DVD or on an external storage device. The Regulations also provide for historical information to be given by File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or via Web Services. However, given the potentially large file sizes, we advise against FTP. The Bureau does not currently have the operational capacity to poll Web Services, please alert us if you are considering giving water information via Web Services so we can discuss the arrangements for this process.

For a definition of Historical Information, see Historical Information and New Information.

How do I deliver Ongoing/New water information

For a definition of Ongoing/New Information, see Historical Information and New Information.

Time Series Data and Meta-data

Time Series Data and Meta-data should be provided by FTP or via Web Services. The Bureau does not currently have the operational capacity to poll Web Services, please alert us if you are considering giving water information via Web Services so we can discuss the arrangements for this process.

Water Information that is not Time Series Data

This information should be provided by FTP. However, where information is required at discrete and widely spaced time intervals, such as at the end of each financial year it can be given by CD, DVD or on an external storage device.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

The Bureau of Meteorology has registered all persons named in the Regulations on its FTP service, to support the giving of regular water information (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, annually), as required in accordance with the Regulations under the Water Act 2007. This service will allow you to copy and transfer the water information files you are required to give to the Bureau of Meteorology on an ongoing basis.

Each agency has the following Folder structure:

There should be a single file for each site. All files incoming data files whether time series, metadata or other must be contained in zip files.for FTP transfer. The zip files must be named using only alphanumeric, hyphen, and underscore in filenames, i.e. no spaces or metacharacters.

To access the service you will need to connect to the internet. Your organisation will receive by email the User Id and password which you will require to access the service.

The FTP service is available 24 hours per day, every day.

More information about the BOM FTP service can be found at http://www.bom.gov.au/reguser/ under FTP Access procedures.

Data Format

Time Series Data

A standardised format based on XML is under development by the Bureau and CSIRO and will be the basis of all data exchange processes. In the short-term, time series data can be provided in an interim XML format that will be published by the Bureau.

Data in Hydstra or TimeStudio

As a result of the "Data Merge" project undertaken by the Bureau, an export and import tool have been developed for the Hydstra and TimeStudio data management systems. These tools will be available for all Hydstra and TimeStudio users, and will also export the associated meta-data files from these systems.

To find out more on these tools contact us.

Data not in Hydstra or TimeStudio

We recognise that not all agencies operate Hydstra or TimeStudio data management systems. For agencies with time series data in other data management systems, the Bureau will identify potential synergies for the development of alternative data export tools. This development work may be funded through the Modernisation program.

The on-line Data Survey you have been asked to complete will gather the details of your data management systems and will assist us prioritising further development work.

Metadata Format

A standardised format based on XML is under development by the Bureau and CSIRO and will be the basis of all data exchange processes in the longer term. In the short-term, data can be provided in an interim XML format that will be published by the Bureau.

Non time series data Format

There is no specified format for water information, other than time series data and metadata.

When you fill in the Data Survey please describe the systems in which you currently store that information. An example of water information that is not time series data is Information Sub-Category 3f.