Grant: Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
University of Saskatchewan
$229,504.00
Machine learning-based models for seasonal runoff forecasting in the Canadian Prairie Provinces – tracking season-ahead fresh water fluxes from land to ocean
FY 2022-23 · 2023-01-01
Summary
This project aims at developing efficient and easy-to-use models for seasonal forecasting of spring runoff for various watersheds in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The season-ahead forecasts are critical for planning reservoir operations, agricultural water management, flood risk assessments, and prediction of nutrient loadings into large water bodies, such as Saskatchewan River Delta, Lake Winnipeg, and Hudson Bay. An attractive feature of this work is that it will connect mountain headwaters to the Ocean, through Hudson Bay, and will utilize the great potential and prediction skills of rapidly emerging machine learning (ML) techniques. Additionally, correlation and causation analyses will be implemented and their respective outputs will help improve our current understanding of runoff generation mechanisms and controlling factors in prairie landscapes. The expected output of the project will be a set of ML models for seasonal runoff forecasting, along with quantitative estimates of the forecast uncertainty, often neglected in traditional modeling approaches.
Department
Program
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
Recipient
Location
Saskatoon|Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Business Number
119279313
Type
Grant
Source
Proactive Disclosure - Grants and Contributions
Amendments
Each version of the agreement as published, oldest first, with its total as of that version. The amount above is the latest.
| Amendment | Date | Fiscal Year | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2023-01-01 | 2022-23 | $229,504.00 |
| 1 | 2023-01-01 | 2022-23 | $229,504.00 |
As published
Additional Information
This agreement has been amended 1 time(s). The end date of this agreement has been modified by 180 days.
Additional Information (French)
Cet accord a été modifié 1 fois. La date de fin du présent accord a été changé de 180 jours.
Agreement End Date
2026-06-30
Agreement Number
1003155
Agreement Start Date
2023-01-01
Agreement Title
Machine learning-based models for seasonal runoff forecasting in the Canadian Prairie Provinces – tracking season-ahead fresh water fluxes from land to ocean
Agreement Title (French)
Modèles basés sur l’apprentissage automatique pour la prévision du ruissellement saisonnier dans les provinces des Prairies canadiennes – suivi des flux d’eau douce saisonniers de la terre à l’océan
Agreement Type
Grant
Agreement Value
$229,504.00
Amendment Date
2023-10-10
Amendment Number
1
Description
This project aims at developing efficient and easy-to-use models for seasonal forecasting of spring runoff for various watersheds in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The season-ahead forecasts are critical for planning reservoir operations, agricultural water management, flood risk assessments, and prediction of nutrient loadings into large water bodies, such as Saskatchewan River Delta, Lake Winnipeg, and Hudson Bay. An attractive feature of this work is that it will connect mountain headwaters to the Ocean, through Hudson Bay, and will utilize the great potential and prediction skills of rapidly emerging machine learning (ML) techniques. Additionally, correlation and causation analyses will be implemented and their respective outputs will help improve our current understanding of runoff generation mechanisms and controlling factors in prairie landscapes. The expected output of the project will be a set of ML models for seasonal runoff forecasting, along with quantitative estimates of the forecast uncertainty, often neglected in traditional modeling approaches.
Description (French)
Ce projet vise à développer des modèles efficaces et conviviaux pour la prévision saisonnière du ruissellement printanier pour divers bassins versants en Alberta, en Saskatchewan et au Manitoba. Les prévisions saisonnières sont essentielles à la planification de l’exploitation des réservoirs, à la gestion des eaux agricoles, à l’évaluation des risques d’inondation et à la prévision des charges de nutriments dans les grands plans d’eau, comme le delta de la rivière Saskatchewan, le lac Winnipeg et la baie d’Hudson. L’une des caractéristiques d’intérêt de ce travail est qu’il reliera les sources des montagnes à l’océan, en passant par la baie d’Hudson, et qu’il utilisera le grand potentiel et les capacités de prédiction des techniques d’apprentissage automatique (IA) qui émergent rapidement. De plus, des analyses de corrélation et de causalité seront mises en œuvre et leurs résultats respectifs contribueront à améliorer notre compréhension actuelle des mécanismes de génération du ruissellement et des facteurs de contrôle dans les paysages de prairie. Le résultat attendu du projet sera un ensemble de modèles d’apprentissage automatique pour la prévision du ruissellement saisonnier, ainsi que des estimations quantitatives de l’incertitude de la prévision, souvent négligée dans les approches de modélisation traditionnelles.
Expected Results
In the short term, anticipated outcomes will be strengthened collaborations across industry, academia, and government to support research excellence. In the medium term, anticipated outcomes will be the development of new and potentially disruptive technologies with collaborators. In the long term, find collaborative solutions to public policy challenges and create stronger innovation systems.
Expected Results (French)
À court terme, les résultats prévus seront des collaborations renforcées entre l'industrie, le milieu universitaire et le gouvernement pour soutenir l'excellence en recherche. À moyen terme, les résultats attendus seront le développement de nouvelles technologies potentiellement perturbatrices avec des collaborateurs. À long terme, trouver des solutions collaboratives aux défis des politiques publiques et créer des systèmes d'innovation plus solides.
Federal Riding
Saskatoon–University
Federal Riding (French)
Saskatoon--University
Federal Riding Number
47011
NAICS Code
541710
Organization Code
nrc-cnrc
Organization
National Research Council Canada | Conseil national de recherches Canada
Program Name
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
Program Name (French)
Programme de collaboration en science, en technologie et en innovation - Initiatives de collaboration en R-D
Program Purpose
Collaborate on multiparty research and development programs to catalyze transformative, high-risk, high-reward research with the potential for game-changing scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs in priority areas.
Program Purpose (French)
Collaborer à des programmes multipartites de recherche-développement dans le but de profiter de la synergie entre la recherche transformatrice à haut risque et à haut rendement et le potentiel de découvertes scientifiques et de percées technologiques révolutionnaires dans des secteurs d’intervention prioritaires.
Recipient Business Number
119279313
Recipient City
Saskatoon|Saskatoon
Recipient Country
CA
Recipient Legal Name
University of Saskatchewan
Recipient Postal Code
S7N 2X8
Recipient Province or Territory
SK
Recipient Type
S
Reference Number
172-2022-2023-Q4-1003155