IAHR Training Course on No-Code Visual Programming for Hydrology: AI-Enabled Web Platforms and Open-Source Tools for Research and Education
IAHR TRAINING COURSES SERIES
No-Code Visual Programming for Hydrology: AI-Enabled Web Platforms and Open-Source Tools for Research and Education
8-12 December 2025
Register Hydroinformatics TC IAHR Training Courses Series Speakers Programme
Course Introduction
This IAHR Training Course hands-on training in web-based hydroinformatics using the HydroSuite library collection. The course covers the complete research workflow from data to decision.
Participants will learn to build and deploy sophisticated applications using a visual programming environment called HydroBlox. Key topics include data acquisition from major APIs across the world (e.g., USGS, NWM, GPM, ECMWF); rigorous data pre-processing and quality control; hydrological analysis, and the use of embedded LLMs for AI-driven data discovery. The workshop also covers the integration and execution of models within a web environment.
A central component is visualization and integration, where attendees will create advanced, interactive dashboards featuring linked maps and charts. The course ends in a capstone project where participants build a complete, shareable dashboard, synthesizing all learned concepts to solve a practical research problem.
Learning Goals
Upon completion, the participant should be able to:
Acquire, preprocess, analyze, model, and disseminate hydroinformatics data following a complete research workflow.
Develop and implement a comprehensive, research-oriented dashboard project.
Integrate tools and methods learned throughout the course into a coherent end-to-end data workflow.
Communicate results effectively through interactive dashboards and data visualization techniques.
Duration
5 days, 5.5 hours program per day.
For whom
Graduate students, scientists, and researchers in water and hydrology with a basic programming experience.
Materials
Course materials and workbooks will be provided before the course starts.
Make sure that you are full IAHR Member to subscribe to the IAHR Training Course FREE or pay the course fee to participate.
Tulane University
Tulane University
Monday 8 December 2025
Foundations & Data Acquisition
14:00 – 15:30 Introduction to Web-Based Hydroinformatics (90 mins)
The foundations of Web-Based Hydroinformatics: Accessibility, Reproducibility (FAIR), and Scalability.
Introduction to HydroSuite & HydroBlox: Core components, visual programming, and interface familiarization.
15:30 – 15: 50 Break
15:50 – 17: 20 The Hydrological Data Landscape (90 mins)
Data Typology: Time Series, Spatial (Raster/Vector), and Tabular.
Data Sources: In-situ (USGS NWIS), Remote Sensing (GPM), and Model-Based (NWM, GFS).
Data Access Methods: Deep dive into Web APIs (REST, OGC) and their importance.
17:20 – 17:40 Break
17:40 - 19:40 Project Lab 1: Project Scoping & Data Acquisition (120 mins)
Goal: Define the scope of the 5-day project and build the complete data acquisition workflow.
Tasks: Participants will use HydroBlox to build and parameterize workflows to automatically retrieve all data (time series, spatial, and/or model) required for their capstone project.
Tuesday 9 December 2025
Data Pre-processing & Analysis
14:00 – 15:30: Data Pre-processing & Standardization (90 mins)
Key Methods: Filtering (value-based), handling missing data (interpolation), resampling/aggregation (e.g., 15-min to daily), and unit conversion.
15:30 – 15: 50 Break
15:50 – 17: 20: Core Hydrological Analysis (90 mins)
From Data to Information: Generating insights from clean data.
Analysis Techniques: Statistical Methods and event-based analysis.
AI-Assisted Insights: Introduction to using LLMs for data discovery.
17:40 - 19:40: Project Lab 2: Cleaning & Analyzing Project Data (120 minutes)
Goal: Apply pre-processing and analysis techniques to the data acquired on Day 1.
Tasks: Build HydroBlox workflows to clean the "dirty" project data and then pipe the processed data into analysis nodes.
Wednesday 10 December 2025
Modeling & Advanced Visualization
14:00 – 15:30: Introduction to Visualization (90 mins)
Communicating Insights: Principles of effective data visualization.
Chart Selection: When to use Line Charts (hydrographs), Bar Charts, Scatter Plots (rating curves), or Box Plots.
15:30 – 15: 50 Break
15:50 – 17: 20: Modeling & Advanced Visualization (90 mins)
Modeling in a Web Environment: Model typology (conceptual, physical) and using pre-built model nodes (e.g., rainfall-runoff).
Spatial Visualization: The criticality of maps; integrating with Leaflet/Mapbox; base layers, vector overlays (GeoJSON), and linking maps to charts.
17:20 – 17:40 Break
17:40 - 19:40: Project Lab 3: Building Models & Visuals (120 minutes)
Goal: Integrate modeling and advanced visualizations into the project workflow.
Tasks: Run a simple hydrological model using project data. Create all necessary
visualizations, including time series charts, FDC plots, and maps of gauge locations or watersheds.
Thursday 11 December 2025
Capstone Project Development
14:00 – 17:00 Project Lab 4: Full Dashboard Integration (180 minutes)
Goal: Synthesize all components from Days 1-3 into a single, cohesive, and interactive dashboard.
Tasks: This is dedicated, self-paced (with instructor support) development time. Participants will focus on:
Building the dashboard layout.
Linking all components (maps, charts, data inputs).
Implementing the full "scratch-build" challenge (e.g., select watershed on map -
> fetch data -> display on charts).
(Optional) Adding advanced features like custom connectors or LLM-generated forecast summaries.
Friday 12 December 2025
Final Development & Project Showcase
14:00 – 17:00 Project Lab 5: Finalization & Rehearsal (180 minutes)
Goal: Finalize dashboard functionality, debug workflows, and prepare for presentation.
Tasks: Complete all project features, refine visual aesthetics, and perform final tests to ensure the dashboard is functional and all results are clear.
17:00 -17:20 Break
17:20 – 19:20 Project Presentations (120 minutes)
Goal: Share and discuss the final capstone projects.
Format: Select participants share their capstone dashboards, walk through their workflow, and discuss the insights they generated. Concludes with a final Q&A, feedback survey, and discussion of future applications.
How to participate
This course is free for IAHR members. IAHR Associated Members are invited to either upgrade to Full Membership or pay the course fee to participate.
Registration & Fees
IAHR Full Members: Free (please enter your membership number in the registration form)
Non-Members and IAHR Associated Members: You have two options to register:
Become an IAHR Full Member and register for free. We encourage you to join IAHR to enjoy this and other member benefits. Contact our membership manager, Ms. Sally Feng at membership@iahr.org if you have difficulty joining IAHR.
Pay the course fee: €105 or €53 -depending on your country- (which includes a one-year IAHR membership). Fill in the form and request an invoice for the registration fee.
Deadline: 1 December 2025.
Access & Recordings
If you have registered you should have received an e.mail from Zoom with a link to the course. If you do not receive it yet, please send an email to publications@iahr.org.
Note that the unique link in the Zoom email is the ONLY access to this course and must NOT be shared with other people.
Please always check the detailed program of the lectures on this webpage. The program you saw in the Zoom message is not always precise.
The course will be recorded and available on demand for attendees.
Certificate of attendance
Certificates of attendance are available upon request for a fee of €50. If you wish to request a certificate:
Make the payment via PayPal here, and include your IAHR membership number in the payment description.
Send the PayPal receipt to training@iahr.org.
Certificates will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The certificates will be issued by IAHR and will include the course dates and total number of training hours.
Become a Sponsor!
As a sponsor of this training course, you will enjoy significant visibility across a variety of IAHR platforms and promotional channels, including:
Displaying your logo and linked company name on the training course webpage.
Displaying your logo and linked company name on promotional emails.
Displaying your logo and linked company name in social media campaigns.
Displaying your logo on the certificate of attendance.
Verbal recognition by the organiser at the opening & closing of the event, as well as at the start of each lecture.
One year of FREE small institute membership (for non-members).
Additional Benefits for Premium Sponsors:
A 2-minute slot for a video showcasing your activities, products, or services.
Invitation to participate in panel discussions or roundtables organised by IAHR during the year.
Customisable Activities: We can tailor a sponsorship plan based on your specific needs, including additional advertising opportunities or a broader presence at multiple events. More info about our events here.
Classic Sponsorship Fee:
€3,000 for non-IAHR Members (Large institutes >450 employees)
€2,000 for non-IAHR Members (Small institutes <450 employees)
€1,000 for IAHR Institute Members
Premium Sponsorship Fee:
€5,000 for non-IAHR Members (Large Institutes >450 employees)
€3,500 for non-IAHR Members (Small Institutes <450 employees)
€2,500 for IAHR Institute Members
For any further information on sponsorship, please contact publications@iahr.org