{"id":9162,"date":"2023-10-04T00:01:55","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T04:01:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/openet-launches-a-new-api\/"},"modified":"2023-10-04T00:01:55","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T04:01:55","slug":"openet-launches-a-new-api","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/openet-launches-a-new-api\/","title":{"rendered":"OpenET Launches a New API"},"content":{"rendered":"

OpenET Launches a New API<\/h2>\n

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5 min read<\/p>\n

OpenET Launches a New API<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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NASA \/ Ames<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

On Tuesday, October 3, NASA Ames\u2019 OpenET program launched an application programming interface (API) for its widely-used Data Explorer tool.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

OpenET<\/a> is a program providing satellite-based information on evapotranspiration (ET) and agricultural water use, currently deployed across the 23 westernmost continental states. Data is provided at a scale of individual fields, or a quarter acre per pixel, and available at daily, monthly, and annual time scales.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The current Data Explorer<\/a> is freely available online, with the intent that anyone with an internet connection can easily access, download, retrieve and review data on water management. The October 3 launch of the API comes as the second piece of a three-part initiative to achieve this goal: stage one was the creation of the Data Explorer itself. Stage two, the new API, is designed to allow data to be more easily retrieved and integrated with a variety of water management applications on local, state, or federal levels.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The program\u2019s manager, Forrest Melton, saw many applications of the new API, \u201cfor on-farm water management, for irrigation scheduling, for use in irrigation design, or for use in development of water balances for an individual irrigation district or watershed. The API is the piece that will allow partners in the water resources management and agricultural sectors to begin to much more easily and automatically integrate data from OpenET into other applications and tools.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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The API is the piece that will allow partners in the water resources management and agricultural sectors to begin to much more easily and automatically integrate data from OpenET into other applications and tools.\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\"Forrest<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Forrest melton<\/p>\n

OpenET Program Manager<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

There are currently 10 states retrieving and incorporating information from OpenET into various state water data information systems; the API will now make it easier to formalize and automate the data retrievals, and hopefully enable more states to integrate satellite data into their water management platforms in the future. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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This map showcases five different uses of OpenET data across the westernmost United States.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In an example of the need and efficacy of OpenET\u2019s data systems, the new API is already being used as part of the Delta Alternative Compliance Plan. California passed a law at the end of 2021<\/a> requiring the monitoring and reporting of specific elements of water usage, affecting nearly every farm in the Delta: an expensive, complex, and time-consuming ask. Farmers worked with the Delta Water Master to propose the use of OpenET<\/a>, facilitating the automatic integration of data from the data explorer with California\u2019s State Water Resources Control Board report management system. Melton remarked on the significant impact the integration had on the farmers\u2019 workloads: <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe process for reporting water use in the Delta that used to take farmers half a day to a day, they can now complete in about ten minutes. [It also] saves them thousands of dollars per year in cost for deploying and maintaining flow meters.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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The process for reporting water use in the Delta that used to take farmers half a day to a day, they can now complete in about ten minutes. [It also] saves them thousands of dollars per year in cost for deploying and maintaining flow meters.<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\"Forrest<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Forrest melton<\/p>\n

OpenET Program Manager<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Water resource management has historically been a controversial subject for California, and Melton said it is gratifying to help create a \u201cwin-win\u201d opportunity that is mutually beneficial for both parties; <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve had record levels of reporting this last year. We know it\u2019s saved farmers money [and] time, and given the state more consistent data across the Delta, which is a critical nexus for water management in the state. [\u2026] It\u2019s a bit in the weeds, I think, for the general audience. But for folks that work in water and understand how challenging some of these things have been, it\u2019s a huge, huge win.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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OpenET Program Manager Forrest Melton stands in field with two California farmers, checking satellite data about water usage.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The OpenET team is also talking to the Western States Water Council about integrating satellite data into Upper Colorado River Basin demand management programs; an initiative the new API will be a critical piece of. Unlike the Delta, operating within this watershed would focus less on water use reporting and more on supporting the development of incentive-based water conservation. In short, such a program would allow farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural water rights holders to apply for funding to conserve water in the Colorado River Basin.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Developing a water conservation incentive program, however, is just one of the intended outcomes of the new API. Other goals stretch across the nation, and include:<\/p>\n