Dominican Republic President Recognizes Utah State’s Accomplishments in Water Research

Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia awarded a plaque to Utah State University for the accomplishments of projects by Utah State engineering professors Christopher Neale and Gary Merkley.

 

The Instituto Nacional De Recursos Hidraulicos (INDRHI) recognized efforts by the university to strengthen its organization, and the Water Users Association of the Dominican Republic. These efforts included the development of a modern Geomatics Laboratory and developing digital products with trained personnel. The Geomatics Laboratory is a place where spatial data is stored, manipulated, synthesized or analyzed, said Neale. The laboratory uses image processing software and Geographical Information Systems to develop and produce maps of the country. Digital products produced by these projects include color aerial photographs, digital maps and a digital database of all the irrigated properties in the country. 

 

The projects, directed by Neale and Merkley, also helped form and strengthen the Water Users Associations, Neale said.

 

Water research is important and Utah State is a leader in this area. 

 

“Fresh water is a scarce resource,” Neale said. “Utah State conducts state-of-the-art research in many areas concerning water quality and quantity.”

 

Utah State is known internationally in areas of irrigation engineering, hydrology and water resources, Neale said. Utah State strives to leave local institutions around the world with an infrastructure of technology and training, Neale said. This makes it possible for organizations around the world, such as INDRHI, to continue and keep up the work started by Utah State.