The upgraded observation and measurement system, to be put in place following completion of the other subcomponents will require increased organisation and technical effort to ensure its continuous and flawless operation. Also, at the system implementation stage active involvement of the measurement and maintenance teams will be necessary. Apparently the service teams need to continuously supervise and maintain the system using the right equipment and resources. The number of hydrometric and geodesy measurements will increase substantially, with a view of feeding the forecasting models with correct data. In order to ensure credibility of the information and periodic maintenance and result validation of the facilities installed, the appropriate equipment will be necessary for the measurement apparatus verification lab. This is of importance since due to the scarce finance for a few years now no investments have been made in the new measurement equipment, which results in substantial wear and tear of the existing one.

Vistula flow measurement during the April 1998 freshet

The post for digital barometer testing in the Central Measurement Instrument Laboratory, 1997

Mercury barometer testing post, 1932

Meteorological and hydrological measurement instruments require periodic audit and calibratrion

Delivery of all logistics-related tasks of the measurement and maintenance functions should precede any work conducted under other subcomponents.

Thus, it is planned to provide measurement teams not only with the modern hydrological and meteorological apparatus, but also with land and water transport means (vehicles and vessels) and the devices and ancillary equipment enabling delivery of their tasks.

In particular it is planned to equip the measurement teams with modern measurement apparatus, using the principle of ultrasonic running water velocity measurement. Due to the nature of Polish rivers having changing, untrained beds it is planned to use, inter alia, the moving boat method using the sonic depth finder and the stadia, or apply the Doppler acoustic flow measurement.

The measurement apparatus package will also include the measurement equipment for flow intensity measurement taken from bridges and the measuring echo depth finders required for determination of the depth profile in rivers. All devices should use the digital measurement method and enable direct transmission of data to the measurement computer (included on the procurement list), or data recording on magnetic carriers. In order to take hydrometric measurements, predominantly from bridges, the technical teams must have the devices, enabling safe and effective use of the measurement apparatus and ensuring proper organisation of the work site in different weather conditions. These devices include bridge hoists and mobile measurement sets, fixed on a trailer, featuring own power supply, hydraulic arm, hydrometric lift with electric propulsion and work place for the measurement team. In order to fully deliver their tasks, the measurement teams should be equipped with the vessels like boats and pneumatic boats. The other equipment required include combustion and electric boat engines, the rescue and protective equipment.

The measurement and maintenance teams provide services for the measurement and telemetric network work for the measurement and warning system, with a view of ensuring performance and reliability of the system. The teams must be able to move extensively, and operate the vehicles and vessels enabling access to the measurement posts irrespective of the terrain conditions. Thus the teams will be equipped with cars, which must guarantee long lasting flawless performance (mileage), should be well serviced in the entire country and cheap as far as operations and maintenance is concerned and should be sustainable and robust enough to withstand intensive wear. Three basic types of vehicles are planned.

• Cross-country vehicles - for the measurement teams, ensuring access to the measurement river profiles on flood plains, mountain regions, etc. in extremely harsh conditions;
• Service vehicles - provided for the maintenance and inspection teams, whereby immediate arrival is expected rather than large load. These vehicles should have the parameters of a good motorcar an cross-country vehicle at the same time and be capable of transporting equipment and apparatus.
• Vans - with the main function relating to the transport of sizeable elements and numerous teams.

Automatic weather station Warszawa-Okęcie Airport

Meteorological service car before 1932

River flow recording at Tczew, 1997

Hydrological and meteorological station expected to operate continuously and under any conditions is the basic element of the hydrological and meteorological service. Therefore, the stations should be equipped not only with the automated measurement systems, but also with the emergency power supply systems, ensuring autonomous operations even for a few days. To this end, it is planned to procure diesel generators and the equipment allowing for autonomous on-the-ground operations of maintenance teams and tool kits and equipment for repair and installation of measurement instruments.

Katowice - Pyrzowice - Aviation Weather Office

All measuring devices have to be obligatorily checked and certified. The Measure Act (Official Journal No. 55, paragraph 248), of 1993 introduced the obligation of certification of the measurement instruments, specified by the President of the Supreme Office of Measures. In pursuance of the Act, the President of the Office " may vest the certification of the certain measurement devices with laboratories and institutes" once the President is satisfied that these labs " comply with the requirements concerning technical equipment and staff qualifications"'. Such labs should be accredited and supervised by the Supreme Office of Measures.

In principle, the goal of upgrading the Central Measurement Instruments Laboratorys IMGW is to improve the technical base and the staff qualifications so as to obtain the said accreditation. The Lab upgrade should include all posts ensuring accreditation of instruments used by the hydrology and meteorology function.