The Congo Basin Water Resources Research Center (CRREBaC), in collaboration with the General Secretariat for Hydraulic and Electricity Resources (RHE) provided training for engineers and technicians from the Ministry of RHE of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ), with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), through the Project for the Promotion of Mini-micro Hydroelectric Power Plants (MCH) in the DRC.

This training falls into the “building capacity of public administration agents” component.

Held between September 14 and October 6, 2020, the training had a theoretical phase in the CRREBaC training room at the University of Kinshasa and a phase dedicated to practical work on the N'Sele River.

Aim

The training aimed to provide learners with essential skills in the use of measuring equipment, so that they are able to collect data necessary for the evaluation of the characteristics of watercourses and the development of sites. with hydroelectric potential; and also to strengthen their capacities in the management and maintenance of this equipment. The lessons learned should help them better carry out hydrographic and hydrological investigation activities while minimizing many uncertainties inherent in the different manipulations of this equipment, and which can prove fatal for hydraulic development investments.

The content of the training

With a theoretical phase necessary for the assimilation of key concepts of hydrology, followed by a practical phase for the development of skills in the use of watercourse measuring equipment, the training consisted of understanding :

1. Importance and principles of collecting hydrological and topographical data;

2. Operating principles of equipment and their applications;

3. Equipment maintenance.

The practical field work consisted of the following aspects:

1. Gauging of the N'Sele River;

2. Topographic and altimetric surveys;

3. Data processing, processing and analysis

Equipment concerned

The training was an opportunity for learners to learn how to use and maintain the following equipment:

• The Total Station

• Differential GPS with external radio

• The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP)

• The Flow Meter

• The Abery inclinometer

• The Altimeter