Advances in computer technology, in the technology of communication and in mathematical modelling of processes in the hydrological cycle have recently improved our potential to protect ourselves against damage through floods and droughts and to control quantities and qualities in our water systems. This development was demonstrated in a 1983 post-experience course at Wageningen University where an international group of experts reviewed successful modelling techniques and described the design and operation of a number of forecasting and control systems in drainage basins and river reaches of various sizes and under various geographical and climat ological conditions. A special effort was made to bridge the gap between theory and practice; case studies showed that each forecasting system was designed to meet a set of specific requirements and they illustrated that the forecasting system can only be expected to operate reliably if, on the one hand, it is based on sound theoretical concepts and methods and if, on the other hand, it is robust so that, also under adverse conditions, it will continue to collect and process the necessary input data and produce correct and timely signals. We were pleased to meet with encouragement for preserving the course material and making it available to a wider public. This was effected by the team of authorf who elaborated, updated and harmonized the materia in two stages; first into an issue of our university department and finally into the manuscript of this book.

Water and Related Land Resource Systems covers IFAC Symposium that aims to address resource problem, as well as methodologies and procedures for respective solutions. Consists of 60 chapters, the book is organized in sessions according to the technical program of the conference. The book first tackles multiobjective planning in water and land resources, which is followed by acquisition and analysis of surface water quality data. The next part covers hierarchical water resource planning and management models, while the succeeding part is about environmental and ecological aspects of water and land resources. The fifth session discusses the impact of energy development on water and land resources. Session VI covers modeling and systems identification problems in water resources, and Session VII covers acquisition and analysis of hydrologic data. The eighth session tackles ground water and its conjunctive use with surface water, while the next session talks about sedimentation and land management. The tenth session is about multiobjective planning in water and land resources. Predicting and forecasting models in water resources is the topic of Session XI, while Session XII discusses evaluation and calibration problem in water resource modeling. The closing chapter covers water and land issues in urban areas. Professionals whose work revolves around recourse management and researchers whose work is in line with natural resource will find great information in this book that will be relevant in their trade.