Observing Systems Division

By Water Resources Mission Area

The USGS Water Resources Mission Area Observing Systems Division develops and supports innovative and trusted methods for data collection to assess water availability, including quantity and quality, to meet the water management and prediction needs of the Nation.

The Observing Systems Division (OSD) is one of five divisions within the Water Resources Mission Area’s Office of the Chief Operating Officer.

The operations, programs, and activities of OSD are performed by three branches:

The Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch (HRSB) improves USGS water resource monitoring with new remote sensing and hydrogeophysical technologies.

The Hydrologic Networks Branch (HNB) provides leadership for and promotes efficiency and innovation in water data collection, storage, processing, and network operations to USGS water monitoring programs that protect life, property, the environment, and the economy of the Nation.

The Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF) supports USGS water monitoring programs with hydrologic instrument testing, high quality equipment and innovative data measurement technologies.

Photo of exterior of large building surrounded by parking lot to the right, trees to the left, and small pond in front. — The U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with the University of Alabama, constructed a new Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The science and engineering facility will support our water observing networks and research.

The Observing Systems Division also operates and coordinates large, congressionally mandated USGS water-observing networks. Activities include network coordination, data collection, methods development, data management, and operational awareness.