8 APRIL 2022 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Construction Begins at the University of Alabama Adapted from Information by the U.S. Geological Survey The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is partnering with the University of Alabama (UA) to build a new Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF), a science and engineering facility to support the agency’s water observation networks and research. Construction of the building, located on the northern end of campus, will take place this year. It is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2023. The HIF will support training, repairs, and calibration for hydrological equipment used to monitor streamflow, groundwater, water quality, and other water resource features important to all Americans who rely on water. The HIF will support the greater USGS water resource monitoring and evaluation mission with training and equipment necessary for the comprehensive scientific study of water availability, quality, and quantity. “This partnership wi l l ensure a world-class USGS facility for the testing and development of cutting-edge USGS hydrologic instrumentation, which provides the backbone for our near real-time water monitoring and other research,” said Don Cline, associate director for the USGS Water Mission area. “This information enriches the lives of everyday Americans and is used nationwide by all types of end users, from water managers to recreational boaters, to make critical decisions.” Recognizing the need to replace the current facilities located at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, Congress appropriated $38.5 million to replace the aging buildings with the requirement to collocate with complementary academic and federal partners. UA was selected as the site of the new HIF for the opportunities it provided to coincide with other water-related research and development being conducted on campus, including the National Oceanic C&G USGS + UA continued on page 10.
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