Study Group on Integrated Urban Services (SG-URB)
WMO Members recognize the need for specialized services for urban complexes. This is related to the fact that on the urban scale connection between many phenomena is stronger pronounced and individual extreme events may cause a series of failures on the urban infrastructure. Cities are also placed with a high density of population and property hence the impacts of events on life and economic loss are substantially higher.
WMO has addressed the increasing demands of services in urban areas to improve their resilience to environmental, weather, climate, and water-related hazards, weather extremes, and impacts brought about by climate change and variability, by taking the following decisions:
• Resolution 68 (Cg-17, 2015);
• Decision 15 (EC-68, 2016) and its Annex;
• Decision 41 (EC-69, 2017)
• Decision 7 (EC-70, 2018)
• Resolution 32 (Cg-18), 2019
• Decision 3(EC-71), 2019
The general purpose of the Study Group on Integrated Urban Services (SG-URB) is to implement the WMO Strategic Plan (Long-Term Goal 1, Strategic Objective 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 ; long term Goal 3 , Strategic Objectives 3.2 and Long term Goal 4, Strategic Objectives 4.1, 4.2, 4.3) under the overall guidance of the Services Commission in creating and sustaining an ongoing programme of service delivery for urban complexes and thus contribute to reducing risk of hydro-meteorological hazards for urban areas.
The approach to the integrated urban services as described in the Guidance on Integrated Urban Hydro-Meteorological, Climate and Environmental Services (vol.1).
Expected outputs
a) Analytical report on stakeholder mapping and roadmap on stakeholder engagement;
b) A collaborative framework document identifying role and responsibilities of the agencies involved in the development, delivery and utilization of the integrated urban services including the rules of engagement with these agencies;
c) Revised partnership agreements with UN-Habitat and other relevant organizations and institutions on urban matters;
d) Implementation plan for the contribution of WMO to the collaborative framework, including working arrangements, taking into consideration the emerging impact-based forecasting and warning systems;
e) Guidelines on effective metrics to assess the benefits of the specific urban services;
f) Good practices document for the verification of relevant products in light of the requirements of urban stakeholders, taking into account national policies and NMHSs roles and responsibilities and recommendations on possible inclusion as recommended practices;
g) Good practices document on approaches to very high-resolution forecasting, predictions and warning systems;
h) Revised requirements for urban observations considering the needs of integrated urban services;
i) Guidance document on the step required for verification, quality management and assessment processes to ensure the smooth transition from science to operations;
j) Revised Guidance on Integrated Urban Hydrometeorological, Climate and Environmental Services.
Priority activities
Priority 1
Stakeholder mapping and roadmap on stakeholder engagement
The approach is presented here
To take part in the user/stakeholder mapping, please respond to the user mapping survey
Priority 2
Development of the Implementation Plan for the Integrated Urban Services
The approach is presented here
Priority 3
Development of the good practices document on approaches to very high-resolution forecasting, predictions, and warning systems
Meetings of the Study Group on Integrated Urban Services
1st teleconference, 24 June 2020 (minutes)
2nd teleconference, 9 July 2020 (minutes)
3rd teleconference, 25 September 2020 (minutes)
4th teleconference, 3 November 2020 (minutes)
5th teleconference, 4 March 2021 (minutes)
6th teleconference, 6 May 2021 (minutes)
7th teleconference, 23 July 2021 (minutes)
8th telecon, 14 September 2021 (minutes)
9th telecon, 30 November 2021 (minutes)
10th telecon, 16 March 2022 (minutes)
12th telecon, September 2022 (minutes)
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