Knowledge networks: To foster stakeholder engagement and co-creation of the TRANSCEND ecosystem of innovation, we have established 7 knowledge networks, one per living lab, including public authorities and policy makers, users’ associations, industry, scientists, and civil society organizations. At present, the knowledge networks engage 87 institutions and 205 individuals and have become a key pool of knowledge for TRANSCEND co-creation process to draw from the vast experience of local stakeholders, while building on cutting-edge scientific modeling, monitoring, and technical expertise from the Consortium to design and deliver TAP.
Modeling suite: The suite has been developed and is presently being used to assess performance of TAP, including through the use of sensitivity analysis and multi-model and multi-scenario ensembles to support the identification of robust adaptation strategies under uncertainty. User-friendly white papers and methodological sourcebooks have been prepared to guide co-creation experiences (notably model co-development and results co-evaluation) with key stakeholders, which have delivered relevant outputs for the project. The TRANSCEND modeling suite offers a groundbreaking and comprehensive protocol-based modular framework including climatic, hydrologic, agronomic, meteorological, microeconomic and/or macroeconomic modules. The modules incorporated in each lab modeling suite depend on the transformational strategy and context of the lab, both of which condition experimental design.
Monitoring toolbox: The monitoring toolbox design leverages advances in the availability and complexity of Earth Observation imagery together with advanced data science methods (incl. Machine learning methods), and open science methods and infrastructure to provide a low-cost and scalable solution for mapping spatio-temporal changes in agricultural land and water use within river basins. Four pilot applications of the toolbox are ongoing, focusing on key water policy challenges in selected TRANSCEND living labs including illegal water use detection (Tympaki and Jucar), resilience of water systems operation (Mahanadi), and trade-offs between agricultural expansion and freshwater ecosystems (Titicaca-Desaguadero-Popoo).
