By-Laws for the IAHR/IWA/IAHS joint committee on Hydroinformatics

These by-laws shall govern the conduct of the Joint Committee, formed under the auspices of the three parent organisations, the International Association for Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR), the International Water Association (IWA) and the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS).

The name of the Joint Committee shall be the IAHR/IWA/IAHS Joint Committee on Hydroinformatics. Hereinafter it will be referred to simply as the Committee.

The objectives of the Committee shall be:

1. To foster fundamental and applied research in the area of hydroinformatics, embracing the application of information technology in the widest sense to problems of the aquatic environment. To promote Hydroinformatics as a crossdisciplinary field of study, combining technological, human-sociological and more general water-related interests in ethical ways.
2. To promote the dissemination and publication of research results in its areas of endeavour.
3. To encourage beneficial collaboration with other interests of IAHR, IWA and IAHS and with external organisations in pursuit of the same goals.
4. To organise international conferences on hydroinformatics and specialised symposia.
5. To promote sessions at the biennial conferences of IAHR, IWA and IAHS.
6. To organise project groups to pursue specific objectives within its area of interest.

The Committee shall consist of members selected from the memberships of IAHR, IWA and IAHS. Not less than four members of the Committee shall be members of IAHR, not less than four members of the Committee shall be members of IWA and not less than four members of the Committee shall be members of IAHS. Wide geographic distribution of membership, which reflects the geographic distribution of the membership of IAHR, IWA and IAHS, is to be sought. Members of the Committee shall be selected so that the different facets of hydroinformatics (e.g. research and practice, administration, planning, etc.) and different organisational structures (e.g. academic, industrial, governmental) are represented equitably.

1. Members shall be proposed by the Committee and appointed in accordance with the procedures of the three parent bodies.
2. Each member shall be appointed for a term of four years. No member shall serve more than three consecutive terms. The member who is appointed chairman may continue to be a member of the Committee, even after twelve consecutive years, for as long as he or she remains chairman.
3. In case of a vacancy on the Committee before the expiration of a four-year term, the Committee shall propose a new member for a new four-year term. The appointment shall be in accordance with the procedures of the three parent organisations.
4. A member may return to the Committee after an absence of four years.
5. Members of IAHR or IWA who have contributed to the development of Hydroinformatics in an exceptional way may be appointed as lifetime "honorary members" of the Committee.

1. The Committee shall have the following officers:

• Chairman
• Secretary/Treasurer
• IAHR Liaison officer
• IWA Liaison officer
• IAHS Liaison officer

The Committee may organise project groups for the conduct of specific undertakings or studies of limited duration. Proposals for project groups shall be notified in advance to the parent bodies to ensure that there is no conflict with current or proposed activities.

1. A business meeting shall be held at least every two years, preferably during the biennial International Conferences on Hydroinformatics. Additionally, meetings may be held during the biennial conference of IWA, the General Congress of IAHR and/or during each professional symposium or special convocation organised by the Committee.
2. The preparation of the Agenda for each business meeting shall be the responsibility of the chairman in consultation with Committee members.
3. Should the chairman be unable to attend a meeting, he or she shall nominate another member of the Committee to act as organiser and chairman for that meeting.
4. The presence of five Committee members at a business meeting shall constitute a quorum.
5. Except on matters of revision of these by-laws, all actions shall be by majority vote of the members present and voting, including the chairman. In the absence of a quorum, the recommendations of those members present shall be circulated to all Committee members for approval by mail ballot.
6. The Committee may invite non-members of the Committee to attend business meetings for a particular purpose. These invitees shall not have voting privileges.
7. Business between Committee meetings shall he conducted by mail (including email). This business will be co-ordinated by the Committee secretary at the direction of the Chairman.
8. All actions voted by mail ballot shall be determined by majority vote of the full Committee membership.

1. The Committee is a subsidiary body of IAHR, IWA and IAHS and subject to the overall control and direction of these two bodies in consultation and acting in agreement. No activity or proposed activity of the Committee shall proceed without the agreement of both parent organisations.
2. The Committee shall submit an annual report to both parent organisations on the 31 December of each year. The annual report will include details of membership of the Committee, noting any changes since the previous report, and all relevant activities during the period of the report including any business meetings.
3. The rights to sponsor the activities of the Committee shall rest equally with IWA and IAHR. As such, the Committee shall be entitled to the full range of benefits of sponsorship of each organisation and subject to the conditions of that sponsorship.
4. The rights to publish the results of any conference or other activity undertaken by the Committee shall rest equally with IAHR, IWA and IAHS.
5. In specific instances, the three parent bodies may reach agreement that sponsorship and/or publication may be handled appropriately by one of the two bodies rather than jointly.
6. The Committee shall not endorse nor undertake any activity that involves the use of the name of a parent organisation without that parent organisation's prior approval.
7. Copies of the correspondence of the Committee shall be sent to the Secretariats of the three parent bodies.

1. These by-laws shall be in effect if, on petition, they are approved by the three parent organisations.
2. Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed by a two-thirds majority vote of the full Committee. Such proposed amendments shall take effect upon ratification by both parent organisations.