Integrating citizen science river health data into the Limpopo Digital Twin: a MiniSASS API module for basin-scale water management

Retief, H.; Clifford-Holmes, J.; Pattison, N.; Garcia Andarcia, Mariangel

Integrating citizen science river health data into the Limpopo Digital Twin: a MiniSASS API module for basin-scale water management

Autores

Retief, H.

Clifford-Holmes, J.

Pattison, N.

Garcia Andarcia, Mariangel

Editor

International Water Management Institute
CGIAR Accelerator for Digital Transformation

Descripción

Despite the value of low-cost MiniSASS river health observations, these community-generated data points often remain fragmented and isolated from professional water-management tools. This paper details the development of a dedicated API monitoring module designed to bridge this gap by integrating MiniSASS citizen science into the LIMCOM Digital Twin for the Limpopo Basin. The module employs a three-layer integration workflow—gateway, standardized server-side processing, and frontend visualization—to operationalize twelve purpose-built endpoints for real-time data discovery and spatial analysis. By standardizing and enriching raw macroinvertebrate data without altering upstream sources, the system enables stakeholders to translate local ecological signals into basin-wide actionable insights. This integration transforms isolated community observations into a scalable, transparent monitoring framework. Results demonstrate that API-driven interoperability not only enhances data usability for decision-makers but also fosters a collaborative governance model for sustainable water resource management across the Limpopo Basin.