Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Standard processes and software may include:
standards relevant to the monitoring network including:
AS 3778 for water measurement installations
WMO/Bureau of Meteorology guidelines for siting of meteorological sensors and systems
best practice methodology where standards are not available or applicable
software for logical control device programming (maybe system specific or generic software) to automate control, sampling and alarming processes
water data base management software for triggering alarms, notifications, advice to relevant authorities and management for actions
procedures for:
data logging (programming interrogation, data downloading, data security)
procedures for:
data processing
storage and presentation
conversion of raw logger file data to channel data in date/time/value format
deletion/inclusion/correction
quality codes/comments
check
archive
storing ancillary data
pluviographs
hyetographs
hydrographs
rating curves
tables
procedures for the measurement of surface slopes and flood slopes
procedures for the development, maintenance and extension of rating curves
computation of flow from stage data and rating curves
software:
Kisters - Hydstra
Scientific Software Group - AquaChem
Microsoft - Excel
web-based development tools for presentation and reporting of data
Hydraulic conditions may include:
rapidly rising and falling stages
tail water and backwater affected
tidal effects
transitional from calibrated to channel
Mathematical techniques may include:
logarithmic transformation
conversion of units
graphical analysis
gauging calculations
calculation of sediment load, sediment yield and sediment deposition

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The candidate should demonstrate the ability to use appropriate survey equipment to collect survey data at monitoring stations and to process and manage the data for hydrometric purposes including:
gathering and interpreting complex documentation and applying to the development and maintenance of rating curves
analysing and verifying data using standard procedures, software and databases
preparing clear and accurate reports
storing and archiving data
identifying, reporting and providing solutions to a range of flow conditions
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Access to the workplace and resources including:
documentation that should normally be available in a water industry organisation
workplace specific equipment and technology
supervision and experienced team members to provide observations, feedback and third party reports
enterprise operating procedures and work allocation
relevant codes, standards, and government regulations
Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.
Validity and sufficiency of evidence require that:
competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice
a decision of competence should only be made when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's competence over time and in various contexts
all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence
where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time
assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit
In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator, any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and reflecting the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.