# Federal Institute of Hydrology

> research institute in Koblenz, Germany

**Wikidata**: [Q1005530](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1005530)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/federal-institute-of-hydrology

## Summary
The Federal Institute of Hydrology (German: Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde), abbreviated as BfG, is a federal research institute located in Koblenz, Germany. Founded in 1949, the organization operates under the Federal Ministry for Transport and employs approximately 450 people. Its primary purpose is to conduct hydrological research and serve as a departmental research establishment for the German federal government.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (Federal Institute of Hydrology)
- **Short Name:** BfG
- **Founded:** 1949
- **Location:** Koblenz, Germany (Coordinates: 50.353°N, 7.598°E)
- **Instance of:** Federal agency of Germany, Research institute
- **Parent Organization:** Federal Ministry for Transport
- **Employees:** Approximately 450 (circa)
- **Website:** https://www.bafg.de/
- **GRID ID:** grid.425106.4
- **ROR ID:** 03kdvpr29
- **ISNI:** 0000000122943155
- **GND ID:** 1002406-2
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n82030884

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Federal Institute of Hydrology?
A: The Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG) is a German federal agency and research institute founded in 1949. It is dedicated to hydrological research and is based in Koblenz, Germany.

### Q: Who oversees the Federal Institute of Hydrology?
A: The institute is a departmental research organization under the administrative oversight of the Federal Ministry for Transport.

### Q: Where is the institute located?
A: The headquarters of the Federal Institute of Hydrology is in Koblenz, Germany, with coordinates at latitude 50.35299 and longitude 7.59834.

### Q: What organizations is the BfG affiliated with?
A: The BfG is a member of the Working Group of the German Federal Departmental Research Establishments, the German Climate Consortium, the Deutsche Vereinigung des Gas- und Wasserfaches (DVGW), and the Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw).

## Why It Matters
The Federal Institute of Hydrology serves as a critical engine of discovery and advisory body for the German federal government. By concentrating resources solely on hydrological research, it provides essential data and scientific findings that inform policy and infrastructure decisions made by the Federal Ministry for Transport. Its work addresses national challenges related to water management and environmental science, free from the teaching obligations typical of universities.

## Notable For
- Being a federal agency of Germany classified specifically as a research institute.
- Serving as a departmental research establishment (Departmental Research Institute) directly supporting federal administration.
- Membership in high-level consortia such as the German Climate Consortium.
- Operating with a specialized focus on hydrology, distinct from broader environmental agencies.
- Maintaining a long operational history since its inception in 1949.

## Body

### Organizational Structure and Classification
The Federal Institute of Hydrology (Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde) is formally classified as both a **federal agency of Germany** and a **research institute**. As a research institute, its primary purpose is to conduct systematic investigation and generate new knowledge, distinct from universities or think tanks. It is a dedicated engine of discovery focused on fundamental scientific inquiry in the field of hydrology.

The institute was founded in **1949** and operates under the jurisdiction of the **Federal Ministry for Transport**. This parent-subsidiary relationship aligns the institute's research goals with the administrative needs of the federal government. It is recognized as a departmental research institute, part of the **Working Group of the German Federal Departmental Research Establishments**.

### Location and Facilities
The headquarters of the BfG is situated in **Koblenz, Germany**. The precise geographic coordinates of the facility are **50.35298888888889 latitude and 7.598344444444444 longitude**.

### Personnel and Operations
The institute employs a staff of approximately **450 people** (circa). This workforce supports the institute's mission to provide scientific advice and research for federal waterway and water resource management.

### Affiliations and Memberships
In addition to its parent ministry, the Federal Institute of Hydrology maintains membership in several key scientific and professional organizations:
- **German Climate Consortium:** Contributing to national climate research efforts.
- **Deutsche Vereinigung des Gas- und Wasserfaches (DVGW):** A professional association for gas and water industries.
- **Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw):** A service for science news and event information.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
The BfG is indexed in numerous national and international library, academic, and government databases:
- **Library Systems:** GND ID 1002406-2, Library of Congress Authority ID n82030884, VIAF ID 147201371, and Open Library ID OL6790000A.
- **Research Databases:** GRID ID grid.425106.4, ROR ID 03kdvpr29, ISNI 0000000122943155, Ringgold ID 64346, KISTI ID K000210030, and GEPRIS Organization ID 10583.
- **Government and Public Bodies:** FragDenStaat Public Body ID 288.
- **Other Systems:** Google Knowledge Graph ID /g/122s8y3d and Yale LUX ID group/e4a30a71-591e-48dc-90de-483f576abd1c.

### Digital Presence
The institute maintains a digital footprint through its official website (**https://www.bafg.de/**) and social media. It operates a Mastodon account (**BfG@social.bund.de**) for the German language community. The organization also has a presence on Wikimedia Commons with a dedicated category (**Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde**) and an official logo file.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://www.dvgw.de/der-dvgw/mitgliedschaft-im-dvgw/unsere-mitglieder/behoerden/?tx_dvgw_adressverzeichnis%5BnavisionCode%5D=1020769&tx_dvgw_adressverzeichnis%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_dvgw_adressverzeichnis%5Bcontroller%5D=Adressverzeichnis&cHash=42cf2a466924b1462c0a3eab93be8de2)
4. [Source](https://idw-online.de/de/institution1347)
5. [Wer wir sind](https://www.bafg.de/DE/1_Die_BfG/Wer_wir_sind/wir_node.html)
6. [Source](https://www.service.bund.de/Content/DE/DELeistungen/A/Abkuerzungsverzeichnis-des-Bundes-BMI-BVA.html)
7. GERiT