Modern Digital Instruments and Techniques for Hydrodynamic and Morphologic Characterization of River Channels

Accuracy, reproducibility and sensitivity of acoustic Doppler technology for velocity and discharge measurements in medium-sized rivers

“…During the last century, flow velocity measurements mainly relied on mechanical propeller velocity meters (Muste et al 2008). With the fast progress in computing power and improved electric batteries, the use of electronics in velocity instruments to map river hydrodynamics has gained more popularity in the last few decades, because of their higher efficiency, easier operation and lower cost (Pasquale et al 2011, Muste et al 2012. Progress in optics, radar, acoustics and electromagnetism has led to a new generation of flow measurement devices, which can offer superior efficiency, performance and reproducibility for velocity and discharge measurement (Muste et al 2008, Thandaveswara 2011.…”

Challenges and Solutions for Hydrodynamic and Water Quality in Rivers in the Amazon Basin

“…But at the same time, a vast storage capacity for the data obtained is required, especially when the ADCP data are combined with topography. For example, the data storage requirements have increased from the order of hundreds of thousands to the order of millions of bathymetric and hydrodynamic information points (Muste & Merwade, 2010). This obstacle requires massive investments in instruments with extraordinary data processing abilities in order to store, group, process and quickly distribute data in a myriad of different formats to fulfil information needs of users.…”

“…These instruments can be quick and efficient in providing detailed multidimensional measures that contribute to the investigation of complex processes in rivers, especially hydrodynamics, sediment transport, availability of habitats and ecology of aquatic ecosystems. Muste & Merwade (2010) describe how to quantify the hydrodynamic characteristics and morphology of complex channels. In addition to the ability to extract information that is available through conventional methods in the laboratory, the ADCP and MBES (Multibeam Echosounder) can provide additional information that is critical to the understanding and development of modelling processes in rivers, for example providing a 3D view of river hydrodynamics that was previously unavailable to hydrological studies of large rivers.…”

“…It also demonstrates a good correlation with the more conventional methods, permitting to obtain of section profiles, river width, flow velocity, the qualitative distribution of suspended sediments, measurement time, boat speed, water temperature and salinity (Guennec & Strasser, 2009). According to Muste & Merwade (2010) recent advances in instrumentation for the analysis of river flows include the combination of acoustic methods with remote sensing to quantify variables and hydrodynamic and morphological parameters in natural bodies of water, and notably the degree of importance of these new technologies is more evident when applied to large rivers under tidal influence (Abdo et al 1996;Martoni & Lessa, 1999). These instruments can be quick and efficient in providing detailed multidimensional measures that contribute to the investigation of complex processes in rivers, especially hydrodynamics, sediment transport, availability of habitats and ecology of aquatic ecosystems.…”

“…1 shows the location of Transect T2 (blue line) of the North Channel and Matapi River, both studied by Brito (2010) and Cunha (2008) nearly to city of Macapá, respectively .The requirement for local knowledge of the river bathymetry is demonstrated by the geometric complexity of the channels and variations in the average depths of the channel. Cunha (2008) Muste & Merwade (2010) describe recent advances in the instrumentation used for investigations of river hydrodynamics and morphology including acoustic methods and remote sensing. These methods are revolutionizing the understanding, description and modelling of flows in natural rivers.…”