The Application of a Multi-Beam Echo-Sounder in the Analysis of the Sedimentation Situation of a Large Reservoir after an Earthquake

Abstract

The Wenchuan Earthquake took place in the upper reach catchment of the Min River. It resulted in large amounts of loose materials gathering in the river channel, leading to changes in the sediment transport system in this area. The Zipingpu Reservoir is the last and the largest reservoir located in the upper reach of the Min River. It is near the epicenter and receives sediment from upstream. This paper puts forward a study on the reservoir sedimentation and storage capacity of the Zipingpu Reservoir, employing a multi-beam echo-sounder system in December 2012. Then, the data were merged with digital line graphics and shuttle radar topography mission data in ArcGIS to build a digital elevation model and triangulate the irregular network of Zipingpu Reservoir. Via the analysis of the bathymetric data, the results show the following: (1) The main channels of the reservoir gradually aggrade to a flat bottom from the deep-cutting valley. Sedimentation forms a reach with a W-shaped longitudinal thalweg profile and an almost zero slope reach in the upstream section of the reservoir due to the natural barrier induced by a landslide; (2) The loss ratios of the wetted cross-section surface are higher than 10% in the upstream section of the reservoir and higher than 40% in the natural barrier area; (3) Comparing the surveyed area storage capacity of December 2012 with March 2008, the Zipingpu Reservoir has lost 15.28% of its capacity at the dead storage water level and 10.49% of its capacity at the flood limit water level.

Development of an integrated approach to the analysis and forecast of hydrographic and bathymetric data of water bodies and tailings ponds

“…The depth with horizontal coordinates (X, Y) should be obtained during hydrographic studies. It is necessary to develop a radio-controlled [28] device equipped with various sensors [29] for environmental monitoring, determining the relief and hydrographic characteristics [30] of a tailings dump, studying the habitat for local fish species [31] and collecting samples in hard-to-reach areas of reservoirs, examining dams for various damages [32], and developing a database system for accounting.…”

Inherent Optical Properties Attenuation Coefficient Modelling for Optical Shallow Water in Kepulauan Seribu of Jakarta, Indonesia

“…Technology to obtain bathymetric information has become necessary considering the length of the coastline and the many islands owned by Indonesia. Measurement technology using multi-beam and single-beam echo sounders is still an alternative to producing bathymetric information (Khomsin et al, 2021;Yan et al, 2018). In shallow water, using echo sounders has constraints and limitations, such as being time-consuming, costly and prone to equipment damage.…”

Assessment of Empirical Algorithms for Shallow Water Bathymetry Using Multi-Spectral Imagery of Pearl River Delta Coast, China

“…However, the echo sounder survey is constrained by its time-consuming nature and the high operational cost [6]. In addition, due to the swath angle and the distance between the survey vessel and shore, the survey system will result in a blind area on the shore terrain outside the swath coverage [7]. As a result, the echo sounder survey cannot be applied in the shallow waters with complex underwater terrain.…”