Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2020AK337B

Application of Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) in wide rivers

Institute: Alaska
Year Established: 2020 Start Date: 2020-03-01 End Date: 2021-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $23,428 Total Non-Federal Funds: $46,856

Principal Investigators: Horacio Toniolo

Project Summary: Hydrological data in Alaska is limited due to large distances, difficult terrain and extreme weather. Expanding hydrological data using traditional methods is expensive and a logistical challenge. Remote measurements, such as Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV), provide an alternative to many of the challenges that come with traditional methods. However, conventional LSPIV methods are difficult to apply due to the broad nature of the rivers in Alaska. Stereo Imaging Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (SI-LSPIV) is a developing technology that captures the full width of wide channels with multiple cameras, solving the river width issue. The objective of this research is to (1) develop a method to use multiple cameras to capture full river width and (2) compare result with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements. Videos were collected during summer 2019 on the Tsina River, approximately 30 miles north of Valdez, Alaska, to accomplish these efforts.