Software for Computing Streamflow from Acoustic Profiler Data In Reply Refer To: Mail Stop 415 September 12, 2000 OFFICE OF SURFACE WATER TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 2000.03 SUBJECT: Software for Computing Streamflow from Acoustic Profiler Data The purpose of this memorandum is to announce the availability of the WinRiver software for collecting and processing data collected with RD Instruments (RDI) acoustic profilers (Broadband, RioGrande, Workhorse, and others). The WinRiver software was developed by RDI, in cooperation with the USGS, as a part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The WinRiver software supersedes the Transect software, which should not be used for any additional discharge measurements. The CRADA was used by USGS as a means to incorporate USGS needs and techniques into software for collecting and processing RDI acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data. The WinRiver software that resulted from the CRADA provides improved capabilities for processing ADCP files, computing velocity and discharge data, and summarizing streamflow measurements. Both experienced and inexperienced users have extensively tested WinRiver. It was used in three recent USGS training classes. The discharges computed using WinRiver have been compared with discharges computed using Transect versions 2.72 and 4.05 (Table 1). In general, discharges computed using Transect 4.05 are very close to those computed with WinRiver. Rounding and some minor changes in the edge discharge calculations can explain the minor differences in discharges computed by Transect 4.05 and WinRiver 10.01. Under some circumstances, discharges computed with Transect 2.72 may be significantly different than discharges computed using WinRiver. The WinRiver software provides a more accurate computation of discharge because of the number of enhancements to the software since Transect 2.72 was released. These enhancements are listed in (Attachment 1). Because of the differences between discharges computed using Transect 2.72 and WinRiver 10.01, it is strongly recommended that water year 2000 records be computed using WinRiver software. This means that it will be necessary to playback data with WinRiver that were previously played back in Transect 2.72. Although this is an inconvenience, it should not require an inordinate amount of work, especially given some of the features available in WinRiver for summarizing discharges. The attached release notes (Attachment 2) describe and list important features about the WinRiver software. Most of this information is available as a part of the help file available with WinRiver. The WinRiver software is available for USGS personnel who own and use ADCP's manufactured by RDI at the following URL: http://il.water.usgs.gov/adcp/downloads/setupex1.exe> WinRiver is a proprietary software package written and maintained by RDI. The software should only be used by offices and personnel owning one of RDI's acoustic profilers. The software should not be copied or provided to other agencies or entities without prior written authorization from RDI. Effective immediately, the WinRiver software is the only approved software for the collection and processing of data using a RDI acoustic profiler for the calculation of discharge. All use of the RDI Transect software should be discontinued, regardless of the version being used. If you need help or assistance with this software, please contact Kevin Oberg (kaoberg@usgs.gov) or send email to the USGS HydroAcoustic Workgroup (acoustics@simon.er.usgs.gov>). Please report any software bugs to Kevin and Dave Mueller by sending email to adcpcom@simon.er.usgs.gov. They will evaluate these bugs and pass the information on to RDI for resolution. Thomas H. Yorke Chief, Office of Surface Water 2 Attachments Distribution: A, B, FO, PO *************************************************************************** *************************************