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
***************************************************************************
*************************************