Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2011KY170B

Quasi-real time sediment discharge measurements using inexpensive experimental technology

Institute: Kentucky
Year Established: 2011 Start Date: 2011-03-01 End Date: 2012-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $5,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $10,040

Principal Investigators: James Fox

Abstract: The overall objective of this project is to determine the accuracy to which flow rate and sediment discharge can be measured using inexpensive newly developed sensor technology. The velocity sensors use a strain gage that changes voltage as more force is applied by flow. The voltage read from the sensor will be calibrated to known velocities so that a relationship can be developed. The sediment concentration sensors are based on light intensity changing the voltage across the sensor. The effects of secondary variables (sediment size, color, shape, composition, and amount of organic material) on the calibrated sediment concentration relationship will be determined. A computer program will be developed to automatically calculate flow rate and sediment discharge from the data received from the newly developed sensors.