Drone- and ground-based measurements of velocity, depth, and discharge collected during 2017-18 at the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers in Colorado and the Salcha and Tanana Rivers in Alaska, USA
Dates
Publication Date
2020-10-09
Time Period
2017-10-24
Time Period
2018-03-20
Time Period
2018-06-28
Time Period
2018-07-10
Time Period
2018-07-12
Citation
McDermott, W.R., and Fulton, J.W., 2020, Drone- and ground-based measurements of velocity, depth, and discharge collected during 2017-18 at the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers in Colorado and the Salcha and Tanana Rivers in Alaska, USA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9TJ7S4O.
Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is actively investigating the use of innovative remote-sensing techniques to estimate surface velocity and discharge of rivers in ungaged basins and river reaches that lack the infrastructure to install conventional streamgaging equipment. By coupling discharge algorithms and sensors capable of measuring surface velocity, streamgage networks can be established in regions where data collection was previously impractical or impossible. One of the remote-sensing techniques uses a Doppler (velocity) radar (QCam) mounted and integrated on a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS or drone). QCam measures the along-track surface velocity by spot dwelling in a river cross section at a vertical where the maximum [...]
Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is actively investigating the use of innovative remote-sensing techniques to estimate surface velocity and discharge of rivers in ungaged basins and river reaches that lack the infrastructure to install conventional streamgaging equipment. By coupling discharge algorithms and sensors capable of measuring surface velocity, streamgage networks can be established in regions where data collection was previously impractical or impossible. One of the remote-sensing techniques uses a Doppler (velocity) radar (QCam) mounted and integrated on a small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS or drone). QCam measures the along-track surface velocity by spot dwelling in a river cross section at a vertical where the maximum surface velocity is recorded. To evaluate the extensibility of the method, five science flights were conducted on four rivers of varying size including the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers in Colorado and the Salcha and Tanana Rivers in Alaska. QCam surface velocities and QCam river discharges were compared to conventional streamgaging methods.
For questions concerning this dataset, please contact: John W. Fulton; jwfulton@usgs.gov; 303-236-6890; U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, MS 415, Denver, CO 80225
Purpose
The purpose of this data release is to provide data to assist with determining the efficacy of the QCam Doppler (velocity) radar platform compared to measuring velocity and discharge using conventional methods.
Rights
Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Preview Image
QCam deployment on the Tanana River at Nenana, Alaska, USA (Credit: John Fulton)