Type of Submission
Poster
Keywords
UAV, streamflow, stage height, stream discharge
Abstract
USGS stream gauge stations associated with the National Water Information System (NWIS) accurately measure various streamflow parameters, including stage height and discharge. However, photographic documentation of streamflow conditions is severely lacking for most gauge stations. This project aimed to fill this void in documentation by capturing aerial photographs of streamflow conditions using low altitude UAV photography. The photographs were taken at two stream gauge stations within the Little Miami River watershed located in southwestern Ohio over a seven month period. This time span encompassed three seasons, beginning mid fall 2015, and ending early spring 2016. The timestamp associated with each photograph was matched with the appropriate real-time streamflow data collected by the stream gauge stations. This data can be easily accessed by anyone through the USGS water data web interface http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis. The outcome of this project was a photographic catalog that sequenced the UAV photographs and the associated gauge data for each stream during the study period. The primary goal of this project was to produce a sequence of photographs that accurately represents the range of streamflow conditions during the time of this study, and provide a visual baseline for quickly estimating these flow conditions. The range in stage height photographed for the Little Miami River was between 1.73 and 3.24 feet, while the discharge was between 83 and 464 ft^3/s. The range in stage height for Massie's Creek was between 2.57 and 4.03 feet, while the discharge was between 31 and 315 ft^3/s. The UAV photographs depicting the streamflow conditions were visually analyzed to determine if noticeable differences between various flow conditions could be discerned. It was determined that even minor variations in stage height and discharge could be recognized. This study provides an initial visual baseline for the flow conditions at just two gauge stations. More work needs to be done to determine if UAV photographs can be used to quickly estimate streamflow conditions on ungauged stream segments in watershed areas with similar characteristics. The UAV approach provides cost efficiency, safety, and the ability to get to inaccessible areas.
Campus Venue
Stevens Student Center
Location
Cedarville, OH
Start Date
4-20-2016 11:00 AM
End Date
4-20-2016 2:00 PM
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Using UAVs to Establish a Visual Baseline of Stream Flow Conditions at USGS Stream Gauge Sites
Cedarville, OH
USGS stream gauge stations associated with the National Water Information System (NWIS) accurately measure various streamflow parameters, including stage height and discharge. However, photographic documentation of streamflow conditions is severely lacking for most gauge stations. This project aimed to fill this void in documentation by capturing aerial photographs of streamflow conditions using low altitude UAV photography. The photographs were taken at two stream gauge stations within the Little Miami River watershed located in southwestern Ohio over a seven month period. This time span encompassed three seasons, beginning mid fall 2015, and ending early spring 2016. The timestamp associated with each photograph was matched with the appropriate real-time streamflow data collected by the stream gauge stations. This data can be easily accessed by anyone through the USGS water data web interface http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis. The outcome of this project was a photographic catalog that sequenced the UAV photographs and the associated gauge data for each stream during the study period. The primary goal of this project was to produce a sequence of photographs that accurately represents the range of streamflow conditions during the time of this study, and provide a visual baseline for quickly estimating these flow conditions. The range in stage height photographed for the Little Miami River was between 1.73 and 3.24 feet, while the discharge was between 83 and 464 ft^3/s. The range in stage height for Massie's Creek was between 2.57 and 4.03 feet, while the discharge was between 31 and 315 ft^3/s. The UAV photographs depicting the streamflow conditions were visually analyzed to determine if noticeable differences between various flow conditions could be discerned. It was determined that even minor variations in stage height and discharge could be recognized. This study provides an initial visual baseline for the flow conditions at just two gauge stations. More work needs to be done to determine if UAV photographs can be used to quickly estimate streamflow conditions on ungauged stream segments in watershed areas with similar characteristics. The UAV approach provides cost efficiency, safety, and the ability to get to inaccessible areas.
