EGU22-10797, updated on 28 Mar 2022
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-10797
EGU General Assembly 2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

In-Situ, Near Real Time and Low Cost Image Velocimetry for Debris Flows and Flash Flood Monitoring in the Chilean Andes

Alejandro Dussaillant1,2,3, Nelson Sepúlveda1,4, Felipe Aguilar1, Johnny Valencia1, Joel Ancan1, Jaime Cotroneo5, Rodrigo Herrera5, Nikky Leiva5, Carolina Peña5, Alejandro Alfaro6, Javier Fernández6, and Antonio Muñoz6
Alejandro Dussaillant et al.
  • 1Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Tecnología, Universidad de Aysen, Coyhaique, Chile (alejandro.dussaillant@uaysen.cl)
  • 2Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia, Coyhaique, Chile (ale.dussaillant@gmail.com)
  • 3Natural Sciences Dept, Middlesex University, London, UK (a.dussaillant@mdx.ac.uk)
  • 4Universidad Central, Santiago, Chile (nelson.sepulveda@ucentral.cl)
  • 5Instituto Nacional de Hidráulica, Peñaflor, Chile (rodrigoherrera@inh.cl)
  • 6Unidad de Peligros Geológicos y Planificación Territorial, Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Santiago, Chile (javier.fernandez@sernageomin.cl)

Debris flows and flash floods occur frequently in Chile due to geology, geomorphology and weather, costing human lives and impacting settlements, infrastructure and economic activities. One of the problems relates to the lack of adequate monitoring technology in remote areas with limited connectivity. We have developed a low cost system that processes acquired lidar and image data in-situ with a Raspberry Pi obtaining flow level and velocity and transmits near real time via satellite (or cellular network if available). The low implementation cost allows to replicate the system in the many hazardous sites, as well as advance towards early warning systems in locations with limited communication networks. The velocimetry method consists of two steps: first obtaining the images, and then a brightness filter and normalized cross correlation. To eliminate outliers a flow direction filter is used, and velocities are obtained by tracking of flow surface elements. Also the flow level is measured with a lidar also connected to the R-Pi. We will present both laboratory and field test results.

How to cite: Dussaillant, A., Sepúlveda, N., Aguilar, F., Valencia, J., Ancan, J., Cotroneo, J., Herrera, R., Leiva, N., Peña, C., Alfaro, A., Fernández, J., and Muñoz, A.: In-Situ, Near Real Time and Low Cost Image Velocimetry for Debris Flows and Flash Flood Monitoring in the Chilean Andes, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-10797, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-10797, 2022.

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