Measuring river surface velocity using UAS-borne Doppler radar

Compared to traditional river surface velocity measurement techniques such as in-situ point measurements with electromagnetic current meters, remote sensing techniques are attractive because measurements are fast, low cost and contactless. Based on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) equipped with optical equipment (e.g., HD camera) and Doppler radar, surface velocity can be efficiently measured with high spatial resolution. UAS-borne Doppler radar is particularly attractive, because it is suitable for real-time velocity determination and has fewer limitations (no seeding of the flow required, no daylight required, works for both narrow and wide rivers).

In this paper, videos from a UAS RGB video camera were analysed using both Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Space-Time Image Velocimetry (STIV) techniques. Furthermore, we recorded full waveform signal data using a 24 GHz continuous wave Doppler radar (e.g., Geolux RSS-2-300) at multiple waypoints across the river. Different from previous processing methods, which only considered the processed velocity from Doppler radar itself, we propose an algorithm for picking the correct river surface velocity from the raw data. The algorithm fits two alternative models to the raw data average amplitude curve to derive the correct river surface velocity: a Gaussian one peak model, or a Gaussian two peaks model.

Results indicate that river flow velocity and drone-induced propwash velocity can be found in the river’s lower flow velocity portions (i.e., surface velocity between 30 cm/s and 80 cm/s), while the drone-induced velocity can be neglected in fast and highly turbulent flows (i.e., surface velocity > 80 cm/s). To verify the river flow velocity derived from Doppler radar, a mean PIV value within the footprint of the Doppler radar at each waypoint was calculated. Finally, quantitative comparisons of electromagnetic velocity sensor data (OTT MF Pro) with STIV, mean PIV and Doppler radar revealed that UAS-borne Doppler radar could reliably measure the river flow velocity.