Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Technology Trevor Lykens, Tim Sisk, Chris Tomichek December 20, 2005

Introduction to ADCP Technology What is ADCP? What is ADCP?  Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler  What does it measure?  How does it measure? Why use an ADCP? Why use an ADCP? Who uses ADCP’s? Who uses ADCP’s? How much does it cost? How much does it cost? Why did we use ADCP recently? Why did we use ADCP recently?

What is an ADCP? Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Works like the radar gun Works like the radar gun Uses sound to make measurements … Uses sound to make measurements …  SONAR (like RADAR in air) SOund NAvigation &Ranging SOund NAvigation & Ranging

What Does It Measure? ADCPs measures 3F’s ADCPs measures 3F’s 1. How fast? … speed, velocity 2. Howfar?… distance, range, depth 2. How far?… distance, range, depth 3. Howfull? … volume 3. How full? … volume WHILE MOVING!!!! WHILE MOVING!!!!

 ADCP How Does It Measure?  Uses Beams to Measure Water in Motion

Distance = 150 ft Discharge / Velocity Measurement

Moving Discharge / Velocity Measurement Moving Discharge / Velocity Measurement  Much faster than traditional means. Improves efficiency, saves money (one run <5 min) Highly accurate measurements Highly accurate measurements Hundreds of readings made per pass Hundreds of readings made per pass  More measurements for peace of mind with data quality Why Use an ADCP?

Who Uses ADCPs? USGS USGS Army Corps of Engineers Army Corps of Engineers State/Federal Agencies State/Federal Agencies Universities Universities Irrigation Districts Irrigation Districts Defense Contractors Defense Contractors Consultants Consultants

ADCPs… Can measure quickly from bridges or pulley system Can measure quickly from bridges or pulley system  Avoids pitfalls of user in the water No Maintenance cost No Maintenance cost  Save time and money in maintaining the instrument Lower overall cost Lower overall cost  Save time and money

Applications Measuring Discharge Measuring Discharge Wave studies Wave studies Sediment Transport Studies Sediment Transport Studies Scour and erosion studies Scour and erosion studies Bathymetry Mapping Bathymetry Mapping IFIM Studies IFIM Studies

How Much Does It Cost? (RDI Instruments ADCP Cost Table Through CT Vendor) Rio Grande: Rio Grande: Used in larger rivers and streams (1.5 ft – 225 ft). (1.5 ft – 225 ft). Typically mounted on boat Stream Pro: Stream Pro: Used in small streams and brooks (3 in – 6.5 ft) (3 in – 6.5 ft) Comes with custom mount Sentinel: Sentinel: Used in canals and larger rivers (Distance Varies) Permanently mounts on bottom or side Permanently mounts on bottom or side Purchase Price Rental Purchase Price Rental per week per week $23,000 $960 $23,000 $960 $15,000 $600 $15,000 $600 $19,000 $750 $19,000 $750

Rio Grande 1200kHz Measures from 1.5-ft. to 60-ft. Most versatile unit Mounts to a boat or Trimaran Software very easy to use Very Accurate

Rio Grande 600kHz Measures from 3.5-ft. to 225-ft. Mounts to a boat or Trimaran Software very easy to use Very Accurate

Rio/Stream-Pro In Action

ADCP: Stream-Pro Permits more effective measurement methods in shallower depths of 4 in – 6.5 ft Permits more effective measurement methods in shallower depths of 4 in – 6.5 ft Measures currents from top to bottom at the same instant – 2 in resolution or even finer Measures currents from top to bottom at the same instant – 2 in resolution or even finer Bottom-tracking capability allows moving across stream continuously Bottom-tracking capability allows moving across stream continuously Safer: avoids operator in the water Safer: avoids operator in the water Convenient: wireless link permits flexible operation from shore, bridge, & cableway Convenient: wireless link permits flexible operation from shore, bridge, & cableway

WinRiver Software  Setup Wizard  Depth  Boat Speed  Water Speed  Bottom Type  No Need to Memorize Commands

WinRiver User Interface Screen

Creates Reports

Our Recent Application ConEd – West Springfield Station in Mass. ConEd – West Springfield Station in Mass. 10 Transects across the Connecticut River 10 Transects across the Connecticut River  Bathymetry  Velocities  Total flow Rented Rio-Grande 1200 kHz unit Rented Rio-Grande 1200 kHz unit  Fabricated mount for our boat  Laptop data collection

Why Did We Use ADCP Technology? Client required by NPDES permit to perform a thermal plume study of discharge effects at West Springfield Station Client required by NPDES permit to perform a thermal plume study of discharge effects at West Springfield Station Efficient means to gather bathymetric, velocity, and therefore flow data Efficient means to gather bathymetric, velocity, and therefore flow data Relatively inexpensive (see cost table) Relatively inexpensive (see cost table)

West Springfield Transects WSS Intake Unit 1&2 Discharge Unit 3 Discharge Mouth of Mill River Sewage effluent Discharge Mouth of Westfield River

Study Results Performed 10 transects in the CT River in <4 hrs Performed 10 transects in the CT River in <4 hrs Calculated cumulative flow in river was within ~5% at all transects Calculated cumulative flow in river was within ~5% at all transects  Very rainy day with pulsing inflows Collected data is being incorporated into Thermal Plume hydraulic modeling (John Blue Hill Hydraulics) Collected data is being incorporated into Thermal Plume hydraulic modeling (John Blue Hill Hydraulics)  Output was simple text file  Also can have ASCII output files  Create own output reports or graphs with WinRiver The ADCP was very User-Friendly The ADCP was very User-Friendly

ADCP Summary ADCP Technology is accepted by academia, state and federal agencies, etc. ADCP Technology is accepted by academia, state and federal agencies, etc. Relatively inexpensive and produces quality data Relatively inexpensive and produces quality data Multiple ADCP models make the technology very versatile (Resolution, Depth, etc.) Multiple ADCP models make the technology very versatile (Resolution, Depth, etc.) Very user-friendly software and tech support Very user-friendly software and tech support  RDI has 24/7 Telephone Support  RDI University (take classes on line for free)

Questions? For more info contact Chris Tomichek, Tim Sisk, or Trevor Lykens