Evaluation of Aerial Bathymetric Surveys in Shallow Riverine Environments

Project ID: 1573
Principal Investigator: Robert Hilldale
Research Topic: Sediment Management and River Restoration
Funded Fiscal Years: 2006
Keywords: None

Project Abstract

Airborne bathymetric LiDAR was collected for 220 river kilometres in the Yakima and Trinity River Basins in the USA. Concomitant with the aerial data collection, ground surveys of the river bed were performed in both basins. We assess the quality of the bathymetric LiDAR survey from the perspective of its application toward creating accurate, precise and complete streambed topography for numerical modelling and geomorphological assessment. Measurement error is evaluated with respect to ground surveys for magnitude and spatial variation. Analysis of variance statistics indicate that residuals from two independent ground surveys in similar locations do not come from the same population and that mean errors at different study locations also come from different populations. Systematic error indicates a consistent bias in the data and random error falls within values of expected precision.

Contributing Partners

Contact the Principal Investigator for information about partners.

Research Products

Independent Peer Review

The following documents were reviewed by qualified Bureau of Reclamation employees. The findings were determined to be achieved using valid means.

Assessing the ability of airborne LiDAR to map river bathymetry (final, PDF, 389KB)
By Robert Hilldale
Publication completed on September 13, 2007

Airborne bathymetric LiDAR was collected for 220 river kilometres in the Yakima and Trinity River Basins in the USA. Concomitant with the aerial data collection, ground surveys of the river bed were performed in both basins. We assess the quality of the bathymetric LiDAR survey from the perspective of its application toward creating accurate, precise and
complete streambed topography for numerical modelling and geomorphological assessment.

Bureau of Reclamation Review

The following documents were reviewed by experts in fields relating to this project's study and findings. The results were determined to be achieved using valid means.

AIRBORNE LiDAR Easily Defines Underwater River Channel Geometry (final, PDF, 99KB)
By Robert C. Hilldale
Publication completed on September 30, 2006

This bulletin summarizes the research results and potential application to Reclamation's mission.

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Last Updated: 6/22/20