Inverse modelling for measurement of river flow

The flow rates of rivers in flood situations are oftne not well documented as gauging stations are flooded. Here an approach is taken in which surface velocities obtained from floats and surface elevation are inputs into a flow model on the basis of the Navier Stokes equations and inflow is identified as the unkown. The approach is performed in a 2D vertical model first using the example of weir at Saltina river. Error analysis is performed and the feasibility of the method is established. In a 3D model, data from an experiment in Lausanne are used to prove the feasibility of the method. In a master thesis the method was applied in the field. Floats were tracked by photogrammetric methods yielding elevation and velocities at the water surface.

Main publication

Sulzer, S., W. Kinzelbach, P. Rutschmann, 2002. Flood Discharge Prediction using 2D Inverse Modelling, ASCE Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, Vol. 128 (1), p. 46-54.

Contacts

W. Kinzelbach

Agency/Funding

SNF/100 kCHF

Partners

P.Rutschmann, VAW, EPFL Lausanne

Status

Finished in 2002

See other past research projects