Performance Of Bathymetric Lidar On Flow Properties Predicted With A 2-Dimensional Hydraulic Model

Abstract:

Increased computer processing speeds and new computational fluid dynamics codes have significantly improved numerical modeling of flow and sediment transport over large domains of streams, up to several kilometers in length. Recent developments in remote sensing technologies have also greatly improved our ability to map the morphology of streams over similar spatial extents. However, limited information is available on whether the remote sensing methods can map channel topography with sufficient accuracy to define the flow boundary necessary for a fluid dynamics model. We assessed the ability of a second generation airborne bathymetric sensor, the Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL-B), to support a two dimensional fluid dynamics model of a small morphologically-complex mountain stream. We compared flow model predictions using the lidar bathymetry with those made using a total station field survey of the channel. In this riverscape, results suggest EAARL bathymetric lidar can map channel topography with sufficient accuracy to support a two dimensional computational flow model.