APPLICATION: ADCP discharge measurements on the Rivers Rhine and Maas

Where did you park?

Three years ago the small country I call home, the Netherlands, became world news as it came close to being flooded by the rivers Rhine and Maas. Close...but most of us kept our feet dry. River-discharge measurements have intensified significantly since then. The main goal of these measurements is to establish the relation between the total flow through the river and the water height. So next time it starts raining a little harder then usual, we can predict whether our river dikes are high enough, and if not, we run like hell.

For the data taking we use RD Instruments 600 and 1200 kHz Broadband and Workhorse Monitor ADCPs™. These ADCPs™ supply us data with the accuracy we need to extract a reliable flow/waterheight relation. The most interesting measurements take place when the river runs out of its beds flooding farmlands, roads and some small villages. Trying to cover the whole width of the river we have to dodge trees, fences and bushes, but also the occasional lamppost and traffic sign. Therefore the equipment is placed on small agile boats with little draft.

Anticipating the coming high water periodOct. through Nov.our Ministry of Public Works is enlarging the number of Workhorse ADCPs™ in its river fleet. So next month I'll probably be busy trying not to get stuck on some farmer's flooded fence or border wall.