Optical Methods for River Monitoring: A Simulation-Based Approach to Explore Optimal Experimental Setup for LSPIV

Abstract

Recent advances in image-based methods for environmental monitoring are opening new frontiers for remote streamflow measurements in natural environments. Such techniques offer numerous advantages compared to traditional approaches. Despite the wide availability of cost-effective devices and software for image processing, these techniques are still rarely systematically implemented in practical applications, probably due to the lack of consistent operational protocols for both phases of images acquisition and processing. In this work, the optimal experimental setup for LSPIV based flow velocity measurements under different conditions is explored using the software PIVlab, investigating performance and sensitivity to some key factors. Different synthetic image sequences, reproducing a river flow with a realistic velocity profile and uniformly distributed floating tracers, are generated under controlled conditions. Different parametric scenarios are created considering diverse combinations of flow velocity, tracer size, seeding density, and environmental conditions. Multiple replications per scenario are processed, using descriptive statistics to characterize errors in PIVlab estimates. Simulations highlight the crucial role of some parameters (e.g., seeding density) and demonstrate how appropriate video duration, frame-rate and parameters setting in relation to the hydraulic conditions can efficiently counterbalance many of the typical operative issues (i.e., scarce tracer concentration) and improve algorithms performance.