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Large‐scale particle image velocimetry for measurements in riverine environments
Author(s) -
Muste M.,
Fujita I.,
Hauet A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2008wr006950
Subject(s) - particle image velocimetry , scale (ratio) , velocimetry , raw data , environmental science , flow (mathematics) , remote sensing , field (mathematics) , hydrology (agriculture) , computer science , geology , meteorology , geography , mechanics , geotechnical engineering , cartography , physics , mathematics , pure mathematics , turbulence , programming language
Large‐scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) is a nonintrusive approach to measure velocities at the free surface of a water body. The raw LSPIV results are instantaneous water surface velocity fields, spanning flow areas up to hundreds of square meters. Measurements conducted in typical conditions in conjunction with appropriate selections of parameters for image processing resulted in mean velocity errors of less than 3.5%. The current article reviews the background of LSPIV and the work of three research teams spanning over a decade. Implementation examples using various LSPIV configurations are then described to illustrate the capability of the technique to characterize spatially distributed two‐ and three‐dimensional flow kinematic features that can be related to important morphologic and hydrodynamic aspects of natural rivers. Finally, results and a critique of research methods are discussed to encourage LSPIV use and to improve its capabilities to collect field data needed to better understand complex geomorphic, hydrologic, and ecologic river processes and interactions under normal and extreme conditions.