Author(s): Janice M. Fulford; Juan Gonzalez-Castro
Linked Author(s): Juan A. González-Castro
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Non-contact methods of measuring water level, such as lasers, may offer cost reductions in the installation and maintenance of hydrological monitoring stations (stream gages) when compared to older instrument systems for sensing water level. Non-contact methods include acoustic, radar and laser instruments. Most of the existing research on non-contact sensors for water-level measurement has been for acoustic and radar systems which require the sensor to be located vertically over the water. These sensors measure over an increasing surface area as the distance between the sensor and water increases. Laser sensors offer the ability to always measure the level for a very small area of the water surface that may offer advantages over acoustic and radar systems in some situations. This paper briefly describes a basic uncertainty analysis for water-level measurements using a laser sensor that can be used to compare it with other types of water-level sensors.
Year: 2009