River Simulation Tool
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Description:
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has developed a river simulation tool (RST) that performs automated extraction of riverine features from imagery. The extractions include water/land edge locations, water point locations, and obstacle and hazard locations. Processing within the RST also includes processing of shoreline and bathymetry data for mesh generation as well as automated configuration of an unstructured mesh of the river using image-derived data. The GUI interface for model set-up and user selection of boundary types and values will handle discharge, water levels, or tide elevations, bottom type for friction coefficient specification, and a lateral mixing coefficient. The NRL software tool has contingencies for missing data, which includes options for incorporation of localized bathymetry, user-specified cross-sections by location, or synthetic cross-sections. Also provided are default values for upstream discharge, downstream water level, the bottom friction coefficient, and a lateral mixing coefficient. The tool produces river currents and water level data at mesh points, and it provides configurations of ensembles based on variations of model parameters and forcing. Basic statistical measures can also be computed.Advantages/Features Include:
- No limitations on the type of imagery that can be used
- Automates the extraction of geometry from imagery
- Automates generation of model unstructured mesh
- Applies contingencies for missing data (synthetic bathymetry or sediment type)
- Allows ensemble configuration
Applications Include:
- Risk assessment
- Mission planning systems
- Port security
- Environmental monitoring
- Disaster response
References:
- "A Tool for Rapid Configuration of a River Model," OCEANS 2009, MTS/IEEE Biloxi - Marine Technology for Our Future: Global and Local Challenges, pp. 1-10, 26-29 Oct. 2009.
- "Merging Imagery and Models for River Current Prediction," Proc. SPIE 8030, 80300G (2011); doi: 10.1117/12.884100.
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Contact:
Naval Research LaboratoryTechnology Transfer Office, Code 1004
techtran@research.nrl.navy.mil