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YSI SonTek RiverSurveyor System Manual

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SonTek/YSI Inc
9940 Summers Ridge Road, San Diego, CA 92121-3091 USA
Telephone (858) 546-8327 • Fax (858) 546-8150
E-mail: inquiry@sontek.com • Internet: http://www.sontek.com
RiverSurveyor
System Manual
Software Version 4.60
Copyright 2007 by SonTek/YSI Inc. All rights reserved. This document may not, in whole or in part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced,
translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form without prior consent in writing from SonTek/YSI. Every effort has
been made to ensure the accuracy of this manual. However, SonTek/YSI makes no warranties with respect to this documentation and disclaims
any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. SonTek/YSI shall not be liable for any errors or for incidental or
consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this manual or the examples herein. The information in this
document is subject to change without notice.

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Summary of Contents for YSI SonTek RiverSurveyor

  • Page 1 However, SonTek/YSI makes no warranties with respect to this documentation and disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. SonTek/YSI shall not be liable for any errors or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this manual or the examples herein.
  • Page 2 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 3 If the system needs to be returned to the factory, please contact SonTek/YSI to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. We reserve the right to refuse receipt of shipments without RMAs.
  • Page 4 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 5 SonTek/YSI Inc About This Manual Thank you for your interest in using a SonTek RiverSurveyor system. This RiverSurveyor Sys- tem Manual describes how to install and configure the RiverSurveyor system and its associated software. It includes instructions and guidelines for the most common applications for which this system is used.
  • Page 6 SonTek/YSI Inc Contact Information Any questions, concerns, or suggestions can be directed to SonTek by telephone, fax, or email. Business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Phone : (858) 546-8327 : (858) 546-8150 Email : inquiry@sontek.com...

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    SonTek/YSI Inc Table of Contents About This Manual ........................v Table of Contents ........................vii Section 1. Getting Started / Read Me First!................3 1.1. Start Here! ........................3 1.2. Unpack the System......................3 1.3. Install the Software......................3 1.4. Interconnect the System ....................4 1.4.1. Interconnection Procedure – Standard ADP RiverSurveyor System......4 1.4.2.
  • Page 8 SonTek/YSI Inc 3.3.6. Bottom-Track Terminology ..................28 Track Length......................28 Distance Made Good (DMG) ................28 GC-BC .........................28 ......................28 3.4. Global Positioning Systems (GPS and DGPS)...............29 3.4.1. What are GPS and DGPS?..................29 3.4.2. How does GPS work? ....................29 3.4.3. How does DGPS work? ...................30 3.4.4.
  • Page 9 SonTek/YSI Inc 3.9.1. What are the different coordinate systems? .............46 3.9.2. What are Beam Coordinates?...................46 3.9.3. What are XYZ Coordinates?..................46 3.9.4. What are ENU Coordinates?..................46 3.10. Track, Velocity, and Depth References................47 3.10.1. What does Track Reference mean?................47 3.10.2. How will selecting a different Track Reference change my results? ......47 3.10.3.
  • Page 10 SonTek/YSI Inc 6.1. Selecting the Right Measurement Platform..............72 6.1.1. What are some guidelines for selecting a measurement platform?......72 6.1.2. What type of vessel (moving platform) should be used for measurements? ...73 Motorized vessel with operator................73 Tethered Platforms (non-motorized) ..............73 Remote-controlled, motorized platforms .............73 6.2.
  • Page 11 SonTek/YSI Inc Profile Data ......................95 Discharge Data.....................95 Track Data......................96 GPS Data......................97 Sensor Data ......................97 Compass Rose......................98 7.2.3. Status Bar and Indicators ..................98 7.2.4. Track Window ......................98 7.2.5. Data Quality Window ....................100 7.2.6. Contour Window....................101 7.2.7. Contour Legend .....................103 7.2.8. Profile Window......................103 7.2.9.
  • Page 12 SonTek/YSI Inc Velocity Profile Extrapolation ................116 Discharge Computation ..................116 Sound Speed Correction ..................116 Echo Sounder Settings ..................117 Velocity Coordinate System ................117 SNR Threshold....................117 Velocity Reference ....................117 User Specified Rotation ..................117 Lock Measurement.....................117 7.3.6. Window Menu .......................118 Cascade ......................118 Tile ........................118 Arrange Icons.....................118...
  • Page 13 SonTek/YSI Inc 9.10. Compass Calibration Conditions..................146 Appendix A. Glossary ......................147 Appendix B. RiverSurveyor Data Output Files ..............151 B-1. Files Created during Data Collection................151 B-2. Files Created during Post-Processing ................151 Appendix C. ADP Direct Command Interface ..............155 Appendix D. RiverCat Assembly Instructions..............157 Appendix E.

  • Page 15: Getting Started / Read Me First

    1.1. Start Here! Thank you for your interest in the SonTek RiverSurveyor system. Although we would like you to read and familiarize yourself with the entire manual before making a measurement, we realize that many people just want to play with their new system when they first receive it. As such, we’re going to let you play with the system before you read the manual.

  • Page 16: Interconnect The System

    SonTek/YSI Inc _ Click the installation button for the CurrentMonitor program, and then follow the on- screen installation instructions. _ Repeat the process of clicking the installation button for the remaining programs on the CD (i.e., DeployADP, SonUtils, ViewADP). • To install the RiverSurveyor system programs (CurrentSurveyor, RiverSurveyor): _ Insert the “Surveyor”...

  • Page 17: Interconnection Procedure - Mini-Adp Riversurveyor System

    SonTek/YSI Inc Figure 1-1. Interconnection for the Standard ADP RiverSurveyor System _ Connect the cable’s RS-232 connector to an appropriate COM port on your computer (usu- ally the 9-pin port used for COM1). _ Connect the cable’s power input connector(s) to your power supply.

  • Page 18: Interconnection Procedure - Rivercat System

    _ The interconnection of a RiverCat system varies depending on what options have been in- cluded with your system. Refer to one of the following documents for detailed instructions on the assembly of a RiverCat system. Quick Sheet: SonTek/YSI RiverCat Assembly Instructions of the RiverSurveyor System Manual Appendix D _ Run some simple tests;...

  • Page 19: Run Some Simple Tests

    SonTek/YSI Inc 1.5. Run Some Simple Tests We now want to run just a few simple tests to give us some confidence that the system is func- tioning “right out of the box”. _ If you have not already done so, install at least the SonUtils program (§...
  • Page 20 SonTek/YSI Inc _ Note: While we are using SonUtils, if no valid entry is sent to the system for five minutes, the ADP may power itself down to conserve energy. If this happens, just send another Break to the ADP to wake it up again. Whether or not your ADP goes to sleep after five minutes depends on the system configuration.
  • Page 21 SonTek/YSI Inc ---------------------------- Temp ----------- (deg C) - 20.00 Sal ------------ (ppt) --- 34.50 TempMode ----------------- USER Sound Speed ---- (m/s) --- 1520.90 CellSize ------- (m) ----- 4.00 BlankDistance -- (m) ----- 1.00 Ncells ------------------- 10 AvgInterval ---- (s) ----- 5 ProfileInterval- (s) ----- 5 PingInterval --- (s) ----- 0.0...
  • Page 22 SonTek/YSI Inc point, the values displayed are meaningless, especially if your ADP is pinging “in air” rather than in water. Note: To learn which data is displayed in each column, refer to the ADP Operation Manual. >start 30212096 free bytes left in recorder.

  • Page 23: Learn The Details

    SonTek/YSI Inc >compass cont Heading = 18.1 Pitch = Roll = Heading = 18.5 Pitch = Roll = Heading = 18.9 Pitch = Roll = _ If possible, rotate the ADP through various heading, pitch, and roll angles to see if the com- pass data looks “reasonable”.
  • Page 24 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)

  • Page 25: An Introduction To The Riversurveyor System

    2.1. What is a RiverSurveyor? Simply put, the SonTek RiverSurveyor system is a robust and accurate Acoustic Doppler Profiler Flow Measurement system designed to quickly measure river discharge from a moving vessel. The RiverSurveyor system combines proven state-of-the-art acoustic Doppler instrumentation with a Windows-based (2000/NT/ME/XP) software package (Note: Version 4 of RiverSurveyor is not compatible with Windows 95/98).
  • Page 26 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)

  • Page 27: Riversurveyor Systems, Features, And Considerations

    SonTek/YSI Inc Section 3. RiverSurveyor Systems, Features, and Considerations The following topics are covered in Section 3: • RiverSurveyor System Types – Outlines the available ADP/RiverSurveyor system types. • Doppler Instruments and Current Profiling – What does an ADP do; what data will I see? •...
  • Page 28 SonTek/YSI Inc Table 3-1. Summary of RiverSurveyor Specifications and Configurations Profiling Range Cell Size Blanking Bottom-Track Available Frequency (min. – max.) (min. – max.) Distance (min.) Depth (max.) Configurations 250 kHz 5 – 180 m 2 – 20 m 1.5 m...

  • Page 29: Riversurveyor "Standard" System

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.1.1. RiverSurveyor “Standard” System Users with multiple deployment requirements commonly select the “Standard” RiverSurveyor system ( ). This is because all the Figure 3-1 electronics are self-contained in a robust housing. This system can be easily deployed in a downward-looking configuration from a moving...

  • Page 30: Riversurveyor "Mini" System

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.1.2. RiverSurveyor “Mini” System The mini configuration ( ) is popular in river discharge meas- Figure 3-3 urement applications primarily due to its small size and portability ). The mini-ADP (sometimes referred to as a splash-proof sys- Figure 3-5 tem) is identical to the standard ADP in both performance and operation.

  • Page 31: Rivercat Integrated Catamaran System

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.1.3. RiverCat Integrated Catamaran System SonTek’s RiverCat ( ) is a fully integrated river discharge data Figure 3-6 collection system. The RiverCat is designed for use in rivers that are dif- ficult or unsafe to measure from a boat. The system is typically towed...

  • Page 32: Doppler Instruments And Current Profiling

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.2. Doppler Instruments and Current Profiling The following topics are covered in this section: • What is an Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP)? • What is current profiling? • What parameters are associated with current profiling? • How do I set up the profiling parameters in RiverSurveyor? •...

  • Page 33: What Parameters Are Associated With Current Profiling

    SonTek/YSI Inc Depth cells Vertical profile Figure 3-8. Example of Current Profiling 3.2.3. What parameters are associated with current profiling? For the amount and type of data collected by an ADP, relatively few user-entered parameters are required. This section briefly describes the major parameters associated with current profiling.

  • Page 34: Cell Size

    SonTek/YSI Inc Cell Size Beyond the blanking distance, the ADP averages its data over a user-specified number of data collection points known as cells (also referred to as range cells or depth cells) The size of these cells is determined by a user-selected cell size. The cell size (commonly abbreviated as CS) de- fines the resolution of the velocity profile (in meters or feet).

  • Page 35: How Do I Set Up The Profiling Parameters In Riversurveyor

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.2.4. How do I set up the profiling parameters in RiverSurveyor? The parameters needed to collect data can be entered two ways – through the SonUtils program or through the RiverSurveyor program. The easier method is through RiverSurveyor, which is described in detail in .

  • Page 36: Bottom-Track

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.3. Bottom-Track The following topics are described in this section. • What is bottom-track? • How does bottom-track work? • How does bottom-track work with RiverSurveyor? • When and where should I use bottom-track with RiverSurveyor? • What are the limitations of bottom-track? •...

  • Page 37: How Does Bottom-Track Work With Riversurveyor

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.3.3. How does bottom-track work with RiverSurveyor? As previously explained (§ ), bottom-track is a great tool for measuring vessel velocity and 3.3.2 water depth. Unlike GPS (§ ) and echo sounder (§ ) inputs, bottom-track data does not re- quire any additional serial ports (i.e., inputs) to your computer while still providing all the neces-...

  • Page 38: What Are The Limitations Of Bottom-Track

    SonTek/YSI Inc and GPS are two totally independent methods of measuring position and distance traveled – one will not correct the other. • Bottom-track is a relative position system (e.g., my current position is 5 m North of my po- sition 10 seconds ago).
  • Page 39 SonTek/YSI Inc amples of these rivers in the United States include sections of the Mississippi River and the Mis- souri River. Both rivers have well documented evidence of moving bed. Generally, it is good practice to understand the bottom characteristics of the survey site before collecting data with an ADP, as some soft bottoms with large amounts of plant growth can imi- tate a moving bed.

  • Page 40: Bottom-Track Terminology

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.3.6. Bottom-Track Terminology This section describes some of the key bottom- track terms. Track Length The total distance traveled along the full length or course of the vessel track ( Figure 3-10 Distance Made Good (DMG) DMG is the length of the direct line between the vessel’s start position and the vessel’s current po-...

  • Page 41: Global Positioning Systems (Gps And Dgps)

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.4. Global Positioning Systems (GPS and DGPS) The following topics are covered in this section: • What are GPS and DGPS? • How does GPS work? • How does DGPS work? • How does GPS work with RiverSurveyor? •...

  • Page 42: How Does Dgps Work

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.4.3. How does DGPS work? DGPS works the same way as GPS, but with the addition of a stationary receiver or base station (differential beacon) to correct the GPS signal and provide sub-meter ac- curacy ( ). Both the stationary...

  • Page 43: When And Where Should I Use Gps With Riversurveyor

    SonTek/YSI Inc GPS data is transmitted in a data stream through the serial port. This data stream is divided into a series of sentences or strings, each with an individual prefix used to describe the string’s format. The most commonly used GPS string is the “GGA” string. This string contains the time, posi- tion, and fix-related data.

  • Page 44: Gps Settings

    SonTek/YSI Inc • The antenna should have a clear, unobstructed “view” of the sky. Avoid measurement areas close to bridges, tree canopies, and steep canyons that can obstruct the GPS signal or cause it to reflect off an obstruction before being received by the GPS unit. GPS reflections (called multi-path errors) significantly degrade GPS performance and cause major errors in discharge values.
  • Page 45 SonTek/YSI Inc In the dialog box ( ), select the serial ( ) port and for your sys- Systems Figure 3-13 Baud Rate tem. If the is on (box checked), the RiverSurveyor program will automati- Automatic Verification cally search for a valid GPS data string as soon as the communications settings are entered. If...

  • Page 46: Compass Alignment And Magnetic Declination

    SonTek/YSI Inc Compass Alignment and Magnetic Declination When using GPS as a velocity reference to compute discharge, you must correct for any differ- ence in the alignment angle between the internal ADP compass (referenced to magnetic north) and the GPS compass (referenced to true north). As an example, a misalignment of 5° between the GPS and the ADP internal compass results in an 8% error in velocity.

  • Page 47: Multipath Error

    SonTek/YSI Inc Differential GPS (DGPS) receivers are capable of providing higher positioning accuracy (sub- meter in the open ocean or even better when in the vicinity of the reference station on land). σ Even the most advanced DGPS systems determine vessel position with some uncertainty σ...

  • Page 48: Gps Terminology

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.4.8. GPS Terminology This section describes some of the key GPS terms. Latitude and Longitude Latitude and longitude are two numbers or coordinates that are used to describe locations on Earth. Lines of constant latitude circle the Earth East-West. Lines of constant longitude circle the Earth North-South.

  • Page 49: Echo Sounders

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.5. Echo Sounders The following topics are covered in this section: • What is an Echo Sounder? • How do Echo Sounders work? • How do Echo Sounders work with RiverSurveyor? • How do I set up an Echo Sounder in RiverSurveyor? 3.5.1.

  • Page 50: How Do I Set Up An Echo Sounder In Riversurveyor

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.5.4. How do I set up an Echo Sounder in RiverSurveyor? Before establishing communication with your echo sounder through the RiverSurveyor program: • Make sure the echo sounder is operating correctly (see echo sounder manual for details). • Make sure your echo sounder is using the appropriate communications settings. Typical se- rial communication settings for an echo sounder are: - Baud rate –...
  • Page 51 SonTek/YSI Inc column has a show properties link. Clicking this link opens the Properties Echo Sounder dialog box ( ), which contains the following information: Properties Figure 3-16 • – The default settings are 8 and 1 respectively; however, some systems Data Bits / Stop Bits may use different settings.

  • Page 52: Automatic Transducer-Mounting Depth Sensor

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.6. Automatic Transducer-Mounting Depth Sensor The following topics are covered in this section: • What is the Automatic Transducer-Mounting Depth Sensor? • How does the ATMDS work? • How does the ATMDS work with RiverSurveyor? • How do I set up the ATMDS in RiverSurveyor? 3.6.1.

  • Page 53: How Do I Set Up The Atmds In Riversurveyor

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.6.4. How do I set up the ATMDS in RiverSurveyor? You can select the ATMDS option via the dialog box. The dialog box User Setup User Setup will be displayed each time you connect to your ADP and run the RiverSurveyor program. It can...
  • Page 54 SonTek/YSI Inc the vessel is in motion or where there is water velocity past the transducer head could result in biasing the depth measurement. • You can then choose to either accept or reject the measurement. - To accept the measurement, click...

  • Page 55: Internal Recorder

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.7. Internal Recorder The following topics are covered in this section: • What is the internal recorder? • How does the internal recorder work with RiverSurveyor? • How do I set up the internal recorder in RiverSurveyor? 3.7.1. What is the internal recorder? The internal recorder consists of a non-volatile flash-memory card located on an ADP electron- ics board.

  • Page 56: Compass/Tilt Sensor And Magnetic Declination

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.8. Compass/Tilt Sensor and Magnetic Declination The following topics are covered in this section: • What is the Compass/Tilt Sensor? • How does the Compass/Tilt Sensor work with RiverSurveyor? • What is Magnetic Declination? 3.8.1. What is the Compass/Tilt Sensor? The compass/tilt sensor provides real-time heading, pitch, and roll data to the ADP.

  • Page 57: Compass Calibration Procedure

    SonTek/YSI Inc Compass Calibration Procedure To calibrate the compass: • Perform compass calibration before deployment with the ADP in its mounted position. • Click in the dialog box to display the Calibrate Compass User Setup Compass Calibration dialog box ( Figure 3-22 •...

  • Page 58: Velocity Coordinate Systems

    SonTek/YSI Inc • Manual – Enter the magnetic declination into the field in the Magnetic Declination User dialog box. You can determine the magnetic declination for your survey site from Setup several sources: magnetic declination maps provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, com-...

  • Page 59: Track, Velocity, And Depth References

    SonTek/YSI Inc it is of paramount importance that the compass is working correctly, and that it is installed in the correct orientation. Generally speaking, all discharge and current profiling measurements are normally recorded and displayed in ENU coordinates. 3.10. Track, Velocity, and Depth References The following topics are covered in this section: •...

  • Page 60: What Does Velocity Reference Mean

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.10.3. What does Velocity Reference mean? Velocity reference refers to the method used to remove vessel motion (i.e., speed) from the water velocity measured by the ADP. There are three velocity references available: • Bottom-track (available on all RiverSurveyor systems; §...

  • Page 61: What Does Depth Reference Mean

    SonTek/YSI Inc Always consider the difference between bottom-track and GPS, and their methods of calculating vessel position, when processing your velocity and positional data. As mentioned previously, bottom-track is a “relative position” system and GPS is an “absolute position” system.

  • Page 62: How Does Shallow Water Operation Work With Riversurveyor

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.11.2. How does Shallow Water Operation work with RiverSurveyor? The shallow-water cell is displayed as an additional cell at the top of the velocity profile in Riv- erSurveyor ( ). Shallow-water cell data are used in the extrapolation of the vertical ve- Figure 3-24 locity profile and provide more definition to the unmeasured region of water near the surface.

  • Page 63: Additional/Ancillary Equipment

    SonTek/YSI Inc 3.12. Additional/Ancillary Equipment Ancillary equipment typically refers to any peripheral or auxiliary items not normally provided with the purchase of your system. Depending on how you will be using your RiverSurveyor sys- tem, you may need to provide one or more of the following items.

  • Page 64: What Other Items May Be Useful To Me In The Field

    SonTek/YSI Inc a variable power input, ground-loop problems, or electrical noise that could result in a loss of range or damage to the system. • Power inverter – A power inverter allows AC-powered equipment to be used on vessels that typically output only DC power.

  • Page 65: Riversurveyor Applications

    SonTek/YSI Inc Section 4. RiverSurveyor Applications This section describes the types of applications where RiverSurveyor systems are used, including suggested settings and specific examples. Overall, the topics in Section 4 are written as a brief summary for new users of this technology. In many cases, each section listed below could easily be expanded more thoroughly.
  • Page 66 SonTek/YSI Inc Figure 4-2. RiverSurveyor discharge measurements on the Colorado River below Hoover Dam Figure 4-3. RiverSurveyor discharge measurements using the "tagline method" on Gila Gravity main canal, Yuma, Arizona Figure 4-4. RiverCat discharge measurement using a two-person, bank-to-bank towing method on the Tietê...

  • Page 67: Stream (River) Gauging And Riversurveyor Discharge Measurements

    SonTek/YSI Inc 4.1. Stream (River) Gauging and RiverSurveyor Discharge Measurements The following topics are covered in this section: • What do Stream Gauging and Discharge mean? • What are the considerations in making a discharge measurement? • How does RiverSurveyor make instantaneous discharge measurements? 4.1.1.

  • Page 68: How Does Riversurveyor Make Instantaneous Discharge Measurements

    SonTek/YSI Inc Obviously, a large number of points to measure translates into high operational costs in crew la- bor. It also translates into high safety risks for the crew, especially during flood events. In addi- tion, for some situations such as very wide rivers under tidal influence, the long time required to do a cross-section makes it difficult to perform short-time scale monitoring of flow changes.
  • Page 69 SonTek/YSI Inc have to cross in a straight line and can easily change direction and speed (gradually) without in- fluencing the accuracy of the discharge data. This is a major advantage of a RiverSurveyor ADP, particularly in strong currents. The software computes the boat position using either bottom-track (§...

  • Page 70: Computer Modeling And Verification

    SonTek/YSI Inc 4.2. Computer Modeling and Verification The following topics are covered in this section: • Does RiverSurveyor work with Computer Models? • How does RiverSurveyor work with 2-D Computer Models? • How does RiverSurveyor work with 3-D Computer Models? 4.2.1.
  • Page 71 SonTek/YSI Inc Figure 4-7. Exporting data from ViewADP RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)

  • Page 72: River Condition Considerations

    SonTek/YSI Inc 4.3. River Condition Considerations This section lists some river conditions that you may need to consider before conducting a dis- charge measurement. Specifically, this section describes the following river conditions: • Slow and Fast Flows • Moving Bed •...

  • Page 73: Wind

    SonTek/YSI Inc Most profile extrapolation routines assume the entire water column is heading in the same direc- tion. In the case of bi-directional flow, this can create errors in the extrapolation of velocities in unmeasured areas because both water current magnitude and direction are computed incorrectly.
  • Page 74 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)

  • Page 75: Principles Of Discharge Measurement

    SonTek/YSI Inc Section 5. Principles of Discharge Measurement This section describes the principals and methods of calculating the total discharge of water through the measured cross-section. The following topics are covered in Section 5. • Discharge Calculations – How do I calculate discharge? •...

  • Page 76: Are There Limitations To The Discharge Calculation

    SonTek/YSI Inc 5.1.2. Are there limitations to the discharge calculation? RiverSurveyor systems cannot measure the entire river cross-section. The “unmeasured” areas are depicted in and explained below. Figure 5-2 • The minimum ADP and vessel depth requirements limit the depths into which the RiverSur- veyor system can profile.
  • Page 77 SonTek/YSI Inc The following paragraphs describe the basic procedures used to calculate the edge discharges for a section using RiverSurveyor during data collection. Start data collection. Click to start data recording. The basic dialog box Record Start Edge ) is displayed. The...
  • Page 78 SonTek/YSI Inc The following basic information can be entered during data collection: • – The bank where the measurement started. The convention used is the Start Bank/End Bank left bank is the bank on the left side of the stream when looking downstream.
  • Page 79 SonTek/YSI Inc To calculate the total discharge for a section using RiverSurveyor during post-processing: 1. Open the data file using (or press File|Open Ctrl+O 2. Select the file that you want to load; click Open 3. When the dialog box opens, click ADP File Information 4.

  • Page 80: Velocity Profile Extrapolation

    SonTek/YSI Inc 5.2. Velocity Profile Extrapolation Previously, Section (Discharge Calculations) described the concept of measured and un- measured areas. The RiverSurveyor program computes discharge in the unmeasured areas based on the water current velocities in the measured areas. In the riverbank edges, the velocities are based on the adjacent profiles.

  • Page 81: Velocity Profile Calculation

    SonTek/YSI Inc dialog box ( ) is Velocity Profile Extrapolation Figure 5-7 used to set up the two main processing requirements: • The Velocity Profile Calculation • The method of determining where the profile ends Velocity Profile Calculation First decide whether the top and bottom unmeasured areas will be calculated using the same parameters or independ- ently.
  • Page 82 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)

  • Page 83: Preparing The System For A Survey

    SonTek/YSI Inc Section 6. Preparing the System for a Survey This section provides an overview of how to prepare a RiverSurveyor system for data collection. The following topics are covered in Section 6. • Selecting the Right Measurement Platform – What are the guidelines for the type of vessel I should use for taking measurements? •...

  • Page 84: Selecting The Right Measurement Platform

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.1. Selecting the Right Measurement Platform The following topics are covered in this section: • What are some guidelines for selecting a measurement platform? • What type of vessel (moving platform) should be used for measurements? 6.1.1. What are some guidelines for selecting a measurement platform? Of course, selecting the right equipment for the job will always produce the best results.

  • Page 85: What Type Of Vessel (Moving Platform) Should Be Used For Measurements

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.1.2. What type of vessel (moving platform) should be used for measurements? There are many types of moving platforms that are used to make RiverSurveyor measurements. Basically, they can be separated into three categories: • Motorized vessel with operator •...

  • Page 86: Mounting The Riversurveyor Adp To The Vessel

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.2. Mounting the RiverSurveyor ADP to the Vessel The following topics are covered in this section: • What types of mounts are used? • What are the requirements for the ADP mount? 6.2.1. What types of mounts are used? Mounting the ADP can be a simple or complex task depending on the type of boat used and quality of the mount.
  • Page 87 SonTek/YSI Inc Figure 6-2. Bow-mounted, mini-ADP, aluminum pipe and fittings, aluminum clamp (Flathead River, Montana) Figure 6-3. Side-mounted, aluminum pipe and fittings, retractable aluminum cross-pipe (Paraná River, Brazil) RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)

  • Page 88: What Are The Requirements For The Adp Mount

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.2.2. What are the requirements for the ADP mount? The ideal requirements for a boat mount would be as follows: • Constructed of non-ferrous material (1” to 2” aluminum pipe works best with stainless steel bolts). • Must be rigid and level when the transducer is in the water to minimize the amount of vibra- tion in the mount.

  • Page 89: Selecting A Measurement Cross-Section

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.4. Selecting a Measurement Cross-Section The following topics are covered in this section: • Why should I be careful when selecting a cross-section location? • What factors do I need to consider when selecting a cross-section? 6.4.1. Why should I be careful when selecting a cross-section location? Selecting a suitable measurement location is quite subjective at times and involves considera- tions such as access, width, bottom-depth, and deployment possibilities.

  • Page 90: Maximum Water Depth

    SonTek/YSI Inc A few examples of bad measurement locations are: • Immediately downstream of a bridge where the piers are causing turbulence in the meas- urement location. In general, these areas also tend to be scoured and have quick changes in depth as a pier is passed.

  • Page 91: Minimal Flow Along The Edges

    SonTek/YSI Inc Minimal Flow along the Edges Flow along the riverbanks at the measurement site should ideally be near zero or small. In gen- eral terms, good practice is to try to measure as much water in the cross-section as possible. This will provide a lower systematic error for the discharge measurement by minimizing the ratio of unmeasured flow to measured flow.

  • Page 92: How To Make Good Measurements From A Moving Vessel

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.5. How to Make Good Measurements from a Moving Vessel The RiverSurveyor ADP is usually mounted to a boat or tethered platform (RiverCat) to measure discharge in a river. Two basic measurement techniques apply: • Motoring the boat across the river from one bank to the other. Examples are shown in...

  • Page 93: Selecting Riversurveyor Settings

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.6. Selecting RiverSurveyor Settings This section describes the primary RiverSurveyor program settings you will use during data col- lection. We assume you are familiar with the displays, menus, fields, and controls in RiverSur- veyor. If not, refer to –...

  • Page 94: File Naming System And Recording Filename

    SonTek/YSI Inc configuration into the system. The configured is displayed at all times. Any field Profiling Range name shown in blue text can be clicked to additional information about the field. In many situations, you will make very few modifications to the values in...

  • Page 95: Averaging Interval

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.6.3. Averaging Interval ) is the period of time, in seconds, over which the ADP aver- Averaging Interval Figure 6-4 ages data to compute a mean velocity profile. For RiverSurveyor applications, the averaging in- terval profiling interval are the same. This provides a continuous measurement across the en- tire transect, from start to finish.

  • Page 96: Profiling Range - Number Of Cells, Cell Size, And Blanking Distance

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.6.7. Profiling Range – Number of Cells, Cell Size, and Blanking Distance settings in the dialog box ( ) determine the depth range Profiling Range User Setup Figure 6-6 over which velocity data will be collected. It is critical that the profiling range you set is greater than the expected maximum depth for your transect.
  • Page 97 SonTek/YSI Inc cell sizes available for your ADP’s frequency. Example: For a 1.0-MHz ADP, the minimum cell size is 0.25 m (0.82 ft), and the maximum cell size is 5.0 m (16.4 ft). Keep in mind there are advantages and disadvantages to selecting small or large cell sizes: •...

  • Page 98: Coordinate System

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.6.8. Coordinate System For RiverSurveyor applications, the field should always be set to (East- Coordinate System North-Up; Earth coordinates) on the tab of the dialog box ( Advanced Settings User Setup Figure ). For information on velocity coordinate systems, see §...

  • Page 99: Speed Of Sound

    SonTek/YSI Inc 6.6.13. Speed of Sound Speed of sound is used to convert the Doppler shift to water velocity. The values for User Setup salinity ( ) and temperature ( ) are used to calculate the sound speed. The Figure 6-4...

  • Page 100: Accept Or Reject User Setup Parameters

    SonTek/YSI Inc • In the dialog box ( ), type in a name for this configuration Configuration Manager Figure 6-8 in the field. Save Current Configuration • Click . The will only save valid system configurations. Save Configuration Manager To load an existing configuration: •...

  • Page 101: Riversurveyor Software

    SonTek/YSI Inc Section 7. RiverSurveyor Software This section provides information on the RiverSurveyor software program. • RiverSurveyor Program Overview – What is the RiverSurveyor program? • RiverSurveyor Program Layout – What am I looking at? • RiverSurveyor Menus – How do I control the program? •...

  • Page 102: Riversurveyor Program Overview

    SonTek/YSI Inc 7.1. RiverSurveyor Program Overview This section covers the following topics: • What is the RiverSurveyor software program? • How do I use the RiverSurveyor program? • Why do I need to use the RiverSurveyor program? • What are the main features of the RiverSurveyor program? •...

  • Page 103: Why Do I Need To Use The Riversurveyor Program

    SonTek/YSI Inc 7.1.3. Why do I need to use the RiverSurveyor program? RiverSurveyor provides you with an easy to use interface for communicating with your ADP (and other sensors) and to display the information collected. While ADP data can be collected exclusively using the internal recorder (§...
  • Page 104 SonTek/YSI Inc • 800-MHz (or better) processor clock speed • 64 MB (or better) available memory • 100 MB (or better) available disk space • Monitor capable of 1024 x 768 (or better) resolution, 16-bit color RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)

  • Page 105: Riversurveyor Program Layout

    SonTek/YSI Inc 7.2. RiverSurveyor Program Layout The section describes the following RiverSurveyor screen layout components. shows Figure 7-2 the location of these components. • Title Bar, Menu Bar, and Toolbars • Tabular Data Displays • Status Bar and Indicators • Track Window •...

  • Page 106: Title Bar, Menu Bar, And Toolbars

    SonTek/YSI Inc 7.2.1. Title Bar, Menu Bar, and Toolbars Referring to Figure 7-2 • The identifies the file to which data is being recorded or from which data is being Title Bar displayed. • The allows you to select from a menu of program features. Clicking a Main Menu Menu Bar item usually displays a submenu.
  • Page 107 SonTek/YSI Inc Profile Data The tabular data shown in the group ( ) re- Profile Data Figure 7-4 lates to profile information and time information. To display this information, use View|Display Data|Show Profile Data • – Shows the file name used to store the current data set.
  • Page 108 SonTek/YSI Inc Track Data The tabular data shown in the box ( ) relates Track Data Figure 7-6 to information collected when bottom-track (§ ) or GPS data (§ ) is available. To display this information, use View|Display Data|Show Track Data •...
  • Page 109 SonTek/YSI Inc GPS Data The tabular data shown in the box ( ) relates to GPS Data Figure 7-7 GPS data (§ ) and its quality as reported by a GPS receiver unit. All data shown in this group requires either connection to a GPS receiver unit (for real-time data collection) or a file containing GPS data (for post-processing).
  • Page 110 SonTek/YSI Inc • – The mean pitch and roll angles for the entire transect. Avg Pitch Avg Roll • – The depth of the echo sounder transducer below the water surface. This Echo Xducer value is entered by user in the echo sounder properties of the dialog box (§...
  • Page 111 SonTek/YSI Inc A current vector (usually a green line) is displayed for each profile, orientated in the direction of the measured flow. The length of the vector is proportional to the magni- tude of the water current speed. Vec- tor length can be scaled using the...
  • Page 112 SonTek/YSI Inc You can zoom in and out on the display by clicking the buttons, or Zoom In Zoom Out by pressing the key (zoom in) and key (zoom out). Shift+Z can also display waypoints. Waypoints are used for navigation and assist the Track Window vessel pilot to follow a pre-determined course.
  • Page 113 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.2.6. Contour Window ) displays a color-contour plot of water-current velocity, ADP Contour Window Figure 7-12 return signal strength, or signal-to-noise ratio. The desired variable is selected in the Contour Control Box View|Show Contour Control Box Figure 7-20 shows a vertical cross-section of the transect.
  • Page 114 SonTek/YSI Inc • The color of each of the boxes is based on the value of the displayed parameter in the cell relative to the color (§ Contour Legend 7.2.7 • The parameters that can be displayed in the are:...
  • Page 115 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.2.7. Contour Legend Double-clicking the colored scale legend to the right of the (§ ) will Contour Window 7.2.6 allow you to change the scaling structure of the color-contour “blocks” or cells. You can choose to scale the display automatically or manually.
  • Page 116 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.3. RiverSurveyor Menus This section describes all the menu items available in RiverSurveyor. • File Menu • Communications Menu - Collect/Record Data (Ctrl+R) - Systems (Ctrl+S) - Open (Ctrl+O) - Show GPS Data - Open Next File (Ctrl+N) •...
  • Page 117 SonTek/YSI Inc Print (Ctrl+P) Prints the graphs of the currently selected file to the selected printer. Contour Profile .adp Print Preview Lets you view the graphic display as it will look when printed. Print Setup Lets you modify the printer selection and its parameters before printing.
  • Page 118 SonTek/YSI Inc • – Lets you copy the summary data to the clipboard. This is usually done when you Copy want to transfer the data to a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel. • – To show and hide specific fields. By default the...
  • Page 119 SonTek/YSI Inc Configuration This item lets you set program control op- tions and user preferences. Figure 7-18 shows the options available. Defaults are in [brackets]. • User Settings Request Edge Distance when Re- [enabled] – Show the cording Start dialog boxes...
  • Page 120 SonTek/YSI Inc [enabled] – Show the limit for valid cells defined by the Show Discharge CutOff Depth option in the dialog box (§ ). The limit is Discard Data Velocity Profile Extrapolation 5.2.2 displayed as a white line that runs along the bottom of the last valid cell in each profile.
  • Page 121 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.3.2. View Menu contains the following options: View Menu Number of Profiles Displayed Sets the number of profiles to display in the (§ ). You can also change the Contour Window 7.2.6 number of profiles to display by double-clicking on the axis at the bottom of the graph. During data collection, a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 250 profiles can be selected.
  • Page 122 SonTek/YSI Inc Toolbars Shows/hides the following toolbars: • Show Standard Toolbar – Shows/hides the F le toolbar ( ), which contains the icons Table 7-1 to open a file; connect to the ADP, GPS, and Echo Sounder systems; view the ADP system setup;...
  • Page 123 SonTek/YSI Inc Note: The selection shows the selected component based on velocity coor- Beam dinate system (§ ). Available for the , and displays; how- Velocity Signal ever, not available if the option is activated. View|User Specified Rotation • – Shows the average of all beams. Available only for the displays.
  • Page 124 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.3.3. Communications Menu has two options – Communications Menu Systems Show GPS Data Systems (Ctrl+S) Use this menu item (or the icon ) to show the dialog box ( Systems Systems Figure ). This box is used as the central “hub” for setting up and establishing communication with 7-22 the ADP, the External / Internal GPS, and the Echo Sounder.
  • Page 125 SonTek/YSI Inc The system types and their individual features are as follows. • – Essential for all RiverSurveyor measurements. Communications must be established with the ADP before you can set up the system. The field accesses options to dis- Properties...
  • Page 126 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.3.4. ADP Configuration Menu has the following options. ADP Configuration Menu Standard Information This dialog box ( ) gives an overview of the data Figure 7-24 collected in the file: • File Name • File Size • Number of Profiles collected in file •...
  • Page 127 SonTek/YSI Inc User Setup This dialog box ( ) shows the current system configuration and allows Figure 7-26 Figure 7-27 you to make changes to the settings. There are three “pages”: Basic Settings Profiling Range Advanced Settings dialog box looks and functions a little different based on the mode of operation.
  • Page 128 SonTek/YSI Inc • page ( Profiling Range Figure 6-5 Select a method for determining the profiling parameters and range of the system. See § 6.6.7 for details. – Enter the maximum depth for the cross-section and the program will calculate Method 1 the necessary parameters.
  • Page 129 SonTek/YSI Inc Echo Sounder Settings This dialog box ( ) applies only Figure 7-29 when an echo sounder is used to collect depth information. Enter the depth of the echo sounder’s transducer below the sur- face and the results of the Bar Check Cali- for the system.
  • Page 130 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.3.6. Window Menu contains the following options: Window Menu Cascade Arranges all open ADP data files ( ) in the standard Windows cascaded-style layout. .adp Tile Arranges all open ADP data files ( ) in the standard Windows tiled-style layout.
  • Page 131 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.4. RiverSurveyor Toolbars and Hotkeys The following toolbars and hotkeys are available in RiverSurveyor: • Standard Toolbar ( Table 7-1 • Processing Toolbar ( Table 7-2 • Controls Toolbar ( Table 7-3 • Playback Toolbar ( Table 7-4 •...
  • Page 132 SonTek/YSI Inc Table 7-3. Controls Toolbar Zoom in on Track Window [z] Zoom out on Track Window [Shift+z] Change the grid spacing on the Track Window Increase size of velocity vectors on Track Window [+ on keypad] Decrease size of velocity vectors on Track Window [– on keypad]...
  • Page 133 SonTek/YSI Inc Table 7-6. RiverSurveyor Hotkeys Switch Track Reference Zoom In on Track Window Shift + Z Zoom Out on Track Window Ctrl + B Change Velocity Reference to Bottom-Track Ctrl + D Open the Discharge Calculation dialog box Ctrl + E...
  • Page 134 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.5. Waypoints and Navigation Waypoints and navigational features are locations that can be set in the (§ ) to Track Window 7.2.4 assist in navigation during a discharge measurement. For example, shows the Figure 7-32 Track with waypoints (...
  • Page 135 SonTek/YSI Inc Figure 7-33. Waypoints dialog box dialog box ( ) shows a list of the active waypoints/markers/hazards, Waypoints Figure 7-33 their latitude/longitude, and any comments. • To add a waypoint, click , and then enter its identifying information (name, type, Add WP latitude, longitude, comments).
  • Page 136 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.6. How to Collect Data with RiverSurveyor This section describes a basic approach as to how to collect data using the RiverSurveyor pro- gram. As needed, the steps in this outline will refer you to more detailed information about par- ticular settings.
  • Page 137 SonTek/YSI Inc e. If you will be making a discharge measurement, the distance to the bank is critical to de- termining the unmeasured side areas (§ ). As such, you must accurately measure the distance from the ADP to the riverbank (e.g., using a tape measure, range finder, etc).
  • Page 138 SonTek/YSI Inc (3) The data (discharge and related parameters) from each transect are stored in a sepa- rate discharge record – one for each transect. These discharge records are shown con- secutively in the dialog box ( ). In addition to several...
  • Page 139 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.7. Analyzing and Processing RiverSurveyor Data This section describes the analysis and processing of data files collected using the RiverSurveyor program. Collection of these data files was described in the previous section (§ – How to Col- lect Data with RiverSurveyor).
  • Page 140 SonTek/YSI Inc 4. The section of this dialog box lets you load the entire data set or a specific Load Profiles portion of the data. This feature can be useful in situations where you may want to re- move part of the measurement or focus on an exact portion of the data set (this is com- monly called sub-sectioning).
  • Page 141 SonTek/YSI Inc Figure 7-37. Demonstration file – RS-DemoData.adp 7.7.4. Workspaces and File Settings When a data file is closed, the last settings used to process and display the file are saved. This does not change the raw data in any way, but instead the settings are saved to a separate .cfg file.
  • Page 142 SonTek/YSI Inc Figure 7-38. Discharge Measurement Summary – Select Files dialog box 7.8.1. Creating the Discharge Measurement Summary Before the Summary is displayed, the dialog ( ) asks for the measurement Select Files Figure 7-38 files to process (four in example above). This dialog is also used to select the report style for the Summary ( ).
  • Page 143 SonTek/YSI Inc Figure 7-39. Discharge Measurement Summary RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 144 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.8.2. Working with the Discharge Measurement Summary The Summary is designed to be informative, easy to use, and display the data in exactly the same format as it is entered. There are several fields for the entry of site and measurement specific data.
  • Page 145 SonTek/YSI Inc 7.9. Data Export There are three types of data export functions available in RiverSurveyor via the File|Export menu: • Batch Data File Export • Export Single Discharge Measurement • Export Single “T” Format Data File 7.9.1. Batch Data File Export This option processes multiple files and outputs all available export data file formats.
  • Page 146 SonTek/YSI Inc • ) – This setting defines the track refer- Track Reference Last Settings Bottom-Track ence to use when processing the files. The option uses the track reference that Last Settings was last used when the file was manually processed.
  • Page 147 SonTek/YSI Inc Section 8. System Maintenance RiverSurveyor maintenance is identical to the maintenance performed on ADPs. As such, refer to the ADP Operation Manual for a description of ADP maintenance. RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 148 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 149 SonTek/YSI Inc Section 9. System Troubleshooting This section provides basic assistance in determining and resolving problems with the RiverSur- veyor system or software. Here is a listing of the problem categories and some common condi- tions. Acrobat PDF users can click the appropriate item. Note: If you need further troubleshoot-...
  • Page 150 SonTek/YSI Inc • DQI Window Conditions - My DQI value is very high. - There are several spikes in the DQI data. • Discharge Calculation Conditions - Multiple discharge calculations across the same transect do not match. • Compass Calibration Conditions - I cannot get an acceptable result during compass calibration.
  • Page 151 SonTek/YSI Inc 9.1. ADP/General Communication Conditions I cannot communicate with the RiverSurveyor system or ADP. This could be either a hardware or software issue that affects the communications interface. Note: Cables and connectors are one of the highest causes of problems with field equipment; you should make every attempt to take good care of all cables and connectors.
  • Page 152 SonTek/YSI Inc • Check the cables between the computer and the ADP, or between the computer and the ra- dio modem used with RiverCat systems. RiverCat users may want to connect their ADP di- rectly to the computer; this could help determine if there are modem-related problems.
  • Page 153 SonTek/YSI Inc • Move the survey site to an area away from vertical walls, away from areas with sharp changes in slope, and away from areas with a large amount of vegetation on the bottom. These areas can cause large differentials in the individual beam depths.
  • Page 154 SonTek/YSI Inc 9.4. Echo Sounder Conditions I cannot communicate with my echo sounder. There is a communication problem or the system has been configured with incorrect settings. • Check the connection cable between the computer and the echo sounder. Check that you have selected the corrected serial port for your connection.
  • Page 155 SonTek/YSI Inc • Follow the instructions listed in § – for more information on detecting and 3.3.5 Moving Bed compensating for moving bed. The vessel is moving, but it is stationary in the Track Window. The track reference (either ) is receiving invalid data or is not connected.
  • Page 156 SonTek/YSI Inc The signal amplitude or SNR in the Contour or Profile Window is very low. There are insufficient particles or “scatterers” in the water to return a good signal. • Select a different site for the measurement. • Use seeding material in the water. This may be difficult for long transects or in deep water.
  • Page 157 SonTek/YSI Inc • Watch for significant pitch and roll that may cause a transducer to come out of the water. Try to avoid conditions where the boat is exposed to significant rotations. • Clear any debris that may have been caught or wrapped around the transducer head.
  • Page 158 SonTek/YSI Inc The section you measured the first time is not the same section used in other measurements. • Try to avoid making measurements when flow conditions could change significantly over a short time (e.g., before and after a dam has released water into the stream).
  • Page 159 SonTek/YSI Inc Appendix A. Glossary This appendix provides a description of the major terms and abbreviations used in discussing the RiverSurveyor system, Acoustic Doppler Profilers, and current profiling in general. Term Description Acoustic Doppler Profiler ATMDS Automatic Transducer-Mounting Depth Sensor (§...
  • Page 160 SonTek/YSI Inc Term Description DGPS Differential Global Positioning System. Refer to § distance made good The length of a direct line between the vessel’s start position and the or DMG vessel’s current position. Refer to Figure 3-10 The East-North-Up (Earth) coordinate system used by an ADP. See §...
  • Page 161 SonTek/YSI Inc Term Description range cell See cell. salinity A value that indicates a user-entered determination of the amount of sa- linity, in parts per thousand (ppt), in the water. This value is used in sound speed calculations. signal strength...
  • Page 162 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 163 SonTek/YSI Inc Appendix B. RiverSurveyor Data Output Files This appendix describes the two categories of RiverSurveyor data output files: • Files Created during Data Collection • Files Created during Post-Processing B-1. Files Created during Data Collection The files created by RiverSurveyor during data collection are: •...
  • Page 164 SonTek/YSI Inc menu (§ ). This file can be imported by programs such as MATLAB, Micro- File|Export 7.3.1 soft Excel, or any software that can read ASCII data files (e.g., NotePad, Microsoft Word) for additional user processing. shows an example of the discharge data file format. The Table B-1 file has the following layout.
  • Page 165 SonTek/YSI Inc Table B-1. Discharge Data File Example RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 166 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 167 SonTek/YSI Inc Appendix C. ADP Direct Command Interface The command set used by RiverSurveyor systems is identical to the command set used by all SonTek ADPs. As such, refer to the ADP Operation Manual for a detailed listing of all direct commands available for use with an ADP.
  • Page 168 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 169 (1) ADP head clamp (1) Rod, GPS antenna mount* Electronics, Antennas, Cables (1) Head, SonTek/YSI ADP w/ internal compass, tilt, and roll sensor (1) RiverCat electronics assembly (1) Radio modem w/ whip antenna (1) Power supply, radio modem (120 VAC @ 50 Hz)
  • Page 170 SonTek/YSI Inc 2. Remove the (8) cross-brace screws and washers from the decks of the pontoons. 3. Lay the rear cross-brace across the top rear of the hulls and line up the screw holes. The ver- tical surface of the rear cross-brace should be toward the rear of the pontoons. Loosely in- stall the cross-brace screws to hold the brace in place.
  • Page 171 SonTek/YSI Inc 5. Place the new C cell batteries into the assembly (make sure polarity is correct). 6. Replace the battery cover on the bottom of the Electronics Assembly. 7. Replace the six (6) battery cover screws in the battery cover on the bottom of the Electron- ics Assembly.
  • Page 172 SonTek/YSI Inc NOTES • Not all of the instructions contained within this document pertain to all new RiverCat sys- tems. Some systems do not have the GPS option installed. • If the RiverCat Electronics Assembly is being used without pontoons, there is a set of three rubber pads that should be attached to the Electronics Assembly before use.
  • Page 173 SonTek/YSI Inc Appendix E. Analysis and Review of RiverSurveyor Data Accurate review of survey and discharge data requires an in-depth knowledge of the features and controls in the RiverSurveyor program as well as an understanding of the principles of discharge measurements.
  • Page 174 SonTek/YSI Inc sary, turn off the display of the bottom depth on the Contour Window File|Configuration|Show ). Look for insufficient signal-to-noise ratio (3 dB is the recom- Bottom Depth on Contour Graph mended minimum). Adjust the SNR threshold ( ) as appropriate.
  • Page 175 Discharge Summary report? • – Is the sensor orientation down? Sensor Orientation • – Is the version current? Contact SonTek/YSI, Inc. for the latest CPU Software Version # version only if necessary. RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 176 SonTek/YSI Inc E-6. Step 6 – Review Setup Parameters Press to review the user setup parameters. Briefly review the parameters on all three Ctrl+U pages, but pay particular attention to the following: • – Is the file name prefix similar to field notes? It is beneficial to use file- File Name Prefix names that are representative of the measurement site.
  • Page 177 SonTek/YSI Inc • – Does water speed look realistic? Does it match the expected environmental Water Speed conditions? • – Is the heading relatively constant and show relatively small changes in trend? The Heading heading is used as an indicator of slow and steady course changes.
  • Page 178 SonTek/YSI Inc E-13. Step 13 – Velocity Profile Extrapolation Change the Profile Graph to display Profile Extrapolation ( ). Change View | Profile Graph Variable the scale to maximize the display of the graph. Step through the profiles from the beginning and review how appropriate the extrapolation method is for each one.
  • Page 179 SonTek/YSI Inc E-16. Step 16 – General Comments Add any general comments to both the Discharge Report and to the Data Quality Review sheet for completeness. These comments may elaborate on any of the items above or make general ob- servations as to both the quality and reliability of each data set and the measurement as a whole.
  • Page 180 SonTek/YSI Inc Table E-1. Data Quality Review Sheet Category/Item Comments 1. Ship Track/Current Stick plots Verify velocity and ship-track reference in menu bar (BT or GPS) Verify depth reference (BT or ES) Rewind measurement (F9) and step through individual profiles 2.
  • Page 181 SonTek/YSI Inc Table E-1. Data Quality Review Sheet Category/Item Comments Does water speed look realistic? Is boat speed/water speed ratio near to or less than one? Is heading relatively constant and show relative small changes? Are pitch and roll relatively steady and less than a few degrees? 9.
  • Page 182 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 183 SonTek/YSI Inc Appendix F. Velocity Indexing and FlowPack Velocity-Index ratings provide a relationship between the true mean velocity of a river (which is used to determine the flow) and the velocity measured by an installed current meter (e.g., Argo- naut-SL or SW) located at the site. Measurements from RiverSurveyor and/or FlowTracker sys- tems are used together with data from the installed current meter in the derivation of a rating.
  • Page 184 SonTek/YSI Inc Figure F-1. FlowPack Discharge Rating Report RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 185 As used in the SonTek RiverSurveyor/RiverCat systems, Bluetooth is a radio frequency teleme- try system that provides serial data transmission and reception without a wire. Bluetooth operates at 2.4 GHz as a spread spectrum radio and draws its power from a laptop USB port.
  • Page 186 SonTek/YSI Inc Figure G-1. The connections shown at left include the following components (left to right): 3 dBi dipole antenna, Bluetooth radio modem, and USB adaptor. Bluetooth Radio Modem (with USB power cable) Antenna USB Adaptor Figure G-2. The Bluetooth radio...
  • Page 187 SonTek/YSI Inc G-2. Establishing Bluetooth Radio Communications The radios leave the factory “paired” to talk to each other. One radio has already been installed inside the RiverSurveyor. You must connect the other radio to your computer (typically a lap- top). Perform the following steps to initiate radio communications. Refer to...
  • Page 188 SonTek/YSI Inc Table G-4. Bluetooth Terminology Term Definition Connect Mode The Bluetooth radio is connected to another Bluetooth radio. Standby Mode The Bluetooth radio is not connected to another radio, and it is waiting for command in- puts from the user.
  • Page 189 SonTek/YSI Inc Index ancillary equipment, 51 cells, 23 applications overview, 53 Close (File Menu), 104 assembly instructions, Collect/Record Data (File # of Valid Cells, 96 RiverCat, 157 Menu), 104 # Satellites, 97 ATMDS, 40, 147 command interface, direct, # Valid Cells, 152...
  • Page 190 SonTek/YSI Inc distance made good, 28, FlowPack, 106, 134, 171 flows, slow and fast, 60 D(BT) / D(GPS), 97 distance made good flows, stratified, 60 data analysis, 127 (DMG), 27 fpx (FlowPack) file, 106, data collection, 124 DistEast, 152 data export, 133...
  • Page 191 SonTek/YSI Inc legend, contour, 103 profile, 148 legend, profile, 103 Profile Data tabular OmniSTAR, 30 LEW/REW, 95 display, 95 Open (File Menu), 104 limitations, bottom-track, Profile Legend, 103 Open Next File (File profile time, 148 Menu), 104 Lon, 97 Profile Window, 103...
  • Page 192 SonTek/YSI Inc satellites, number of system types, 15 invalid, 36 uFlow, 152 Sats Changes, 97 unpacking, 3 scope of manual, v tabular data displays, 94 Use Automatic File Screen Colors (File Menu), tabular displays Names, 82 Direction of Travel, 98...
  • Page 193 SonTek/YSI Inc Window Menu Tile, 118 1,2,3,4, 118 workspaces, 129 XYZ, 149 Arrange Icons, 118 xyz coordinates, 46 Cascade, 118 XYZ coordinates, 46 RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)
  • Page 194 SonTek/YSI Inc RiverSurveyor System Manual (May 1, 2007)

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