Remote Real-time Riprap Protection Erosion AssessmenT on large rivers

Author(s):  
Gordon Gilja ◽  
Antonija Cikojević ◽  
Kristina Potočki ◽  
Matej Varga ◽  
Nikola Adžaga

<p>Large number of bridges in Europe is at the end of their life span, while the frequency of occurrence for extreme climatic events, driven by climate change, is increasing. Floods influence morphodynamic changes in the riverbed, such as scouring of the riverbed next to the bridge substructure, that can undermine the overall stability of the bridge. Placement of riprap protection around bridge piers is an approach that doesn’t solve scouring problem, it rather displaces the scour hole elsewhere in the river channel, where its location is unknown because it is formed in the interaction between the flow and the structure, in site-specific conditions. Traditional approach to scour monitoring is effective only if surveys are conducted during the flood conditions, while the data acquired post-flood can underestimate the full potential of flood hazard. Detailed field surveys of hydraulic parameters during floods are essential in the understanding of morphodynamic evolution of the river channel, but are often scarce because they are time-consuming and require extensive resources (e.g. the survey equipment). Therefore, the majority of research was conducted using hydraulic flumes where both flow and the riverbed conditions are idealized </p><p>The goal of the R3PEAT project (Remote Real-time Riprap Protection Erosion AssessmenT on large rivers) is to bridge the gap between the real-time scour hole development and flow environment through development of real-time scour monitoring system. The research focus of the project is investigation of scouring processes next to the riprap protection around bridge piers - existing structures whose stability and safety are unknown in the hydraulic environment under the influence of climate change. Research methodology combines experimental investigations on scaled physical model (Phase I) with 3D numerical model (Phase II) into hybrid modelling approach, calibrated and validated with field surveys. The research objectives of the project are: (1) develop ScourBuoy prototype (2); calibrate the physical model with field surveys; (3) improve existing empirical equations for equilibrium scour hole development using hybrid modelling approach; (4) investigate the dependence between turbulent flow characteristics and temporal scour hole development and (5) investigate dependence between turbulent conditions and incipient motion of sediment particles. The impact of the proposed project on the bridge management systems is expected through the development of a practical remote real-time system for erosion estimation around the riprap protection on large rivers that can be basis for the real-time decision support system.</p><p><strong>Acknowledgment:</strong><br>This work has been supported in part by Croatian Science Foundation under the project R3PEAT (UIP-2019-04-4046)</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonija Harasti ◽  
Gordon Gilja ◽  
Matej Varga ◽  
Robert Fliszar

<p>The objective of this paper is to present the ScourBuoy – concept for scour monitoring system. The ScourBuoy prototype is currently under development within the R3PEAT project (Remote Real-time Riprap Protection Erosion AssessmenT on large rivers), which aims to investigate scouring processes next to the riprap protection around bridge piers. ScourBuoy integrates commercially available technical devices into a functional system for scour monitoring during flood conditions. Sensors used are single beam echo sounder that collects depth and temperature data, multi-GNSS device for 3D positioning, compass for orientation respective to the True North and motion sensor for pitch and roll data. Combined output from the sensors allows user to calculate river depth and monitoring of scour development during floods. Advantage of ScourBuoy is adaptability to the field conditions, such as placement over the scour hole, as well as simpler deployment and reallocation in comparison to fix-mount solutions. ScourBuoy prototype was built using a common small-scale pipe float with an 80 mm inner diameter hole, which was used as a holder for an aluminium pipe. Aluminium pipe is used as a casing for echo sounder, positioned as downward-looking, so it stays submerged during deployment. The rest of the sensors are enclosed in the waterproof housing placed atop of the buoy, permanently above the waterline. The ScourBuoy will be a practical and affordable system which will allow researchers and engineers to collect measurements for scouring estimation. It will be used as a support system for rapid and timely decision making. Finally, developed Scour Buoy will present an alternative for real-time scour monitoring which allows responsive adapting to the specific conditions at the locations affected by scour.</p>


1991 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 25-33
Author(s):  
A. J. Jakeman ◽  
P. G. Whitehead ◽  
A. Robson ◽  
J. A. Taylor ◽  
J. Bai

The paper illustrates analysis of the assumptions of the statistical component of a hybrid modelling approach for predicting environmental extremes. This shows how to assess the applicability of the approach to water quality problems. The analysis involves data on stream acidity from the Birkenes catchment in Norway. The modelling approach is hybrid in that it uses: (1) a deterministic or process-based description to simulate (non-stationary) long term trend values of environmental variables, and (2) probability distributions which are superimposed on the trend values to characterise the frequency of shorter term concentrations. This permits assessment of management strategies and of sensitivity to climate variables by adjusting the values of major forcing variables in the trend model. Knowledge of the variability about the trend is provided by: (a) identification of an appropriate parametric form of the probability density function (pdf) of the environmental attribute (e.g. stream acidity variables) whose extremes are of interest, and (b) estimation of pdf parameters using the output of the trend model.


Author(s):  
Negin Yousefpour ◽  
Steve Downie ◽  
Steve Walker ◽  
Nathan Perkins ◽  
Hristo Dikanski

Bridge scour is a challenge throughout the U.S.A. and other countries. Despite the scale of the issue, there is still a substantial lack of robust methods for scour prediction to support reliable, risk-based management and decision making. Throughout the past decade, the use of real-time scour monitoring systems has gained increasing interest among state departments of transportation across the U.S.A. This paper introduces three distinct methodologies for scour prediction using advanced artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) techniques based on real-time scour monitoring data. Scour monitoring data included the riverbed and river stage elevation time series at bridge piers gathered from various sources. Deep learning algorithms showed promising in prediction of bed elevation and water level variations as early as a week in advance. Ensemble neural networks proved successful in the predicting the maximum upcoming scour depth, using the observed sensor data at the onset of a scour episode, and based on bridge pier, flow and riverbed characteristics. In addition, two of the common empirical scour models were calibrated based on the observed sensor data using the Bayesian inference method, showing significant improvement in prediction accuracy. Overall, this paper introduces a novel approach for scour risk management by integrating emerging AI/ML algorithms with real-time monitoring systems for early scour forecast.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Eric Otto ◽  
Benjamin Held ◽  
Samuel Redford ◽  
Robert A. Blanchette

Heterobasidion irregulare is one of the most problematic forest pathogens in the northern hemisphere, but has only been found relatively recently in the north central United States. Discovered in Wisconsin in 1993, but probably established sometime before that, it quickly spread throughout the state. In November 2014, it was found in southeastern Minnesota. Field surveys were then conducted throughout Minnesota with the focus in the southeast near the initial discovery. To find additional infection sites, surveys were conducted with accompanying aerial imagery of red pine (Pinus resinosa Aiton) stands that were previously thinned. Samples were collected from selected sites with dead and dying trees as well as samples from stumps in recently thinned pine stands. These samples were processed first with a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol, which was replaced by a real-time PCR assay after its development. No samples tested positive for H. irregulare using these methods and no cultures from isolations were obtained outside the original infection area. Other indigenous fungi were also identified. The majority were wood decay fungi in the Basidiomycota. A spore collection study was also conducted after field surveys. Automated rotary arm spore collectors were used and assayed with an ITS TaqMan real-time PCR assay. Collectors were placed strategically in different areas of Minnesota. A positive control was used in an infected red pine plantation in Wisconsin and this location had the highest number of spores trapped, with 63,776 over a week period. Spores of H. irregulare were detected at several sites in Minnesota, with the highest spore total observed in traps at 413 over a week period. All other locations sampled also had some spores collected except Itasca State Park located in northwestern Minnesota. The weekly deposition of spores ranged from 0 to 1.26 m−2 h−1. Low spore levels occurring in Minnesota indicate that some spores are present, but they are currently being detected in amounts that may not be sufficient for colonization to be successful.


Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su-Chin Chen ◽  
Samkele Tfwala ◽  
Tsung-Yuan Wu ◽  
Hsun-Chuan Chan ◽  
Hsien-Ter Chou

A new type of collar, the hooked-collar, was studied through experiments and numerical methods. Tests were conducted using a hooked collar of a width of 1.25b and a height of 0.25b, where b is the bridge-pier width. The hooked-collar efficiency was evaluated by testing different hooked-collar placements within the bridge-pier, which were compared to the bridge-pier without any collar. A double hooked-collar configuration, one placed at the bed level and the other buried 0.25b, was the most efficient at reducing the scour hole. In other cases, a hooked-collar positioned 0.25b above the bed slightly reduced the scour hole and had similar scour patterns when compared to the pier without the hooked-collar. The flow fields along the vertical symmetrical plane in the experiments are also presented. Laboratory experiments and numerical tests show that maximal downflow is highly reduced along with a corresponding decrease in horseshoe vortex strength for the experiments with the hooked-collar, compared to cases without the hooked-collar. The flow fields reveal that the maximum turbulent kinetic energy decreases with the installation of the hooked-collar.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
M. Abddalla ◽  
M. Abdel Hady ◽  
M. Ahmed
Keyword(s):  

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