Development of image velocimetry software for hydrography: bridging research and applied applications
United States Geological Survey
Abstract
As hydrometric techniques evolve, the operationalization of non-contact methods such as image velocimetry has become increasingly important to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which maintains over 8,500 real-time river monitoring stations across the USA. With the growing need to enhance safety and reduce costs, USGS is working to implement these innovative techniques. The development of generalized image velocimetry software for hydrography marks a significant advancement in translating hydrometric techniques from research into operational practice.
This seminar will discuss the creation and implementation of the Image Velocimetry (IVy) software application that bridges the gap between academic research and applied hydrographic practices. Specifically, IVy software is being used to operationalize Space–Time Image Velocimetry (STIV) methods to determine accurate and reliable streamflow measurements at USGS streamgages.
IVy software addresses the dual challenges USGS and other hydrometric agencies face in ensuring the repeatability of results while reducing the technical expertise required to operate equipment and software. By incorporating tools that standardize workflows and facilitate the review and approval of new measurement methods, IVy ensures consistent, high-quality data production accessible to a wide range of user proficiencies.
This seminar will also explore how IVy has informed the development of policy and procedural documentation necessary for the broader adoption of image velocimetry techniques within hydrometric agencies. These efforts are crucial for ensuring that image velocimetry is not only a research tool but also a robust, operational method for streamflow measurement. The integration of IVy into hydrometric practices represents a significant step forward in improving water resource management, hazard mitigation, and ecological assessments, highlighting the importance of software that can adapt research innovations to practical, everyday applications in the field.
About the speaker
Dr. Frank Engel is a Geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), where he specializes in transforming cutting-edge research into operational science. Originally trained as a fluvial geomorphologist, Dr. Engel now focuses on pioneering non-contact measurement techniques for riverine parameters, with the goal of integrating these innovations into the USGS’s daily gaging operations. He also leads the development of enterprise-level cyberinfrastructure for cameras and multispectral sensors at gaging stations across the USGS network. Dr. Engel resides in San Antonio, TX, with his wife and two children. He enjoys gravel biking, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.
