Terrestrial laser scanning for hydraulic habitat mapping and restoration of fluvial environments
D. Hetherington (Ove Arup - david.hetherington@arup.com)
G. L. Heritage (JBA Consulting)
D. J. Milan (University of Gloucestershire)
A. R. G. Large (Newcastle University)
N. S. Entwistle (University of Salford)
Proceedings paper from the 10th Annual River Restoration Centre Network Conference, 1st - 2nd April 2009
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Abstract
The purpose of river restoration is to achieve improvements in physical, vegetative and hydraulic habitat in damaged or poor quality river systems. There is an increasing requirement for post project monitoring and assessment of the quality of river restoration schemes in terms of morphology, sedimentology and hydraulics. This is often difficult for many reasons including appraiser subjectivity, stage-dependent hydraulics and assessment being focused on different key species depending on the discipline of the appraiser and the basis for the assessment.
Recent developments in Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) technology means that it is now possible to measure and represent the physical environment in a high degree of spatial resolution. This paper demonstrates a new approach to biotope definition using high resolution spatial data defining water surface roughness for a representative reach of the River Skirfair, Yorkshire, UK, collected using TLS.
It is clear from the mapped data that biotope distribution is more complex than previously recorded using subjective techniques, and results obtained may provide a basis for a quantitative alternative to the current classification system employed by the river habitat survey. The successful biotope demonstration indicates that TLS can be utilised to measure water surface roughness, and map hydraulic diversity and indicates that the technique can be a very useful tool for river restoration scientists.
