All Issue

2025 Vol.58, Issue 11 Preview Page

Research Article

Assessmengt of river sediment discharge using acoustic backscatter in moving-boat ADCP

이동식 ADCP 초음파 산란도를 활용한 하천 유사량 산정

Boseong Jeonga
,
Dongsu Kimb*
,
Geunsu Sonc
,
Youngsin Rohd
,
Suin Choie
정 보성a
,
김 동수b*
,
손 근수c
,
노 영신d
,
최 수인e
aMaster’s Course, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Dankook University, Yongin, Korea
bProfessor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Dankook University, Yongin, Korea
cResearcher, Research and Development Department, Korea Institude of Hydrological Survey, Goyang, Korea
dPrincipal Researcher, Research and Development Department, Korea Institude of Hydrological Survey, Goyang, Korea
ePh.D Course, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Dankook University, Yongin-si, Korea
a단국대학교 토목환경공학과 석사과정
b단국대학교 토목환경공학과 교수
c한국수자원조사기술원 전임연구원
d한국수자원조사기술원 연구위원
e단국대학교 토목환경공학과 박사과정
*Corresponding Author
30 November 2025. pp. 977-991
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

This study presented a method for quantitatively estimating suspended-sediment load in rivers using acoustic backscatter data obtained from a moving-boat ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler). To overcome the spatial limitations of conventional physical sampling methods, an advanced algorithm was applied to separate fine and coarse suspended sediments based on a threshold particle diameter of 0.062 mm, along with acoustic corrections for water absorption, particle attenuation, and beam spreading. Field measurements were conducted at the “Hoguk Bridge” section of the Nakdong River using RiverPro (1200 kHz) and RiverRay (600 kHz) ADCPs, and the results were compared with D-74 physical samples collected at the same location. The analysis showed that fine sediments were uniformly distributed across the cross-section, whereas coarse sediments tended to concentrate near the riverbed. The ADCP-based suspended-sediment load estimates exhibited less than 10% deviation from the measured values, demonstrating their quantitative accuracy and reliability. These findings confirm that the ADCP-based method offers an effective alternative to traditional sediment sampling approaches.

Keywords
Suspended sediemnt load
ADCP
Backscatter
Hoguk bridge

본 연구는 이동식 ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler)의 초음파 산란도 자료를 활용하여 하천 부유사량을 정량적으로 산정하는 방법을 제시하였다. 기존 채집기 방식이 갖는 공간적 한계를 보완하기 위해, 입경 0.062 mm를 기준으로 세립질과 조립질 부유사를 분리하는 최신 알고리즘을 적용하고, 수중 흡수, 입자 감쇠, 빔 확산 등의 음향 보정을 수행하였다. 낙동강 칠곡군 ‘호국의 다리’ 구간에서 RiverPro (1200 kHz)와 RiverRay (600 kHz)를 활용하여 측정된 ADCP 자료를, 동일 지점에서 확보한 D-74 채집기 실측 시료와 비교하였다. 분석 결과, 세립질 부유사는 단면 전역에 균일하게 분포한 반면, 조립질 부유사는 하상 부근에 집중되는 경향을 보였으며, ADCP 기반 부유사량 산정값은 실측값과 10% 이내의 오차를 보여 정량적 정확도와 신뢰성을 입증하였다. 이를 통해 ADCP 기반 부유사 산정 기법이 재래식 계측 방식을 대체할 수 있는 효과적인 수단임을 확인하였다.

키워드
유사량
ADCP
초음파 산란도
호국의 다리
References
1

Best, J.L., and Rhoads, B.L. (2008). “Sediment transport, bed morphology and the sedimentology of river channel confluences.” River Confluences, Tributaries and the Fluvial Network, Edited by Rice, S.P., Roy, A.G., and Rhoads, B.L., John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK, pp. 45-72.

10.1002/9780470760383.ch4
2

Deines, K.L. (1999). “Backscatter estimation using broadband acoustic Doppler current profilers.” Proceedings of the IEEE Sixth Working Conference on Current Measurement, IEEE, San Diego, CA, U.S., pp. 249-253.

10.1109/CCM.1999.755249
3

Downing, A., Thorne, P.D., and Vincent, C.E. (1995). “Backscattering from a suspension in the near field of a piston transducer.” The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 97, No. 3, pp. 1614-1620.

10.1121/1.412100
4

Garcia, M.H. (2008). Sedimentation engineering: Processes, measurements, modeling, and practice (ASCE Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 110). American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA, U.S.

5

Gitto, A.B., Venditti, J.G., Kostaschuk, R., and Church, M. (2017). “Representative point-integrated suspended sediment sampling in rivers.” Water Resources Research, AGU, Vol. 53, No. 4, pp. 2956-2971.

10.1002/2016WR019187
6

Groten, J.T., Levin, S.B., Coenen, E.N., Lund, J.W., and Johnson, G.D. (2023). “A novel suspended-sediment sampling method: Depth-Integrated Grab (DIG).” Applied Sciences, MDPI, Vol. 13, No. 13, 7844

10.3390/app13137844
7

Guerrero, M., Rüther, N., Haun, S., and Baranya, S. (2017). “A combined use of acoustic and optical devices to investigate suspended sediment in rivers.” Advances in Water Resources, Elsevier, Vol. 102, pp. 1-12.

10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.01.008
8

Guerrero, M., Rüther, N., Szupiany, R., Haun, S., Baranya, S., and Latosinski, F. (2016). “The acoustic properties of suspended sediment in large rivers: Consequences on ADCP methods applicability.” Water, MDPI, Vol. 8, No. 1, 13.

10.3390/w8010013
9

Kenworthy, S.T., and Rhoads, B.L. (1995). “Hydrologic control of spatial patterns of suspended sediment concentration at a stream confluence.” Journal of Hydrology, Elsevier, Vol. 168, No. 1-4, pp. 251-263.

10.1016/0022-1694(94)02644-Q
10

Korea Institute of Hydrological Survey Technology (KIHS) (2019). 2019 Annual hydrological survey report: Section 8. Sediment load, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration survey.

11

Korea Institute of Hydrological Survey Technology (KIHS) (2020). 2020 Annual hydrological survey report: Section 8. Sediment load, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration survey.

12

Landers, M.N., Straub, T.D., Wood, M.S., and Domanski, M.M. (2016). Sediment acoustic index method for computing continuous suspended-sediment concentrations. No. 3-C5, United States Geological Survey, Reston, VA, U.S.

10.3133/tm3C5
13

Latosinski, F.G., Szupiany, R.N., García, M.H., Guerrero, J.S., and Amsler, M.L. (2014). “Estimation of concentration and load of suspended bed sediment in a large river by means of acoustic Doppler technology.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 140, No. 7, 04014023.

10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000859
14

Mosley, M.P. (1976). “An experimental study of channel confluences.” The Journal of Geology, UCP, Vol. 84, No. 5, pp. 535-562.

10.1086/628230
15

Mueller, D.S., Wagner, C.R., Rehmel, M.S., Oberg, K.A., and Rainville, F. (2013). Measuring discharge with acoustic doppler current profilers from a moving boat. Techniques and Methods 3-A22, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA, U.S., p. 40.

10.3133/tm3A22
16

Mullison, J. (2017). “Backscatter estimation using broadband acoustic Doppler current profilers updated.” Proceedings of the ASCE Hydraulic Measurements and Experimental Methods Conference, ASCE, Durham, NH, U.S.

17

Noh, H., Son, G., Kim, D., and Park, Y.S. (2024). “H-ADCP-based real-time sediment load monitoring system using support vector regression calibrated by global optimization technique and its applications.” Advances in Water Resources, Elsevier, Vol. 185, 104636.

10.1016/j.advwatres.2024.104636
18

Parker, G., Ashworth, P.J., Bennett, S.J., Best, J.L., and McLelland, S.J. (1996). “Some speculations on the relation between channel morphology and channel-scale flow structures.” Coherent Flow Structures in Open Channels, John Wiley & Sons, Vol. 1, pp. 423-458.

19

Pérez-Calpe, A.V., Larrañaga, A., von Schiller, D., and Elosegi, A. (2021). “Interactive effects of discharge reduction and fine sediments on stream biofilm metabolism.” PLOS ONE, PLOS, Vol. 16, No. 2, e0246719.

10.1371/journal.pone.024671933571231PMC7877786
20

Ruben, L.D., Szupiany, R.N., Latosinski, F.G., Weibel, C.L., Wood, M., and Boldt, J. (2020). “Acoustic Sediment Estimation Toolbox (ASET): A software package for calibrating and processing TRDI ADCP data to compute suspended-sediment transport in sandy rivers.” Computers & Geosciences, Elsevier, Vol. 140, 104499.

10.1016/j.cageo.2020.104499
21

Schulkin, M., and Marsh, H.W. (1962). “Sound absorption in sea water.” The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 864-865.

10.1121/1.1918213
22

Szupiany, R.N., Lopez Weibel, C., Guerrero, M., Latosinski, F., Wood, M., Dominguez Ruben, L., and Oberg, K. (2019). “Estimating sand concentrations using ADCP-based acoustic inversion in a large fluvial system characterized by bi-modal suspended-sediment distributions.” Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, John Wiley & Sons, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp. 1295- 1308.

10.1002/esp.4572
23

Teledyne Marine (2024a). RiverPro ADCP, accessed 31 October 2025, <https://www.teledynemarine.com/brands/rdi/riverpro-adcp>.

24

Teledyne Marine (2024b). RiverRay ADCP, accessed 31 October 2025, <https://www.teledynemarine.com/brands/rdi/riverray-adcp>.

25

Teledyne RD Instruments (2008). WinRiver II user's guide. San Diego, CA, U.S.

26

Thorne, P.D., and Hanes, D.M. (2002). “A review of acoustic measurement of small-scale sediment processes.” Continental Shelf Research, Elsevier, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 603-632.

10.1016/S0278-4343(01)00101-7
27

Thorne, P.D., and Hurther, D. (2014). “An overview on the use of backscattered sound for measuring suspended particle size and concentration profiles in non-cohesive inorganic sediment transport studies.” Continental Shelf Research, Elsevier, Vol. 73, pp. 97-118.

10.1016/j.csr.2013.10.017
28

Traykovski, P., Latter, R.J., and Irish, J.D. (1999). “A laboratory evaluation of the laser in situ scattering and transmissometery instrument using natural sediments.” Marine Geology, Elsevier, Vol. 159, No. 1-4, pp. 355-367.

10.1016/S0025-3227(98)00196-0
29

Urick, R.J. (1948). “The absorption of sound in suspensions of irregular particles.” The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 283-289.

10.1121/1.1906373
30

Urick, R.J. (1983). Principles of underwater sound (3rd Edition), Peninsula Publishing, Los Altos, CA, U.S., pp. 23-24.

31

Van Rijn, L.C. (1984). “Sediment transport, part II: Suspended load transport.” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 110, No. 11, pp. 1613-1641.

10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1984)110:11(1613)
32

Vanoni, V.A. (1975). Sedimentation engineering. ASCE-Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice-No. 54. ASCE, New York, NY, U.S., pp. 74-81.

33

Venditti, J.G., Church, M., Attard, M.E., and Haught, D. (2016). “Use of ADCPs for suspended sediment transport monitoring: An empirical approach.” Water Resources Research, AGU, Vol. 52, No. 4, pp. 2715-2736.

10.1002/2015WR017348
34

Woo, H.-S., Kim, W., and Ji, W. (2015). Hacheonsurihak (River Hydraulics), Cheongmungak.

Information
  • Publisher :KOREA WATER RESOURECES ASSOCIATION
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국수자원학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국수자원학회 논문집
  • Volume : 58
  • No :11
  • Pages :977-991
  • Received Date : 2025-08-14
  • Revised Date : 2025-10-01
  • Accepted Date : 2025-10-10
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.3741/JKWRA.2025.58.11.977
Journal Informaiton Journal of Korea Water Resources Association Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
Online Submission
Archives
  • scopus
  • KCI-수자원
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • KISTI Current Status
  • KISTI Cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close