Articles | Volume 23, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1045-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-1045-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
20 Feb 2019
Research article |
| 20 Feb 2019
| 20 Feb 2019
Citizen science flow – an assessment of simple streamflow measurement methods
Water Management, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University
of Technology, Building 23, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN, Delft, the Netherlands
SmartPhones4Water, 3881 Benatar Way, Suite G, Chico, California
95928, USA
Martine M. Rutten
Engineering and Applied Sciences, Rotterdam University, G.J. de
Jonghweg 4–6, 3015 GG, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Anusha Pandey
SmartPhones4Water–Nepal, Damodar Marg, Thusikhel, 44600, Lalitpur,
Nepal
Nischal Devkota
SmartPhones4Water–Nepal, Damodar Marg, Thusikhel, 44600, Lalitpur,
Nepal
Wessel David van Oyen
Engineering and Applied Sciences, Rotterdam University, G.J. de
Jonghweg 4–6, 3015 GG, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Rajaram Prajapati
SmartPhones4Water–Nepal, Damodar Marg, Thusikhel, 44600, Lalitpur,
Nepal
Nick van de Giesen
Water Management, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University
of Technology, Building 23, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN, Delft, the Netherlands
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35 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Improving Hydrological Models With the Assimilation of Crowdsourced Data P. Avellaneda et al. 10.1029/2019WR026325
- Scalable Water Balances from Earth Observations (SWEO): results from 50 years of remote sensing in hydrology T. Hessels et al. 10.1080/02508060.2022.2117896
- Precision and accuracy of streamflow measurements in headwater streams during baseflow C. Santos et al. 10.1590/2318-0331.262120200135
- Data fusion of citizen-generated smartphone discharge measurements in Tunisia R. Fehri et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125518
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- Using the Biological Condition Gradient Model as a Bioassessment Framework to Support Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Upper Tana River Watershed in Kenya G. Ndiritu et al. 10.3389/fenvs.2021.671051
- Community Mapping Supports Comprehensive Urban Flood Modeling for Flood Risk Management in a Data-Scarce Environment L. Petersson et al. 10.3389/feart.2020.00304
- Surface velocity coefficients for discharge monitoring with a surface float method in shallow streams K. Stepenuck et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.130852
- Exploring the Use of Decision Tree Methodology in Hydrology Using Crowdsourced Data D. Wu et al. 10.1111/1752-1688.12882
- Evaluation of regionalization parameters for stream flow prediction in ungauged catchments of Rift Valley Lakes Basin, Ethiopia Z. Mada et al. 10.1007/s40808-024-01977-6
- Rainfall‐Runoff Modeling Using Crowdsourced Water Level Data B. Weeser et al. 10.1029/2019WR025248
- The streamgauging ruler: A low-cost, low-tech, alternative discharge measurement technique J. Le Coz et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131887
- Citizens’ Campaigns for Environmental Water Monitoring: Lessons From Field Experiments T. Assumpcao et al. 10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2939471
- Technical note: Monitoring discharge of mountain streams by retrieving image features with deep learning C. Fang et al. 10.5194/hess-28-4085-2024
- A Low-Cost Water Quality Monitoring System for the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar Using a Participatory Approach T. Thatoe Nwe Win et al. 10.3390/w11101984
- Citizens AND HYdrology (CANDHY): conceptualizing a transdisciplinary framework for citizen science addressing hydrological challenges F. Nardi et al. 10.1080/02626667.2020.1849707
- Regionalization methods for PUB: a comprehensive review of progress after the PUB decade X. Yang et al. 10.2166/nh.2023.027
- Hydrological simulation of ungauged basins via forcing by large‐scale hydrology models C. Skoulikaris & M. Piliouras 10.1002/hyp.15044
- State of continental discharge estimation and modelling: challenges and opportunities for Africa K. Akpoti et al. 10.1080/02626667.2024.2402938
- Hydrologic Regionalization under Data Scarcity: Implications for Streamflow Prediction J. Panthi et al. 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0002121
- Understanding Discussions of Citizen Science Around Sustainable Development Goals in Twitter D. Roldan-Alvarez et al. 10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3122086
- Utility of an Instantaneous Salt Dilution Method for Measuring Streamflow in Headwater Streams K. Rogers et al. 10.1111/gwat.13437
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- Value of quality controlled citizen science data for rainfall-runoff characterization in a rapidly urbanizing catchment G. Kebede Mengistie et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.130639
- Value of water level class observations for parameter set selection in hydrological modelling F. Clerc-Schwarzenbach et al. 10.1080/02626667.2025.2489994
- Assessing the Influence of Temperature Changes on the Geometric Stability of Smartphone- and Raspberry Pi Cameras M. Elias et al. 10.3390/s20030643
- Evaluation of Select Velocity Measurement Techniques for Estimating Discharge in Small Streams across the United States T. King et al. 10.1111/1752-1688.13053
- Streams, sewage, and shallow groundwater: stream-aquifer interactions in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal R. Prajapati et al. 10.1007/s40899-021-00542-8
- Global satellite-based river gauging and the influence of river morphology on its application J. Hou et al. 10.1016/j.rse.2019.111629
- In Situ and Crowd-Sensing Techniques for Monitoring Flows in Ephemeral Streams J. Cecilia et al. 10.1109/MNET.005.2200545
- Bayesian Model Calibration Using Surrogate Streamflow in Ungauged Catchments H. Yoon et al. 10.1029/2021WR031287
- Evaluating the influence of hydrologic signatures on hydrological modeling using remotely sensed surrogate river discharge H. Na Yoon et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132049
- Addressing measurement error in lobster growth modelling S. Bradshaw et al. 10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103310
- Improving image-based water-level monitoring by coupling water-line detection techniques and the segment anything model C. Fang et al. 10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106566
1 citations as recorded by crossref.
Discussed (final revised paper)
Latest update: 01 Jul 2025
Short summary
Wise management of water resources requires data. Nevertheless, the amount of water data being collected continues to decline. We evaluated potential citizen science approaches for measuring flows of headwater streams and springs. After selecting salt dilution as the preferred approach, we partnered with Nepali students to cost-effectively measure flows and water quality with smartphones at 264 springs and streams which provide crucial water supplies to the rapidly expanding Kathmandu Valley.
Wise management of water resources requires data. Nevertheless, the amount of water data being...
