Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-36
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-36
10 Feb 2021
 | 10 Feb 2021
Status: this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors.

Technical Note: Low cost stage-camera system for continuous water level monitoring in ephemeral streams

Simone Noto, Flavia Tauro, Andrea Petroselli, Ciro Apollonio, Gianluca Botter, and Salvatore Grimaldi

Abstract. Monitoring ephemeral and intermittent streams is a major challenge in hydrology. While direct field observations are best to detect spatial patterns of flow persistence, on site inspections are time and labor intensive and may be impractical in difficult-to-access environments. Motivated by latest advancements of digital cameras and computer vision techniques, in this work, we describe the development and application of a stage-camera system to monitor the water level in ungauged headwater streams. The system encompasses a consumer grade wildlife camera with near infrared (NIR) night vision capabilities and a white pole that serves as reference object in the collected images. Time-lapse imagery is processed through a computationally inexpensive algorithm featuring image quantization and binarization, and water level time series are filtered through a simple statistical scheme. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated through a set of benchmark experiments performed in controlled and natural settings, characterized by an increased level of complexity. Maximum mean absolute errors between stage-camera and reference data are approximately equal to 2 cm in the worst scenario that corresponds to severe hydrometeorological conditions. Our preliminary results are encouraging and support the scalability of the stage-camera in future implementations in a wide range of natural settings.

This preprint has been withdrawn.

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Simone Noto, Flavia Tauro, Andrea Petroselli, Ciro Apollonio, Gianluca Botter, and Salvatore Grimaldi

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on hess-2021-36', Nils Kaplan, 27 Feb 2021
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC1', Salvatore Grimaldi, 13 Apr 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on hess-2021-36', Anonymous Referee #2, 09 Mar 2021
    • AC4: 'Reply on RC2', Salvatore Grimaldi, 13 Apr 2021
  • CC1: 'Comment on hess-2021-36', Kenneth Chapman, 15 Mar 2021
    • AC5: 'Reply on CC1', Salvatore Grimaldi, 13 Apr 2021
  • AC1: 'Authors' reply to CC, RC1, and RC2', Salvatore Grimaldi, 18 Mar 2021
  • RC3: 'Comment on hess-2021-36', Anonymous Referee #3, 02 Apr 2021
    • AC6: 'Reply on RC3', Salvatore Grimaldi, 13 Apr 2021
  • AC2: 'Authors' reply to RC3', Salvatore Grimaldi, 07 Apr 2021

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on hess-2021-36', Nils Kaplan, 27 Feb 2021
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC1', Salvatore Grimaldi, 13 Apr 2021
  • RC2: 'Comment on hess-2021-36', Anonymous Referee #2, 09 Mar 2021
    • AC4: 'Reply on RC2', Salvatore Grimaldi, 13 Apr 2021
  • CC1: 'Comment on hess-2021-36', Kenneth Chapman, 15 Mar 2021
    • AC5: 'Reply on CC1', Salvatore Grimaldi, 13 Apr 2021
  • AC1: 'Authors' reply to CC, RC1, and RC2', Salvatore Grimaldi, 18 Mar 2021
  • RC3: 'Comment on hess-2021-36', Anonymous Referee #3, 02 Apr 2021
    • AC6: 'Reply on RC3', Salvatore Grimaldi, 13 Apr 2021
  • AC2: 'Authors' reply to RC3', Salvatore Grimaldi, 07 Apr 2021
Simone Noto, Flavia Tauro, Andrea Petroselli, Ciro Apollonio, Gianluca Botter, and Salvatore Grimaldi
Simone Noto, Flavia Tauro, Andrea Petroselli, Ciro Apollonio, Gianluca Botter, and Salvatore Grimaldi

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Latest update: 20 Nov 2024
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This preprint has been withdrawn.

Short summary
Although headwater observations are crucial in hydrology, monitoring ephemeral streams remains a challenge and, in turn, available data is limited. This research would like to stimulate the community to investigate on an extremely affordable approach for measuring water depth in small ephemeral streams. In this technical note, preliminary tests with a simple white-pole-wildlife-camera system demonstrate the promise of this new approach in sensing the water level in a small headwater catchment.