ADCP in Flood Prevention Management of the Barito River

I. Location of the Barito River

Natural and Geographical Features 

The Barito River is located in Indonesia but, more precisely, on the island of Borneo. It constitutes one of the greatest and most significant rivers in the area. The river's course is long enough to meander almost in all types of land, from tropical rain forests to swampy regions up to plains.

In many places, it is characterized by a wide, relatively shallow channel. In most parts, high rainfall in the area greatly influences the volume of water in the Barito River. The river provides for a means of transportation and forms an integral part of the local ecosystem with support for a variety of flora and fauna.

Cities and Settlements Along the River 

There are several cities, towns, and villages along the Barito River. These settlements rely on the river as their source of water supply, fishing activities, and transportation. The river is indeed an economic center of trade and small-scale industries, which are often based on forest-product and fishery-based ones.

Rainfall Situation 

Heavy and frequent rain is received throughout the year in the entire catchment area, forming part of the tropical climate. Rainfall in the basin is associated with the ITCZ and the local topography. Its volume is high throughout the year, generally small seasonal fluctuations, though there may be noticeable spates after heavy rainstorms.

II. What causes flooding in the Barito River?

Causes of Floods

1. Heavy Rainfall: The most evident cause of the flood in the Barito River is heavy and constant rainfall. Considering the fact that its catchment area is very large, huge amounts of water gather in the river and all of its tributaries in a very short time. The surrounding landscape is flat and low-lying; therefore, the runoff of water is fast and hence results in over-flooding.
2. Tributary Input: The Barito River catchment consists of a network of tributaries that drain the separate parts of the rainforest and swampy areas. During high water in these tributaries due to heavy rainfall within their local catchments, they feed the main river with water, raising the level of flooding.
3. Geographic Features: Meandering course of the river joined with the presence of wide floodplains contributes to flooding. In high-water events, natural levees can be overtopped, allowing water to flow over adjacent areas.

Frequency and Scale of Floods 

Flooding in the Barito River is frequent due to high rainfall and the nature of the river system. The frequency can vary depending on the intensity of rainfall and the season, although floods may happen anytime of the year. It could be simple, small-scale flooding of the riverbanks and their adjoining forests to large-scale, extensive coverage of the floodplains, affecting the livelihood and lives of the people involved or living nearby.

Impacts of Floods

1. Infrastructure Damage: These floods could also damage the simple infrastructure that consists of wooden bridges, canoe ports, and water-supply systems in these communities. Transportation and access to clean water may be restricted.
2. Impact on Livelihoods: Communities relying on fishing and small-scale agriculture suffered very badly. The floodwaters have washed away fishing gears and inundated their agricultural fields, making food scarce.
3. Displacement of People: In the case of serious floods, people of the low-lying communities must be shifted upwards. This would also result in congestion and lack of facilities within the shelters.

ADCP profiler is a more advanced and updated way to gauge and comprehend the flow in the Barito River, much-needed for flood prevention and management.

III. How do Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler(ADCP) working with the Doppler principle operate?

These ADCP meter transmit acoustic pulses in the form of sound waves in the water. When this happens, the moving particles in the water reflect these sound waves to the ADCP. The frequency of the reflected sound waves due to the Doppler effect changes. This change in frequency is directly related to the velocity of the water particles.

On the Barito River, ADCP flow meter could be deployed in boats or floating platforms or fixed installations on the riverbanks. The instrument transmits a sequence of sound pulses at a known frequency. Signals received and reflected are worked out with the internal electronic workings of the ADCP doppler. When the frequency shift of the reflected signals from different depths is calculated, it can be used to calculate the velocity of the water column at different depths. This data, after processing, can then be used to display real-time data and is the basis of much valuable information about the water flow in the Barito River.

IV. Keiadaan flood application of ADCP in the Barito River?

Velocity Measurement ADCP current profiler has been found very useful to measure the flow velocity of Barito River water. It provides velocities at various depths and locations, which are useful in calculating the dynamics of flow and prediction of floodwater spread and its movements. All this information is obtained to predict the potential impact of flooding on the surrounding areas and to properly strategize the approach for evacuation efforts and relief planning .

Applications of Flow Measurement The flow rate measurement by the ADCP current meter at the Barito River itself is very important for flood control. This helps in understanding the overall water balance and forecasting flood peaks. It helps manage the water levels through the operation of any flood-control structure that may be available in the region, though these could be few in this area, like simple weirs or dams.

Applications in Sediment Transport Research The Barito carries a huge sediment load during flooding. Acoustic doppler flow meter is able to measure sediment concentration and the rate of sediment transport. Sediment movement is an important aspect of keeping rivers and connected ecosystems healthy. In this respect, the data obtained can be useful for the prediction of where the sediment will be deposited, great for the land - building processes, and can be very useful for the long - term evolution of the river and surroundings.

V. How can the data measured by ADCP be used for flood warning and risk management of the Barito River?

Flood Warning

1. Velocity and Flow Data Monitoring: ADCP continuously monitors the velocity and flow rate of the Barito River. In case thresholds are set for these parameters, if there is an abnormal increase in the flow of water, then it can trigger an alarm for the local leadership or regional agencies for the same in case of an abnormal rise in water flow. For example, a sudden rise in velocity or flow rate might indicate a flood. It thus allows for the timely evacuations of people inhabiting the flood areas and mobilization of simple flood-protection measures.
2. Water Level Prediction and Warning: Integration of acoustic doppler velocity meter data with other hydrological data like rainfall measurements and water storage levels in local ponds or small reservoirs, if any, may yield more accurate predictions of water levels. Comparing these predicted levels with historic flood levels provides timely warnings to the local communities.

Risk Management

1. Support to Water Conservancy Project Scheduling: ADCP data can be an important input to the operation and scheduling of whatever water conservancy projects are pursued in the Barito River area. For example, the flow rate and velocity might be useful in determining the timing for releasing optimal amounts of water from small dams or water-storage structures in the balance of flood control and water supply needs. It also allows for designing and maintaining simple flood-protection infrastructure such as levees or flood barriers.
2. Flood Disaster Assessment and Emergency Response: In the aftermath of a flood event, ADCP data can be utilized to provide insight into the extent of the disaster. From post-event velocity and water depth patterns, the actual extent of the affected areas will be more clearly understood. This helps in the planning of rescue operations, distributions of relief supplies, and in the long-term recovery and reconstruction works.

VI. What does good measurement of the currents in the Barito River require?

• Reliability of Equipment Materials The equipment required to measure the current of the Barito River accurately should be made with reliable materials. The casing of an ADCP is preferably made from titanium alloy. This may provide excellent strength against the pressure and physical forces of the Barito River. Moreover, it is highly resistant to corrosion by water and sediment, thereby ensuring the long-term durability of the equipment.
• Small in Size A small-size ADCP is beneficial to be deployed in the Barito River. Installation will be easier to adapt to various platforms like small boats, buoys, and riverbank monitoring stations without considerably hindering the river flow. More flexible placement can be achieved for comprehensive current measurements.
• Light Weight Light-weight ADCPs are easier to transport and install, especially in remote areas along the Barito River. They can easily be carried by field technicians-if available-to various locations and promptly set up for measurement. This is of major importance in emergency situations during flood monitoring.
• Low Power Consumption For long-term monitoring of the Barito River, it is required to use ADCPs with low power consumption. Since the river is quite long, there is high demand for equipment which can work continuously for days without disrupting the power supply by replacing batteries.
• Low Operation Cost To realize large-scale measurement along Barito River, the cost of ADCP equipment shall not be too high to enable multiple units to be installed at different points along the river, enabling a wider understanding of the current pattern and flood risk of the river.

VII. Como escolher a equipa certa para a medição de correntes?

Determinar pelo Uso

1. Horizontal Cross-section Measurement: A horizontal ADCP, on the other hand, would be the preferred choice in case of horizontal cross-section measurements in the Barito River. HADCP can measure the velocity and flow rate across the width of the river, providing a complete picture of the river's flow characteristics at a particular cross-section. This is important to understand the water spread over the river and flood-plain management.
2. Vertical Cross - Section Measurement: For vertical cross-section measurement, a vertical ADCP is more suitable. It can measure the velocity and flow rate at different depths, helping to analyze the vertical structure of the river flow, important for understanding the stratification of water and sediment movement.

Choose Different Frequencies Frequency will also depend on the depth of the Barito River. For the depths up to 70 meters, a 600 kHz ADCP should normally suffice. In deeper sections, up to 110 meters, a 300 kHz ADCP would be better suited.

Finally, there are several well - known ADCP brands such as Teledyne RDI, Nortek, and Sontek. However, for cost - effective and high - quality ADCPs, the Chinese brand ChinaSonar PandaADCP is highly recommended. It features an all - titanium alloy material construction and offers excellent value for money. You can visit(https://china-sonar.com/) for more information.

Here is a table with some well known ADCP instrument brands and models.