Colorado WSC Network Integration and Science Innovation (I&I) team has developed a standalone Rapid Deployment Camera (RDC) system which allows USGS staff to install cameras quickly and with no formal camera training. Camera imagery is served via USGS HIVIS. Use cases for RDC deployment include camera installation prior to flooding events; after significant landscape processes such as wildfires, landslides, avalanches; to monitor seasonal conditions which affect gage reliability such as algae, sediment deposition, leave accumulation; and rapid response to cooperator or emergency management requests.
To compute discharge using image velocimetry, the measured surface velocity must be related to the depth-averaged velocity; this is typically done using a simple coefficient known as the alpha coefficient. The alpha coefficient is the most significant input to the computation of discharge from imagery that is often not empirically determined, but the resulting discharge value is directly proportional to the value chosen. The USGS database contains more than half a million ADCP measurements - the profiles in these measurements can be used to inform selection of alpha. Results from a compilation of profiles at a variety of sites will be presented.
"Did you unplug it and plug it back in?" - every IT Person, ever. Field visits for simple instrument resets are a costly drain on resources. While most dataloggers have control ports that can power cycle devices and instruments, these ports are often exhausted as sensor density increases. By integrating a microcontroller, we have expanded our control capacity via multi-channel relay boards. Logic within the main datalogger verifies data transmission, validity, and connectivity before communicating with an external microcontroller that manages the power supply to individual devices and instruments. More importantly, we've moved beyond simple "On/Off" control by monitoring individual instrument's current draw in real-time. These data are passed to the primary datalogger, enabling automated notifications if hardware is drawing outside of specifications. Because the entire system can be monitored and controlled remotely, it provides a comprehensive "health check". This reduces unnecessary field visits and equips staff with additional diagnostic information needed to troubleshoot before leaving the office.
Since 2021, the USGS Real-time Flood Impact Map has evolved through the Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) into an increasingly operational capability that delivers actionable flood impact intelligence.
This hands-on workshop will train participants to enter and document flood impacts within the system. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own flood impact scenarios; alternatively, examples may be selected from National Weather Service flood impact statements. These scenarios will be used for guided, step-by-step instruction on data entry, standards, and quality assurance.
The session will include: (1) an overview of the Real-time Flood Impact Map, (2) criteria for defining and selecting flood impacts, (3) hands-on data entry exercises, and (4) best practices for ensuring consistency and accuracy. The map currently includes more than 6,000 documented flood impacts nationwide and continues to expand in operational use.
Participants will leave prepared to independently contribute high-quality flood impact data and support broader adoption across cooperators and stakeholders.
