ISSDOTv2 methodology, uncertainty, and applications for measuring bed-load transport

Authors: MCALPIN, TATE - Us Army Corp Of Engineers (USACE); Wren, Daniel; JONES, KEATON - Us Army Corp Of Engineers (USACE); Kuhnle, Roger; ABRAHAM, DAVID - Retired Non ARS Employee; WILLSON, CLENTON - Louisiana State University

Submitted to: Joint Federal Interagency Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2023
Publication Date: 5/8/2023
Citation: Mcalpin, T., Wren, D.G., Jones, K., Kuhnle, R.A., Abraham, D.D., Willson, C.S. 2023. ISSDOTv2 methodology, uncertainty, and applications for measuring bed-load transport. Joint Federal Interagency Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling. In proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract Only.

Technical Abstract: Bed-load transport is an important physical process impacting river management. Bed load impacts riverine geomorphology, dredging, navigation, flood control, and habitat suitability. Even with the recognized importance of bed-load transport, limited measurements are available on larger riverine systems due to the expense and difficulty in obtaining accurate measurements. The Integrated, Section Surface Difference Over Time, version 2 (ISSDOTv2) method utilizes sequential multi-beam bathymetric measurements to determine both the total bed load and the lateral variability in bed load across a river section (Abraham et al 2011; McAlpin et al 2022). The method includes estimates of uncertainty to allow river managers to consider the accuracy of the measurements in the decision-making process. The ISSDOTv2 method and code have been validated using flume measurements at the USDA National Sedimentation Laboratory in Oxford, MS. These flume results provided validation data during the development of the uncertainty propagation process to ensure reasonable uncertainty limits were computed. The ISSDOTv2 method has been utilized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a number of river systems for various purposes.