Bidimensional measurement of an underwater sediment surface using a 3D-Scanner

The application of laser technologies to experimental fluvial hydraulics is a relatively new field with a promising future. In the area of sediment transport, these technologies will be used here to describe the evolution of an underwater sediment bed profile. This paper presents the application of a three-dimensional laser scanner (3D-Scanner), which measures elevation through the intersection of the laser beam with the sediment surface, correcting the effect of its refraction as it enters the water. Results were compared with those obtained with a particle image velocimetry (PIV) in recording the longitudinal profile of the bed. In this way, the utility of this high-precision, continuous and non-intrusive technique has been demonstrated in fluvial hydraulic studies with sediment transport.