Hydrodynamic Modeling for Flow and Velocity Estimation from an Arduino Ultrasonic Sensor

Abstract

Flow is a crucial variable in water resources, although its determination is challenging. Rating curves are standard but have conceptual limitations, leading to significantly high uncertainties. Hydrodynamic models offer a more precise alternative, but they necessitate continuous measurements of velocities, which are complex and expensive to obtain. Thus, this article aimed to validate a hydrodynamic model that estimates flows and velocities in transient conditions based on water levels measured using a low-cost ultrasonic sensor. The results indicated that these estimates can be reliable if (1) hydrodynamic models are used to represent the flow, (2) the channel bed slope is well represented in the geometric data, and (3) Manning’s coefficients are accurately estimated during calibration. The calculated flow and velocity showed a maximum variation of 40% for the same water level compared to estimates using the rating curve. The model exhibited higher sensitivity in terms of the flow when varying the channel bed slope, highlighting the importance of topographic surveys for the estimates. The validity of the implemented model was assessed with experimental data, indicating precision and reliability for practical applications in natural channels.