Benchmarking for using an acoustic Doppler current profiler for bathymetric survey

This research aims to improve data post-processing from an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) to obtain additional depth information with a high-quality bathymetric result. To validate the depth, dataset in a control area was used a scaled rod, the RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) positioning technique, and a single beam echo sounder (SBES). The developed post-processing and validation in the control area applied to a small region of a water supply reservoir in Brazil. A robust local regression method eliminated outliers from the raw data. Subsequently, a linear regression model was generated for the beams from the ADCP to adjust depths and improve the dataset. The statistical hypothesis test performed before and after the adjustment supported the validation of data processing. The resulting volumes calculated from the ADCP raw data showed a difference of 30% with SBES, which is usually the standard equipment used for bathymetric surveys. The proposed post-processing techniques declined to < 1% of the volume discrepancy. The raw dataset standard deviation was 0.15 m on average for Doppler beams, and after adjusts, this value dropped to 0.03 m. The results showed the necessity of a post-processing method to improve depth data quality from ADCP. Thus, the procedure described in this document can be used for bathymetric surveys using ADCP for analysis concerning the estimation of reservoir volume.