In this package, an Acoustic Doppler Profiler is mounted on a floatable platform, which resembles a Boogie Board. Position is tracked using a GPS on the boat that communicates with a land-based station and is, therefore, capable of centimeter-accurate results. At least four transects are required for an accurate measurement.
GPS
- Set up tripod in alignment with cross section
- Install charged batteries and mount Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS on top of tripod
- Set up GPS in view of cross-section to be measured and make sure you have clear view of the sky
- Mount antenna on side of GPS
Floatable Platform
- Mount tracker on boat
- Mount Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) on boat; be sure to set ADP to yellow line
- Mount Power Communication Module (PCM) and connect cables from antenna and ADP to PCM
Laptop
The initial setup of the HydroBoard is done using a laptop connected to the ADP via Bluetooth connection.
- Plug in dongle (external Bluetooth adapter) to laptop
- Plug in power cord from dongle to laptop
- Press On/Off switch to turn on dongle
- Open RiverSurveyor Live
- Turn on power switches on ADP and PCM (GPS has two lights – power and GPS; (PCM has four lights – power, radio, RTK and GPS)
- Connect to River Surveyor on laptop
- Make sure Parani Bluetooth Connection is checked
- Press Connect
- Select S5 Unit
- Press Connect
- Bring up startup screen (goal: make all red lines turn green)
- Go to bottom of screen and perform System Test
- Dialog box opens; press Start
- Dialog box opens to verify system pass; press Close
- Press Change Site Information and input appropriate information (note: boat is R boat) – not all fields are required
- Press Compass Calibration; dialog box opens; press Start
- During calibration, a second person should pick up the boat and wiggle it back and forth
- Dialog box will indicate Pass if the calibration is successful (calibration score should be close to 10, a score of 9 is acceptable)
- Close window
- Press System Settings and set the following fields to these values
- Transducer Depth – 0.24 (note: will change due to new board)
- Screening Distance – 0
- Salinity – (variable – use salinity meter to determine correct value)
- Magnetic Declination – 12.5
- Track Reference – bottom track
- Depth Reference – vertical beam
- Coordinate System – ENU
- Smart Pulse – enabled
- Press Enter
Blackberry
Once the initial setup is completed, a handheld PDA is used to enter data and track progress of the ADP.
- Disconnect laptop Bluetooth connection and connect Blackberry Bluetooth (password: 1610)
- Press soft key Start to get to Programs
- Select River Surveyor Live
- Search for unit
- Press Connect when found
- Press Start System
- Press Start Edge
- Fill in parameters and press OK
- Deploy fins on HydroBoard and place unit in water
- Press Start Edge and wait until you get at least 10 samples at the edge
- Set bank and distance from center of HydroBoard to edge of water; press OK
- Pull HydroBoard across creek at a consistent speed and no faster than water velocity
- Once across the cross-section and after 10 samples at edge, enter distance and press End Edge
- Press End Transect
- For next measurement, press Continue
- Repeat steps 6-10 a minimum of four times