| The SediMeter™ measures a vertical turbidity profile and estimates the bottom level with high precision | ||
| Use it to monitor… Sedimentation Erosion Siltation Scour Accumulation Resuspension Deposition Near-Bed Turbidity Sediment Transport Sediment Consolidation Bentic Flux Monitoring | In… Oceans Coasts Beaches Seas Lakes Rivers Channels Ponds Reservoirs Flumes Tanks Laboratories Lagoons | For… Determining Sediment Accumulation Monitoring Siltation Earth Science Research Environmental Research Channel Supervision Dredging Spill Monitoring Reservoir Sedimentation Monitoring Fish Farm Environmental Management Pollution Monitoring Studying Anoxic Sediment Conditions Carbon Cycle Studies |
| Case Studies | |
|---|---|
| The Netherlands Description: Sediment is being removed from a navigation channel and placed in IJmeer to create new land for the city of Amsterdam. Nearby bottoms are protected by a silt screen. Three SediMeter SM4 are deployed outside the silt screen to monitor turbidity and sediment accumulation, and a fourth instrument is used as a reference farther away. Where: IJmeer, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Who: Boskalis Why: Project to create a new city block using dredged material from a navigation channel What: Monitor turbidity and sedimentation outside of a silt screen When: 2018- Model: SM4 |  |
| Canada Description: Contaminated sediments must be removed and a new basin dredged for a terminal for LNG Canada. Nearby eelgrass beds should be protected from sedimentation caused by sediment spill from the dredging works, especially if those sediments are contaminated. Three SediMeter SM4 are deployed in the nearby eelgrass beds to monitor turbidity and sediment accumulation, and a fourth instrument is used as a reference on the opposite side of the fjord. Where: Kitimat, B.C., Canada Who: Boskalis Why: Project to build an LNG export terminal What: Monitor sedimentation in nearby eelgrass beds When: 2018- Model: SM4 |  |
| Zambia Description: A SediMeter™ was deployed in this water reservoir in order to collect data on the timing and amount of sedimentation in the water reservoir. Traditional methods include repeat measurements of the bed level, and taking of sediment cores, but they only allow the measurements of the net change between measurements, and are unable to register what exactly happens, and when it happens. In order to optimize the methods for decreasing sedimentation and-the other side of the coin-soil erosion, it is important to understand the processes. The SediMeter™ can be used to quantify near-bed suspended sediment, sediment accumulation, and even measure sediment consolidation. It thus gives a lot more information for the scientist or engineer that is trying to come up with ways in which to protect the farmlands from erosion, and the reservoirs from sediment infilling. Where: Water reservoir Who: University of Zambia Why: Soil Erosion Research What: Measure sedimentation rate in water reservoirs When: 2015-2017 Model: SM3A |  |
| Zambia field data: At the end of the dry season the bottom is at about 14 cm. The rains bring in so heavily sediment-laden water that the level of the bottom cannot easily be determined for 2 weeks. When the sediment settle out of suspension the bottom level has risen by about 5 cm. We also observe changes in the darkness of the previously deposited sediments. |  |
| USA Description: In 2007, the Port of Olympia found elevated levels of dioxins in an area scheduled for maintenance dredging. The contaminated sediments have since been dealt with. During this project SediMeters™ were deployed in the area to monitor for near-bed elevated turbidity levels. The SediMeter™ instruments were mounted on steel platforms for sedimentation measurements in the Budd Inlet. Where: Budd Inlet, Washington State Who: Gravity Environmental Why: Polluted Sediments Cleanup What: Measure sedimentation in the inlet When: 2014 Model: SM3A |  |
| Kazakhstan Description: The northern part of the Caspian Sea has a large input of sediments from the Volga and Ural rivers, and the depth is only around 5 meters in a large area. A harbor development plan in Kazakhstan required the dredging of a 70 km long navigation channel through this area. SediMeter™ instruments were deployed to assess the sedimentary environment, taking advantage of their ability to measure the near-bed turbidity. The SediMeter™ can also be used to detect the presence of bedload transport as opposed to suspended sediment transport, and to measure the infilling of the navigation channel post-dredging. Where: Caspian Sea Who: Gravity Environmental Why: Project to build an oil export terminal with a 70 km dredged channel What: Collect data for the Environmental, Social, and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) program When: 2013 Model: SM3A |  |
| USA Description: SediMeter™ instruments were deployed in the Ohio River, West Virginia, to measure sediment deposition over mussel beds during maintenance dredging on the river. Where: Ohio River, West Virginia Who: USACE Why: Maintenance dredging threatened mussel banks What: Monitor sedimentation/siltation from dredging When: 2009 Model: SM2A |  |
| Honduras Description: A SediMeter™ instrument and temperature sensors were deployed in Lago Yojoa to measure sediment resuspension during the annual fall mixing event which frequently causes anoxia and fish death. The normally oligotrophic lake is now used for fish farming. Unfortunately theft of hardware by local boaters sabotaged the project repeatedly, and while a stolen cable was replaced by telemetry system made by Lindorm, the SediMeter was lost with data and all. Where: Lago Yojoa, Honduras Who: Lindorm for ENEE, IAEA Why: Study of the lake’s health What: Monitor sedimentation and resuspension When: 2009 Model: LogDator Buoy, and SM2A SediMeter |  |