The agenda with respect to bodies of flowing water is very diverse and includes the continued recording of water levels, the imaging of the riverbed (bathymetry) and the surveying of the areas potentially affected by the bodies of water as well as the measuring of flow rates and of suspended matter parameters.

Riverbed measurement

via donau employs modern hydrographical survey vessels and state-of-the-art measuring systems (single-beam and multi-beam bathymetric systems) for riverbed imaging. A shallow-water multi-beam system enables the complete coverage of the riverbed.

Groundwater measurement

The study of bodies of flowing water does not only require a continuous recording of water levels and the solid matter concentration in surface water but also a high-quality survey of the adjacent groundwater zones and groundwater bodies communicating with the river.

The temperatures of both the surface water and the groundwater are also recorded continuously at several measuring sites. A suitable network of measuring sites is required to record the conditions of bodies of water.

Such a network has to meet the high demands of the relevant acts and the inferred regulations as well as the demands defined in the rules and standards of the Austrian Hydrographical Service and hydrological demands in particular.

Flow rate measurement

via donau measures flow rates at regular time intervals and during low-water periods and floods in particular, using state-of-the-art measuring systems (ADCP ultrasound technology, hydrometric vane).

The evaluation of regularly conducted flow rate measuring and the resulting conversion of the water level into current discharge data form the basis of forecasts and of flood management activities.

The high quality of data provided to the Austrian provinces can only be maintained by using modern and efficient measuring methods.

Hence, the hydrological evaluation of data provides a valuable contribution to the areas of flood protection, flood alert services and for the optimisation of prognostic models.

Measuring tasks

via donau is responsible for measuring river banks, flood plains and retention areas (lat. retenire = to hold back) and all their relevant elements, adding up to a large number of activities:

• Control levelling of the particular network of control stations at the rivers Danube, Morava and Thaya (basis of all riverbed imaging)
• Additional checkpoint and hectometre measuring, placement of gauges, etc.
• Site plans and topographic maps (terrestrial), e.g. for flood control structures, old arms, biotopes and gravel deposition
• Levelling at floods and low water (measuring of water levels)
• Linkage of water bodies, e.g. Integrated River Engineering Project on the Danube to the East of Vienna
• Measuring of structures (e.g. locks, bridges, …)