Abstract

Objective
Estimating river's underwater bed elevations is a necessary but challenging task. The objective of this study is to develop a revised approach to generate accurate and detailed Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) of a river reach by merging LiDAR data for the dry area, with water depth indirectly derived from aerial imagery for wet areas.
Methods
This approach was applied along three sub-reaches of the Brenta River (Italy) before and after two major flood events. A regression model relating water depth and intensity of the three colour bands derived from aerial photos, was implemented. More than 2400 in-channel depth calibration points were taken using a differential Global Positioning System (dGPS) along a wide range of underwater bed forms.
Results

The resulting DTMs closely matched the field-surveyed bed surface, and allowed to assess that a 10-year recurrence interval flood generated a predominance of erosion processes. Erosion dominated in the upper part of the study segment (− 104,082 m3), whereas a near-equilibrium is featured on the lower reach (− 45,232 m3). The DTMs allowed the detection of processes such as riffle–pool downstream migration, and the progressive scour of a pool located near a rip-rap.
Conclusion
The presented approach provides an adequate topographical description of the river bed to explore channel adjustments due to flood events.
Practice
Combining colour bathymetry and dGPS surveys proved to represent a useful tool for many fluvial engineering, ecology, and management purposes.
Implications
The proposed approach represents a valuable tool for river topography description, river management, ecology and restoration purposes, when bathymetric data are not available.