Aquatic environments present challenges requiring specific tools, training, and expertise to conduct field measurements safely and efficiently. NHC has invested to provide our staff with the proper training and equipment to overcome these challenges and acquire needed data. We have adopted innovative approaches — such as acoustic doppler current profiler measurements, acoustic doppler velocimeter measurements, dilution gauging, and water level measurements — to complement traditional in-person measurements of channel morphology, discharge, and sediment characteristics.

NHC provides a full range of field services to collect data in any environment or climatic region from steep mountain streams to large rivers and coastal waters. These services include bathymetric and topographic surveys using RTK-GPS, ground-based LiDAR, total station, sounders, and sonar; installing and maintaining real-time loggers and early-warning systems to monitor water level, turbidity, water quality, temperature, precipitation, wind, waves, and flow velocities; sediment sampling for hydraulic modelling; and ice measurements and strength testing.

NHC’s array of instruments and measurement techniques allow us to collect data under almost any flow conditions, from low flows in small creek systems, to freshet flows on large river systems. We tailor our hydrometric data collection programs based on the needs of our clients and their projects and strive to collect the most accurate field data possible.