A simple system for laser-illuminated video imaging of sediment suspension and bed topography

A simple underwater video system has been developed for simultaneously imaging sediment suspension and monitoring bed profiles under waves and combined wave-current flows. This consists of a diode-laser-generated light plane and a black-and-white underwater video camera. The laser light illuminates suspended material in section and also provides a bed profile at the bottom. Orthogonal laser/camera pairs are used to obtain both cross-shore and alongshore views. During deployments, the system has been augmented by acoustic backscatter devices for measurement of sediment concentration. As with all video techniques, visibility is a limiting factor, but where turbidity is low to moderate, the results are encouraging. Results on cross-shore and alongshore bed elevation variations and suspension event stales obtained with the video/laser system are presented for two experiments: one at the National Research Council Wave Research Flume in Ottawa, Canada, and the other in the field at Queensland Beach, N.S., Canada,.