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Streamlining Canal Hydrodynamic Measurements in Venice

Updating measurements and developing plans for extensive data collection in the Venice canals

This project investigated new methods for taking extensive hydrodynamic measurements in the inner canals of Venice. The team developed and tested new devices for measuring water level and current velocity, and assessed their feasibility for future implementation. Specifically, these devices were an easy-to-use photo-based measuring stick for collecting tide levels, and a floating GPS device that is effective at tracking the direction of water flow. To address speculations of water flow changes within the canals ̶ prompted by relative sea level rise and recent lagoon construction ̶ this project continued past WPI studies of the canals’ hydrodynamic behavior to determine if changes have occurred since the 1990s. Water level and current velocity data were collected and compared to hydrodynamic models of the canals and data collected by past studies. The team found specific canal segments that have exhibited noticeable change in current velocity since 1999, and although the cause for this change was still inconclusive from analyses, the team identified key locations for future investigation. The team also updated page templates and uploaded hydrodynamic data to Venipedia, a Wiki-based site focused on the city of Venice.

Mission Statement: This project is intended to help our sponsors better understand and monitor the canals of Venice by developing a sustainable plan to collect accurate hydrodynamic data over an extended time period, determining changes using models, taking and analyzing our own hydrodynamic measurements, and making all of this data accessible to the world through Venipedia.

Project Objectives

1. To develop and test measuring devices that can be incorporated into an easily repeatable plan for collecting full tide-cycle data

2.To measure the current hydrodynamic status of the canals by collecting water level and water velocity data

3. To determine if and to what extent the currents in the canals have changed since the 1990s using ISMAR models

4. To make hydrodynamic data available to the public through Venipedia

For wiki entries related

to our project, take a look at: Canal Hydrodynamics, Hydrodynamics, Canal, Canals, and Canal Maintenance

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