Update on the GPS Capsule

Post date: Nov 20, 2012 9:27:49 AM

Although the plan for the floating GPS capsule has changed since we arrived in Venice, it is still spending some time in the water tracking water movement. Our team has been out in the boat collecting tracks to assist in analyzing how water moves through the canals. The device has been floating around Cannaregio and even in the Grand Canal. The picture below shows the capsule floating in the lagoon.

There have been some very interesting findings. In Rio di S. Felice, which connects the lagoon to the Grand Canal, was flowing toward the Grand Canal in both incoming and outgoing tide. Normally the flow of the canal in outgoing tide is opposite of incoming tide. A gondolier was also stumped by this behavior!

After recording tracks, they are viewed with Google Earth and the tracks are cleaned up. The GPS is not always accurate and some points show up on land. These points are removed because they are inaccurate. The data is then analyzed to calculate water velocity.