Manual profiling is slow
Point gauges and profilers measure lines, not surfaces. Covering a model bed takes hours, and the detail between lines is lost.
Erosion and Accumulation Analysis in Dam Models Using LiDAR
Where the earth went, and how much of it.
CRATUS applies its LiDAR volume measurement technology to indoor dam and hydraulic models: fixed LiDAR sensors scan the model bed before, between and after runs, and the software compares surfaces to map where earth eroded and where it accumulated, with volumes per zone. Hydraulic laboratories and research teams get repeatable erosion and deposition data without manual profiling.
- One system for
- LiDAR
- Edge
- Software
- AI
Erosion & accumulationMapped and measured per zone
RunsCompared surface to surface
- Surface to surfaceEach scan compared with the baseline and the previous run
- Zone by zoneErosion and accumulation volumes per area of the model
- Fixed sensorsSame positions every run, for repeatable comparisons
- Open formatsPoint clouds, surfaces and volume tables you can analyze
The challenge
Why erosion in physical models is hard to quantify.
Physical dam models show how earth moves under flow. Turning that into numbers is where most of the effort goes.
Runs change faster than you can measure
Scour holes and deposits evolve during a run. A single post-run survey misses how the pattern developed.
Comparisons that don’t line up
Handheld or moved scanners need registration for every scan. Small alignment errors look like erosion.
Fixed LiDAR sensors scan the same bed from the same positions, so every run is directly comparable.
See the approachModel areas
What we measure on a dam model.
Zones are set on your model grid and reported separately.
- Reservoir areaSediment accumulation upstream of the dam.
- EmbankmentErosion of upstream and downstream faces and the crest.
- Spillway and outletsErosion along chutes and at outlet structures.
- Stilling basinScour and deposition inside the basin.
- Downstream reachScour holes, bars and deposits along the channel.
- Banks and abutmentsBank retreat and abutment erosion.
Our approach
From laser return to inventory number.
CRATUS VMS combines LiDAR sensing, edge computing, software and AI, engineered as one system by one team.
LiDAR sensing
Fixed LiDAR sensors mounted above the material measure its surface as a dense 3D point cloud, with their own laser light, so darkness, glare and uniform color do not matter. We combine wide field-of-view LiDARs for overall coverage with directional LiDARs where a corner, crater or far wall needs a closer look.
- Wide field-of-view and directional LiDAR
- Ceiling, truss, wall or apex mounts
- Lens care and air purge options for dust
Edge computing
An edge computer at the site merges every sensor into one surface, computes volume per zone and sends results, not raw video, over Ethernet, Wi-Fi or cellular. Sites without easy IT access can start on cellular.
- Multi-sensor merge on site
- Volume computed at the edge
- Ethernet, Wi-Fi or cellular
Software & dashboards
Surfaces, difference maps and erosion and accumulation volumes per zone and per run, with the run history in one place and exports in open formats for your own analysis.
- Difference maps per run
- Volumes per zone
- Open-format exports
AI
Point-cloud processing removes noise and returns from people or equipment over the model, and highlights where change between runs concentrates, so analysis starts with the areas that moved.
- Noise and object filtering
- Change hot spots
- Run-to-run comparison
What we deliver
Erosion and accumulation analysis for hydraulic models.
Built on the same measurement technology CRATUS uses for bulk material inventory.
Baseline and run surfaces
A baseline surface of the prepared bed and a new surface after each run or interval.
Sensing · Edge
Difference maps
Surface-to-surface comparisons that show where the bed lowered and where it rose.
Software
Volumes per zone
Eroded and accumulated volume for each zone you define: upstream reservoir, crest, spillway, stilling basin, downstream reach.
Software
Scour hole geometry
Depth, extent and volume of scour holes downstream of spillways and outlets.
Software
Sediment accumulation
Deposition patterns upstream of the dam and in the reservoir area, run by run.
Software
Research data delivery
Point clouds, surfaces and volume tables in open formats for your own analysis.
Software · AI
The CRATUS VMS system
Building blocks, combined per structure.
The same sensors and edge computer used for bulk material inventory, configured for a laboratory model.
CRATUS VMS
Wide-FOV LiDAR node
Overall surface coverage
- Wide field of view
- Works in the dark
- Ceiling or wall mount
Sees a large share of the material surface from one mounting point and follows the pile as it rises and falls, without re-aiming.
CRATUS VMS
Directional LiDAR
Targeted, longer reach
- Narrow field of view
- Long range
- Aimed at one feature
Looks into the places a wide view cannot reach well: reclaim craters, far corners, deep bins and the back of tall bays.
ASSET-Rx
Edge computer
ASSET-Rx EDGE middleware
- Multi-sensor merge
- Per-zone volume
- Ethernet · Wi-Fi · cellular
Runs at the site, combines the sensors into one surface and computes volume, so only results need to leave the building.
One system
Sensors, edge, software and AI from one team
CRATUS defines the sensor layout, supplies the sensors and edge computer, sets up zones on your model grid and delivers the data. One point of contact from model layout to the last run. Browse the VMS systems for bulk solids.
All CRATUS productsCRATUS VMSStack
AI
- Surface filtering
- Change alerts
- Usage trends
Software
- Dashboard
- Reports
- Exports
Edge
- Sensor merge
- Volume per zone
- Connectivity
Sensing
- Wide-FOV LiDAR
- Directional LiDAR
- Brackets & purge
What to send us
These details let CRATUS build a coverage model for your structure.
- Structure type: barn, warehouse, bunker, silo, dome or hopper
- Size: width, length and height
- Material stored and, if known, its bulk density
- Fill method: auger, conveyor, truck or loader
- Reclaim method: loader, bottom reclaim, gravity or pump-out
- Combustible dust or explosive gases present?
- 120 VAC and 12 VDC available near the structure?
- Internet access, or cellular coverage at the site
- Dust level and compressed air availability
- Number of structures now, and potentially later
How we work
Modeled first, then installed.
Every structure is different, so every installation starts with a coverage model of your structure and material. Sensor types, counts and positions are decided before anything ships.
- 01
Share site details
Structure type and size, material, how it is filled and reclaimed, power, connectivity and dust conditions.
- 02
Coverage model
CRATUS models your structure and material behavior to choose sensor types, counts and mounting positions before anything ships.
- 03
Install
Brackets, power and network, with installation instructions and remote support for your contractor or ours.
- 04
Commission & calibrate
Reference scans, zone set-up and bulk density per material, checked against a known quantity where one is available.
- 05
Monitor & support
Dashboard, reports and alerts, a lens-care schedule and engineering support for the life of the system.
Standards & practices
Data you can analyze.
Results are delivered in formats research teams already use.
- LAS / LAZPoint clouds (ASPRS format)
- E57Point clouds (ASTM E2807)
- GeoTIFFElevation surfaces and difference rasters
- CSVVolume tables per zone and per run
- Fixed control pointsSame sensor positions and references every run
- Run logScan time stamps matched to run conditions
- IEC 60825-1Eye-safe laser classes for lab use
- Your conventionsZone names and coordinates set to your model grid
Formats and deliverables are agreed per project. CRATUS provides measurement data and analysis; interpretation of model results remains with the research team.
The basics
How does LiDAR measure erosion in a dam model?
By comparing surfaces. LiDAR scans the model bed before a run and again after it; the difference between the two surfaces shows where earth was removed and where it was deposited, and the software computes the volume of each.
Why fixed sensors instead of a handheld scanner?
Repeatability. Fixed sensors scan from the same positions every time, so surfaces line up without re-registration, and small differences reflect the bed rather than the scanner position.
Can erosion be measured during a run?
Above water, yes. Exposed surfaces such as the embankment, crest and dry banks can be scanned at intervals during a run. Submerged areas are measured when the flow is stopped and the bed is drained, because LiDAR light does not see reliably through water.
Analysis
What results do we receive?
Point clouds and surfaces for every scan, difference maps between scans, and erosion and accumulation volumes per zone, in open formats.
Can zones match our model layout?
Yes. Zones are defined on your model grid, such as reservoir, embankment, spillway, stilling basin and downstream reach, and can be changed after the runs.
Can the same setup be used for embankment breach or overtopping tests?
Yes, for the exposed surfaces. Embankment erosion during overtopping can be scanned at intervals, and the full surface measured once the flow stops.
Working with CRATUS
Is this a product or an engineering service?
Both. The sensors, edge computer and software are CRATUS VMS components; set-up for a laboratory model, zone definitions and data delivery are provided as an engineering service.
Can you work with our integrator or IT team?
Yes. CRATUS works directly with plant teams, system integrators and IT departments, and provides installation instructions, network requirements and remote support during commissioning.
How do we start?
Send the model dimensions, the flume or basin layout, the materials used and what you need to measure. CRATUS will reply with a sensor layout and data plan.
Talk to a CRATUS engineer
Running physical dam or hydraulic models?
Send us the model layout, materials and what you need to quantify. A CRATUS engineer will reply with a sensor layout and a data plan.
Illustrations are not to scale. Specifications subject to change without notice.