Remote-sensing platforms will be deployed periodically (e.g., through seasonal flyovers with small unmanned aerial vehicles or one-time characterization campaigns).

Our multi-scale approach also employs ground-based platforms with low spatial and high temporal resolution (e.g., ground-based LiDAR). While the remote-sensing platform is optimal for large coverage, the embedded sensor network will be designed based on fewer high-density distributed sensing nodes. Lessons learned from other CZOs and other multi-scale network efforts have helped shape our embedded network.

The embedded sensor network is comprised of traditional continuous monitoring techniques (e.g., flow stage transducers) and innovative techniques, such as fiber optics for hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture measurements, RFIDs for sediment tracking, and Photo Electric Erosion Pins (PEEPs) for bank erosion. Due to high sensor maintenance costs, most of the innovative techniques are part of the mobile sensor platform, deployed to perform a select number of experiments in the network sites.

At the highest level, observations employ satellite remote-sensing fused with embedded sensor networks to discern controlling flow and transport phenomena over larger scales. Remote-sensing platforms are deployed periodically (e.g., seasonal flyovers with small unmanned aerial vehicles) or through one-time characterization campaigns. We also employ ground-based platforms with low spatial and high temporal resolution (e.g., ground-based LiDAR).