Understanding and Evaluation of Habitats in River Waters using Topographic Point Cloud Data.

Abstract

This study explores the identification of rapids and pools—key habitat features in river environments— using ground-based point cloud data of riverbed topography. Elevation values and local bed slope were employed as indicators to characterize these habitats. Results indicated that rapids exhibited gentle slopes, while pools were associated with steeper gradients, revealing distinct topographic patterns. These findings showed strong agreement with Froude number calculations, suggesting its potential applicability as a complementary metric. Furthermore, elevation variability, quantified using the coefficient of variation, effectively captured topographic transition zones, particularly in deeper (abyssal) areas, highlighting its promise as a useful indicator for habitat delineation.