Despax, A., Le Coz, J., Hauet, A., Mueller, D. S., Engel, F. L., Blanquart, B., Renard, B., and Oberg, K.A., 2019, Decomposition of uncertainty sources in acoustic Doppler current profiler streamflow measurements using repeated measures experiments. Water Resources Research, 55, 7520–7540. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019WR025296.
Frank L Engel, Ph.D.
A process-oriented field scientist focused on finding applied and practical solutions to water resources and hydrodynamic related issues.
Biography
Frank Engel is a Geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specializing in fluvial geomorphology and the implementation of cutting-edge research applications into operational science. He focuses his research on process-oriented field studies of fluvial environments, with a heavy emphasis on the applications of his findings on river management decisions. Of particular interest to him is how current research advances in non-contact measurements of riverine hydraulic parameters can be operationalized in the USGS for day to day gaging and project applications. Dr. Engel is advocating for the use of camera and radar sensors to measure hydraulic parameters at USGS streamgages or elsewhere to enable increased observation of our surface water networks. Moreover, with the growing adoption of cloud infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT) architecture, Dr. Engel is working toward the development of cloud-based imagery and remote sensing data processing and persistence frameworks. Using IoT and "at the edge" computing power is a new frontier in the USGS, and shows great potential to bring our water observation approach into the next generation.
As chair of the USGS Water Mission Area (WMA) Surface Velocity Workgroup, Dr. Engel and his colleagues aim to coordinate the national USGS effort at implementing novel non-contact flow measurement techniques including Image Velocimetry and Surface Velocity Radar (SVR) for stream gaging and research purposes. Dr. Engel's goal is to inform planning and decision making in watershed management, stream restoration, and naturalization projects through applied research.
Frank is also working to pioneer use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for response to water emergencies, including the application of UAS to measure flood inundation in near real-time, as well as deriving flow velocities and other hydraulic parameters with Image Velocimetry and other computer vision techniques for use in flood event and emergency response.
By leveraging a full and increasing suite of non-contact tools & capabilities, Dr. Engel wants to enable the USGS to increase process understanding from water source to sink, provide better situational awareness during emergency response to floods, and advance the cutting edge of water science.
Science and Products
Date published: May 7, 2019
Status: Active Develop Cloud Computing Capability at Streamgages using Amazon Web Services GreenGrass IoT Framework for Camera Image Velocity Gaging
We developed an Internet of Things (IoT) prototype and associated cloud infrastructure for camera-based data collection and initial processing of river streamflow using the cloud (fig. 1). This pilot successfully created a hardware and cloud infrastructure to collect and upload video from a camera gage at San Pedro Creek in San Antonio, Texas. Using a ThingLogix Foundry instance in the Amazon...
Contacts: Frank L Engel, Ph.D., David I Donato
Attribution: Community for Data Integration (CDI)
Date published: January 22, 2020
Videos collected for Image Velocimetry at Boneyard Creek at Urbana, IL from 2017 to 2018
The U.S. Geological Survey is testing deployments of continuous Large-Scale particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV) streamgaging stations in areas with flashy flow regimes to measure streamflow during flood events. Videos were collected for the purpose of LSPIV streamflow analysis at a stage-discharge streamgaging station in a small, flashy urban stream in Urbana, Illinois, USA (Boneyard C
Attribution: Water Resources
Date published: January 1, 2019
Geospatial and survey data for flood-inundation maps in a 23-mile reach of the Medina River at Bandera, Texas, 2018
Digital flood-inundation maps were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District and with the Texas Water Development Board for a 23-mile reach of the Medina River extending from Winans Creek to English Crossing, Texas. The flood-inundation maps represent a range of selected water-surface elevations at USGS strea...
Attribution: Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2018
Water velocity profiling at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Electric Dispersal Barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal during passage of fully-loaded commercial tows in August 2017: Wall Mounted Argonaut SW
In 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertook a large-scale interagency field study to determine the influence of commercial barge vessels on the efficacy of the Electric Dispersal Barrier System (EDBS) in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) in preventing fish passage. This study included a series of trials in
Attribution: Region 3: Great Lakes, Central Midwest Water Science Center
Date published: December 20, 2016
Velocity profiling at the US Army Corps of Engineers Electric Dispersal Barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal during passage of fully loaded commercial tows: Ambient Velocity Measurements in August 2016
In 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertook a large-scale interagency field study to determine the influence of commercial barge vessels on the efficacy of the Electric Dispersal Barrier System (EDBS) in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) in preventing fish passage. This study included a series of trials in
Attribution: Central Midwest Water Science Center
Date published: December 20, 2016
Velocity profiling at the US Army Corps of Engineers Electric Dispersal Barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal during passage of fully loaded commercial tows: Wall Mounted Argonaut SW in August 2016
In 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertook a large-scale interagency field study to determine the influence of commercial barge vessels on the efficacy of the Electric Dispersal Barrier System (EDBS) in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) in preventing fish passage. This study included a series of trials in
Attribution: Central Midwest Water Science Center
Date published: December 20, 2016
Velocity profiling at the US Army Corps of Engineers Electric Dispersal Barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal during passage of fully loaded commercial tows: Wall Mounted Channel Master in August 2016
In 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertook a large-scale interagency field study to determine the influence of commercial barge vessels on the efficacy of the Electric Dispersal Barrier System (EDBS) in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) in preventing fish passage. This study included a series of trials in
Attribution: Central Midwest Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2016
Water surface elevation in the Brandon Road Lock chamber near Rockdale, Illinois (October 19-21, 2015)
An Insitu Level Troll 500 was deployed in the Brandon Road Lock chamber (BRLD) near Rockdale, Illinois between 12:09 Central Daylight Time (CDT) on October 19, 2015 and 14:57 CDT October 21, 2015 to monitor water-surface elevation in the lock chamber during a U.S. Geological Survey dye study conducted on October 20, 2015. The duration of the deployment included a day prior to
Attribution: Central Midwest Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2016
Acoustic Doppler current profiler velocity data collected during 2015 and 2016 in the Calumet Harbor, Illinois
Water velocities were measured in the Calumet Harbor for 5 dates in 2015 and 2016 using Teledyne Rio Grande 600 kHz acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP). The data were georeferenced with differential GPS receivers with submeter accuracy. These velocity data were collected in cooperation with the US Army Corps of Engineers-Chicago District. ADCP data were collected on the following dates...
Attribution: Central Midwest Water Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2016
Hydroacoustic measurements of velocities in and near the rake-to-box junction gap of a moving, fully-loaded commercial barge tow
In August 2015, water velocities around a fully-loaded commercial barge tow were measured as the barge tow traveled upstream through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from a starting position in Lockport Pool, and passed through the Electric Dispersal Barrier System at RM 296 near Romeoville, IL. Velocity measurements were made in and alongside the gap formed by the junction between the b...
Attribution: Central Midwest Water Science Center
Year Published: 2019
Flood-inundation maps for a 23-mile reach of the Medina River at Bandera, Texas, 2018
In 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District and the Texas Water Development Board, studied floods through the period of record to create a library of flood-inundation maps for the Medina River at Bandera, Texas. Digital flood-inundation maps for a 23-mile reach of the...
Choi, Namjeong; Engel, Frank L.Attribution: Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Water Resources, Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf
View Citation
Choi, N., and Engel, F.L., 2019, Flood-inundation maps for a 23-mile reach of the Medina River at Bandera, Texas, 2018: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2019–5067, 15 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20195067.
Year Published: 2019
Flood warning toolset for the Medina River in Bandera County, Texas
OverviewFloods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. The Medina River in Bandera County, Texas, is in the Edwards Plateau, where high-intensity rain rates and steep terrain frequently contribute to severe flash flooding capable of causing loss of life and property. For example, the July 5, 2002, flood claimed a total of 12...
Engel, Frank L.; Choi, NamjeongAttribution: Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Water Resources, Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf
View Citation
Engel, F.L., and Choi, N., 2019, Flood warning toolset for the Medina River in Bandera County, Texas: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2019–3043, 2 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20193043.
Year Published: 2019
Operationalizing small unoccupied aircraft systems for rapid flood inundation mapping and event response
Small Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (sUAS) offer the capability to collect rapid and accurate aerial survey data during flood response. The rapid collection of aerial flood data can potentially enable scientists to produce detailed geospatial products and related datasets in time for decisional support. A workflow for sUAS event response before,...
Engel, Frank L.; Hernandez, Rogelio
Year Published: 2018
Flow hydraulics and mixing characteristics in and downstream from Brandon Road Lock, Joliet, Illinois
The Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River near Joliet, Illinois, has been identified for potential implementation of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) control measures. To provide additional information concerning the flow hydraulics and mixing characteristics of the lock and downstream approach channel, the U.S. Geological Survey...
Engel, Frank L.; Jackson, P. Ryan; Murphy, Elizabeth A.View Citation
Engel, F.L., Jackson, P.R., and Murphy, E.A., 2018, Flow hydraulics and mixing characteristics in and downstream from Brandon Road Lock, Joliet, Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018–5094, 32 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20185094.
Year Published: 2017
Effects of tow transit on the efficacy of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Electric Dispersal Barrier System
In 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertook a field study in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville, Illinois to determine the influence of tow transit on the efficacy of the Electric Dispersal Barrier System (EDBS) in preventing the passage of juvenile fish (total...
Davis, Jeremiah J.; LeRoy, Jessica Z.; Shanks, Matthew R.; Jackson, Patrick Ryan; Engel, Frank L.; Murphy, Elizabeth A.; Baxter, Carey L.; McInerney, Michael K.; Barkowski, Nicholas A.View Citation
Davis, J.J., LeRoy, J.Z., Shanks, M.R., Jackson, P.R., Engel, F.L., Murphy, E.A., Baxter, C.L, Trovillion, J.C., McInerney, M.K., Barkowski, N.A., Effects of tow transit on the efficacy of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Electric Dispersal Barrier
System, J. Great Lakes Res. (2017), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2017.08.013
Year Published: 2016
Miscellaneous flow discharge measurements collected downstream of Brandon Road Lock and Dam
Flow discharges were measured in the Des Plaines River from approximately river mile 286 to river mile 284 on October 19–21, 2015 using Teledyne Rio Grande 1200 kHz acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP). The data were georeferenced with differential GPS receivers with submeter accuracy. These flow discharge measurements were collected in...
Engel, FrankView Citation
Engel, F. L., 2016, Miscellaneous flow discharge measurements collected downstream of Brandon Road Lock and Dam: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7S180NN.
Year Published: 2016
Bathymetric survey of the Brandon Road Dam Spillway, Joliet, Illinois
Bathymetric survey data of the Brandon Road Dam spillway was collected on May 27 and May 28, 2015 by the US Geological Survey (USGS) using Trimble Real-Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS) equipment. The base station was set up over a temporarily installed survey pin on both days. This pin was surveyed into an existing NGS benchmark...
Engel, Frank; Krahulik, JustinView Citation
Engel, F.L., and Krahulik, J.R., 2016, Bathymetric survey of the Brandon Road Dam Spillway, Joliet, Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F73F4MRV.
Year Published: 2016
Entrainment, retention, and transport of freely swimming fish in junction gaps between commercial barges operating on the Illinois Waterway
Large Electric Dispersal Barriers were constructed in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) to prevent the transfer of invasive fish species between the Mississippi River Basin and the Great Lakes Basin while simultaneously allowing the passage of commercial barge traffic. We investigated the potential for entrainment, retention, and...
Davis, Jeremiah J.; Jackson, P. Ryan; Engel, Frank L.; LeRoy, Jessica Z.; Neeley, Rebecca N.; Finney, Samuel T.; Murphy, Elizabeth A.View Citation
Davis, J.J., Jackson, P.R., Engel, F.L., LeRoy, J.Z., Neeley, R.N., Finney, S.T., Murphy, E.A., 2016, Entrainment, retention, and transport of freely swimming fish in junction gaps between commercial barges operating on the Illinois Waterway, Journal of Great Lakes Research, Volume 42, Issue 4, 837-848, ISSN 0380-1330, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2016.05.005.
Year Published: 2016
Three-dimensional flow structure and patterns of bed shear stress in an evolving compound meander bend
Compound meander bends with multiple lobes of maximum curvature are common in actively evolving lowland rivers. Interaction among spatial patterns of mean flow, turbulence, bed morphology, bank failures and channel migration in compound bends is poorly understood. In this paper, acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements of the three-...
Engel, Frank L.; Rhoads, Bruce L.View Citation
Engel, F. L., and Rhoads, B. L. (2016) Three-dimensional flow structure and patterns of bed shear stress in an evolving compound meander bend. Earth Surf. Process. Landforms, doi: 10.1002/esp.3895.
Year Published: 2014
Evaluation of a mass-balance approach to determine consumptive water use in northeastern Illinois
A principal component of evaluating and managing water use is consumptive use. This is the portion of water withdrawn for a particular use, such as residential, which is evaporated, transpired, incorporated into products or crops, consumed by humans or livestock, or otherwise removed from the immediate water environment. The amount of consumptive...
Mills, P.C.; Duncker, James J.; Over, Thomas M.; Marian Domanski; Engel, Frank L.View Citation
Mills, P.C., Duncker, J.D., Over, T.M., Domanski, M.M., and Engel, F.L., 2014, Evaluation of a mass-balance approach to determine consumptive water use in northeastern Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5176, 90 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145176.
ISSN 2328-0328 (online)
Pre-USGS Publications
Engel, F. L., and Rhoads, B. L. (2017). Velocity profiles and the structure of turbulence at the outer bank of a compound meander bend, Geomorphology, 295, 191–201. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.06.018.
Engel, F. L., and Rhoads, B. L. (2016). Three-dimensional flow structure and patterns of Bed shear stress in an evolving compound meander bend. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 1226(Feb). doi:10.1002/esp.3895
Parsons, D. R., Jackson, P. R., Czuba, J. A., Engel, F. L., Rhoads, B. L., Oberg, K. A., Riley, J. D. (2013). Velocity Mapping Toolbox (VMT): a processing and visualization suite for moving-vessel ADCP measurements. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 38(11), 1244–1260. doi:10.1002/esp.3367
Engel, F. L., and Rhoads, B. L. (2012). Interaction among mean flow, turbulence, bed morphology, bank failures and channel planform in an evolving compound meander loop. Geomorphology, 163-164, 70–83. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.05.026
March 27, 2019
Testing New Drone Technology to Measure Floodwaters
A USGS crew used new drone technology to test and evaluate new technology to measure water speed from the air without touching the water. This drone footage was taken on the Missouri River at Hermann, Missouri on March 27, 2019. Scientists compared these new method results to the conventional way of taking measurements from a boat.
This work is a part of a national
Attribution: Region 4: Mississippi Basin
October 20, 2015
Timelapse of Brandon Road Lock during USGS Dye Study
This is a timelapse video of a dye tracer study at Brandon Road Lock, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) facility in Joliet, IL, on the Des Plaines River on October 20, 2015. This video was collected using a digital camera mounted on the upstream gates of the lock looking downstream with a 5-second interval between images and played back at 10 frames per second (fps).
December 9, 2014
Visualizing Flow Through the Brandon Road Lock & Dam
This video portrays two areas near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, a US Army Corps of Engineers facility in Joliet, IL. This video was collected as the lock was emptied through the downstream valves, refilled with water, and then emptied again. This data collection is supporting efforts to combat the spread of invasive Asian carp into the Great Lakes Basin. Brandon Road has
Attribution: Region 3: Great Lakes, Central Midwest Water Science Center
Date published: June 14, 2016
Moving Barges Have Potential to Transport Invasive Fish
When a moving barge encounters small fish in the Illinois Waterway there is a possibility that the fish will become trapped in the gap between barges, according to a new study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey.