Disclosed is a composite hydrological monitoring system, in which a counterweight component and a test component are respectively connected to both opposite ends of a strip and a plurality of sensors are disposed at different vertical positions. Accordingly, the scour depth can be measured by sensing the location of the counterweight component, whereas the water level and/or flow velocity can be determined by signals from the sensors. When the counterweight component moves downward with sinking of the riverbed, the strip would be pulled down and thus causes the test component to present a change in mechanical energy. Accordingly, the sinking depth can be measured by sensing the change of the mechanical energy. Additionally, since the water level variation would cause signal changes of the sensors arranged in a row along a vertical direction, the change of water level can be determined accordingly.

A small watercraft launch comprises a watercraft receiving area defined by a bottom and side walls which in combination define a cradle. Opposed launch side walls extend upwardly from the cradle side walls. At least one of the side walls defines a port to enable access to the cradle (and to a watercraft positioned in the cradle). A plurality of aligned notches extending downwardly from the top surface of the side walls on opposite sides of the port which are sized to receive an oar/paddle shaft to allow a boater to pull the small watercraft forward along the small watercraft launch. Lastly, the small watercraft launch has a connecting portion at a bottom of the outer surface of at least one of the launch side walls configured to connect the small watercraft launch to a dock member.

The method for preventing and controlling glacial lake outbreak flood and related debris flows by the present invention is mainly controlling the scale of the floods by separating water and rocks and dispersing its energy step by step. The cascading amplification effects of floods can be reduced by controlling the initiation of source material with energy dissipation by using ground sills, groups of piles, and placed large stones and prefabricated artificial structures. The diversion dam built in the downstream area discharge floods in different layers, which can quickly guide water to the main river. The preconstructed engineering system can be used in a timely manner to prevent and control floods and debris flows induced by a sudden outburst of glacial lakes in areas with important facilities and inhabitants enduring the risk of natural hazards. Prevention and control systems can separate floods and debris flows and dissipate their energy. The groups of ground sills and check dams gradually dissipate the energy of floods, prevent high-energy boulders, and control the initiation of source materials in the channel and bank. Moreover, the systems can also separate the water and rocks in dilute debris flows or debris flows with high bulk densities but low viscosities. The diversion dams also enhance the separation function and keep the flood and debris flow discharge in the lower and upper channel to the main river.

The method for preventing and controlling glacial lake outbreak flood and related debris flows by the present invention is mainly controlling the scale of the floods by separating water and rocks and dispersing its energy step by step. The cascading amplification effects of floods can be reduced by controlling the initiation of source material with energy dissipation by using ground sills, groups of piles, and placed large stones and prefabricated artificial structures. The diversion dam built in the downstream area discharge floods in different layers, which can quickly guide water to the main river. The preconstructed engineering system can be used in a timely manner to prevent and control floods and debris flows induced by a sudden outburst of glacial lakes in areas with important facilities and inhabitants enduring the risk of natural hazards. Prevention and control systems can separate floods and debris flows and dissipate their energy. The groups of ground sills and check dams gradually dissipate the energy of floods, prevent high-energy boulders, and control the initiation of source materials in the channel and bank. Moreover, the systems can also separate the water and rocks in dilute debris flows or debris flows with high bulk densities but low viscosities. The diversion dams also enhance the separation function and keep the flood and debris flow discharge in the lower and upper channel to the main river.

This invention provides a disaster prevention system capable of taking an effective measure against a flood disaster. According to one embodiment, a disaster prevention system comprises a weather prediction unit configured to calculate a predicted rainfall in a region based on rainfall information necessary for protecting the region from a flood; an analysis unit configured to determine, based on the predicted rainfall calculated by the weather prediction unit, whether a flood can occur in the region; and a control unit configured to control to close a water stop gate provided in the region to protect the region from the flood if the analysis unit determines that the flood can occur in the region.

In its various embodiments the claimed water current shield may be used to improve safety for a diver and/or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) by lowering the water current shield with a crane with the louvers initially in a first position to allow water current to flow through the louvers, positioning the water current shield with hold-back rigging from an up-current side of the subsea work site, adjusting an open or closed characteristic of the louvers if drag from the water current needs to be reduced around the subsea work site, and closing the louvers to protect an object proximate the water current shield from the water current, thereby shielding divers and/or ROVs from water currents at an underwater work site. The water current shield generally comprises a frame; a predetermined set of louver assemblies operatively connected to the frame, where each louver assembly comprises one or more selectably movable louvers; and a louver mover operatively connected to each selectably movable louver.

In its various embodiments the claimed water current shield may be used to improve safety for a diver and/or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) by lowering the water current shield with a crane with the louvers initially in a first position to allow water current to flow through the louvers, positioning the water current shield with hold-back rigging from an up-current side of the subsea work site, adjusting an open or closed characteristic of the louvers if drag from the water current needs to be reduced around the subsea work site, and closing the louvers to protect an object proximate the water current shield from the water current, thereby shielding divers and/or ROVs from water currents at an underwater work site. The water current shield generally comprises a frame; a predetermined set of louver assemblies operatively connected to the frame, where each louver assembly comprises one or more selectably movable louvers; and a louver mover operatively connected to each selectably movable louver.

Apparatus and methods relating to a barrier bag are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the barrier bag is configured for installation in a doorway and includes a receiving cell for receiving a second barrier bag. The barrier bag may include removable attachment portions for attaching it to one or more additional barrier bags.

A geomorphological structure monitoring system is disclosed, which comprises a supporting base having an accommodating space and a plurality of through holes, and at least a portion of the supporting base is embedded under a ground; a plurality of sensing devices arranged in the accommodating space vertically and embedded under the ground, the sensing devices may generate a sensing signal when the sensing devices are exposed from the ground due to the structural change of the ground; a signal processing device receiving and processing the sensing signal; and a transmission device connecting the sensing devices in series and the signal processing device.

A method for the prevention or remediation of flooding waters in a geographic area using one or more thrusters to increase the velocity of a portion of the water in a channel draining the flooding waters away from the geographic area, mixing the portion of the accelerated waters back in to the remainder of the waters in the channel thereby increasing the average velocity of the waters in the drainage system and increasing the rate of removal of the flooding waters from the geographic area, the thrusters having the one or more inlets approximately at ninety degrees from the centerline of the thruster and cleaning the thruster inlets by reversing the flow through the thruster while the flooding waters are still passing the thruster.