Estimate of fine sediment deposit dynamics on a gravel bar using photography analysis

Three different methods to analyse fine sediment deposits on a gravel bar using pictures are presented in this paper. A manual digitization and deposits zone delineation are performed as well as two different automated procedures. The three methods are applied on aerial pictures taken in 2006 by a drone from a height around 150 m above the study site. Two other sets of pictures taken in 2010 are also studied: the first set was obtained from the left side bank of the river at approximately 15m above the gravel bar whereas the second one was taken from a helicopter flying 600 m above the ground. These methods were used to estimate the surface of fine sediment deposits before and after flushing events. They yield similar results even if the first automated procedure is able to capture smaller patches of fine sediments. The total surface of fine sediment deposits seems to be similar before and after a flushing event, but the distribution appears quite different. Before a flushing event, a significant amount of fine sediment deposits are mixed with coarser sediments. After the flushing event, one can observe more large fine sediment deposits located on the downstream part of the secondary channel and at the channel margin. Most of the small fine sediment deposit patches were washed out. A short discussion is provided on the possible dynamics of fine sediment deposits over the gravel bar.