Measuring surface gravity waves using a Kinect sensor

TL;DR

This paper introduces a cost-effective method using a Kinect sensor to measure 2D surface water wave elevation in space and time, validated against standard gauges and capable of spectral analysis for wave properties.

Contribution

The study demonstrates a novel application of Kinect sensors for detailed water wave measurement and analysis, including calibration and spectral analysis capabilities.

Findings

Kinect sensor accurately measures wave elevation in small tanks.

The method correlates well with standard capacitive gauges.

Spectral analysis reveals the dispersion relation of water waves.

Abstract

We present a technique for measuring the two-dimensional surface water wave elevation both in space and time based on the low-cost Microsoft Kinect sensor. We discuss the capabilities of the system and a method for its calibration. We illustrate the application of the Kinect to an experiment in a small wave tank. A detailed comparison with standard capacitive wave gauges is also performed. Spectral analysis of a random-forced wave field is used to obtain the dispersion relation of water waves, demonstrating the potentialities of the setup for the investigation of the statistical properties of surface waves.