Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2745
Date of Award
6-2023
Degree Name
MS in Mechanical Engineering
Department/Program
Mechanical Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
John Ridgely
Advisor Department
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor College
College of Engineering
Abstract
High-quality tide and wave data are essential in a variety of fields including coastal engineering, climate science, disaster response, and recreational activities. Accurate data are publicly accessible from government organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), however the high costs associated with deploying and maintaining their high accuracy gauges results in a deficit of localized data. Commercial gauges available starting at $2,000 are still expensive for local agencies and individual users to deploy and maintain. These commercial options can also be limited in their scope, accuracy, or ease of use. In this thesis, a low-cost acoustic gauge was developed using widely available components and custom software in order to simultaneously measure both waves and tides. With a component cost of less than $350, interested parties can manufacture these gauges at a fraction of the price of comparable commercial options. Laboratory testing indicates individual measurement uncertainties of less than three centimeters for a 10-meter measurement