Articles | Volume 9, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-673-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-673-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
24 Jun 2021
Research article |
| 24 Jun 2021
| 24 Jun 2021
Precise water level measurements using low-cost GNSS antenna arrays
David J. Purnell
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montréal, Quebec, H3A 0E8 Canada
Natalya Gomez
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montréal, Quebec, H3A 0E8 Canada
William Minarik
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montréal, Quebec, H3A 0E8 Canada
David Porter
Lamont‐Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
Gregory Langston
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montréal, Quebec, H3A 0E8 Canada
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- An Unbiased Multiparameter Algorithm of Retrieving Sea Surface Height Using Coastal GNSS Reflectometry F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2021.3130050
- Scheduling Sparse LEO Satellite Transmissions for Remote Water Level Monitoring G. Kinman et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23125581
- ArduHydro: a low-cost device for water level measurement and monitoring A. Galli et al. https://doi.org/10.4081/jae.2024.1554
- Gnssrefl: an open source software package in python for GNSS interferometric reflectometry applications K. Larson https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-024-01694-8
- Raspberry Pi Reflector (RPR): A Low‐Cost Water‐Level Monitoring System Based on GNSS Interferometric Reflectometry M. Karegar et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021WR031713
- Real‐Time Water Levels Using GNSS‐IR: A Potential Tool for Flood Monitoring D. Purnell et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105039
- Satellite-derived bathymetry for nearshore mapping and future sea level change in Aasiaat, Greenland C. Brayton et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2026.102009
- Evaluation and Correction of Elevation Angle Influence for Coastal GNSS-R Ocean Altimetry G. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13152978
- Feasibility and performance evaluation of low-cost GNSS devices for sea level measurement based on GNSS-IR L. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2023.07.031
- A Novel Tropospheric Error Formula for Ground-Based GNSS Interferometric Reflectometry P. Feng et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2023.3332422
- Evaluation of a GNSS for wave measurement and directional wave spectrum analysis H. Gu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.113683
- Development of a Multi-Sensor GNSS-IoT System for Precise Water Surface Elevation Measurement J. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25113566
- Observations of River Ice Breakup Using GNSS-IR, SAR, and Machine Learning D. Purnell et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2024.3380554
- Four-Channel Interference of Dual-Antenna GNSS Reflectometry and Water Level Observation F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2021.3104060
- GNSS-IR Sea-Level Retrieval With Near Real-Time Potential Using Shared-Frequency Signals From GPS/Galileo/BDS3 S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2025.3591187
- Sea level variations during storm surges retrieved by improved inverse modeling of GNSS SNR data: a case study in Hong Kong, China X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/ae540a
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- An Unbiased Multiparameter Algorithm of Retrieving Sea Surface Height Using Coastal GNSS Reflectometry F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2021.3130050
- Scheduling Sparse LEO Satellite Transmissions for Remote Water Level Monitoring G. Kinman et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23125581
- ArduHydro: a low-cost device for water level measurement and monitoring A. Galli et al. https://doi.org/10.4081/jae.2024.1554
- Gnssrefl: an open source software package in python for GNSS interferometric reflectometry applications K. Larson https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-024-01694-8
- Raspberry Pi Reflector (RPR): A Low‐Cost Water‐Level Monitoring System Based on GNSS Interferometric Reflectometry M. Karegar et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021WR031713
- Real‐Time Water Levels Using GNSS‐IR: A Potential Tool for Flood Monitoring D. Purnell et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105039
- Satellite-derived bathymetry for nearshore mapping and future sea level change in Aasiaat, Greenland C. Brayton et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2026.102009
- Evaluation and Correction of Elevation Angle Influence for Coastal GNSS-R Ocean Altimetry G. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13152978
- Feasibility and performance evaluation of low-cost GNSS devices for sea level measurement based on GNSS-IR L. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2023.07.031
- A Novel Tropospheric Error Formula for Ground-Based GNSS Interferometric Reflectometry P. Feng et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2023.3332422
- Evaluation of a GNSS for wave measurement and directional wave spectrum analysis H. Gu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.113683
- Development of a Multi-Sensor GNSS-IoT System for Precise Water Surface Elevation Measurement J. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25113566
- Observations of River Ice Breakup Using GNSS-IR, SAR, and Machine Learning D. Purnell et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2024.3380554
- Four-Channel Interference of Dual-Antenna GNSS Reflectometry and Water Level Observation F. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2021.3104060
- GNSS-IR Sea-Level Retrieval With Near Real-Time Potential Using Shared-Frequency Signals From GPS/Galileo/BDS3 S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2025.3591187
- Sea level variations during storm surges retrieved by improved inverse modeling of GNSS SNR data: a case study in Hong Kong, China X. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/ae540a
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 30 May 2026
Short summary
We present a new technique for precisely monitoring water levels (e.g. sea level, rivers or lakes) using low-cost equipment (approximately USD 100–200) that is simple to build and install. The technique builds on previous work using antennas that were designed for navigation purposes. Multiple antennas in the same location are used to obtain more precise measurements than those obtained when using a single antenna. Software for analysis is provided with the article.
We present a new technique for precisely monitoring water levels (e.g. sea level, rivers or...
