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How Experts Measure Water Levels Across Canada
In this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Otto Bedard who is an expert technologist in hydrometry, hydraulics and innovation.
With recent flooding hitting the North Bay area, the timing couldn’t be better. Otto takes us inside the system most people never think about, the network of gauges, sensors, and data collection points that track how high rivers rise and how fast water moves.
We dive into how water levels are actually measured, what “stage” and “discharge” mean, and how this data gets shared across Canada to help inform decisions around flooding, infrastructure, and safety. Otto also walks through how technology has changed the job, from handwritten logs and manual readings to automated systems that update every hour.
0:00 – Intro
4:34 – What the “Water Office” Actually Does
6:46 – How Water Levels Are Measured (Then vs Now)
9:21 – Why Water Data Is So Important
15:02 – Real-Time Data & Flood Monitoring
22:01 – Technology Changing Water Measurement
33:06 – Traveling the North to Measure Water
With recent flooding hitting the North Bay area, the timing couldn’t be better. Otto takes us inside the system most people never think about, the network of gauges, sensors, and data collection points that track how high rivers rise and how fast water moves.
We dive into how water levels are actually measured, what “stage” and “discharge” mean, and how this data gets shared across Canada to help inform decisions around flooding, infrastructure, and safety. Otto also walks through how technology has changed the job, from handwritten logs and manual readings to automated systems that update every hour.
0:00 – Intro
4:34 – What the “Water Office” Actually Does
6:46 – How Water Levels Are Measured (Then vs Now)
9:21 – Why Water Data Is So Important
15:02 – Real-Time Data & Flood Monitoring
22:01 – Technology Changing Water Measurement
33:06 – Traveling the North to Measure Water
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By North Bay EchoIn this episode of Backroads Bill, we sit down with Otto Bedard who is an expert technologist in hydrometry, hydraulics and innovation.
With recent flooding hitting the North Bay area, the timing couldn’t be better. Otto takes us inside the system most people never think about, the network of gauges, sensors, and data collection points that track how high rivers rise and how fast water moves.
We dive into how water levels are actually measured, what “stage” and “discharge” mean, and how this data gets shared across Canada to help inform decisions around flooding, infrastructure, and safety. Otto also walks through how technology has changed the job, from handwritten logs and manual readings to automated systems that update every hour.
0:00 – Intro
4:34 – What the “Water Office” Actually Does
6:46 – How Water Levels Are Measured (Then vs Now)
9:21 – Why Water Data Is So Important
15:02 – Real-Time Data & Flood Monitoring
22:01 – Technology Changing Water Measurement
33:06 – Traveling the North to Measure Water
With recent flooding hitting the North Bay area, the timing couldn’t be better. Otto takes us inside the system most people never think about, the network of gauges, sensors, and data collection points that track how high rivers rise and how fast water moves.
We dive into how water levels are actually measured, what “stage” and “discharge” mean, and how this data gets shared across Canada to help inform decisions around flooding, infrastructure, and safety. Otto also walks through how technology has changed the job, from handwritten logs and manual readings to automated systems that update every hour.
0:00 – Intro
4:34 – What the “Water Office” Actually Does
6:46 – How Water Levels Are Measured (Then vs Now)
9:21 – Why Water Data Is So Important
15:02 – Real-Time Data & Flood Monitoring
22:01 – Technology Changing Water Measurement
33:06 – Traveling the North to Measure Water