{"id":2414,"date":"2026-10-11T14:12:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T12:12:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geospector.de\/determining-sediment-volume-in-settling-basins-correctly-pitfalls-of-spot-sampling\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T13:23:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T11:23:31","slug":"sediment-volume-determination","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/geospector.de\/en\/sediment-volume-determination\/","title":{"rendered":"Determining Sediment Volume in Settling Basins Correctly: Pitfalls of Spot Sampling"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2414\" class=\"elementor elementor-2414 elementor-2273\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-353e29e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"353e29e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;waves&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M421.9,6.5c22.6-2.5,51.5,0.4,75.5,5.3c23.6,4.9,70.9,23.5,100.5,35.7c75.8,32.2,133.7,44.5,192.6,49.7\n\tc23.6,2.1,48.7,3.5,103.4-2.5c54.7-6,106.2-25.6,106.2-25.6V0H0v30.3c0,0,72,32.6,158.4,30.5c39.2-0.7,92.8-6.7,134-22.4\n\tc21.2-8.1,52.2-18.2,79.7-24.2C399.3,7.9,411.6,7.5,421.9,6.5z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cc85cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5cc85cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Technical article<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-311e032 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"311e032\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Determining Sediment Volume in Settling Basins Correctly: Pitfalls of Spot Sampling<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fd7ed9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"6fd7ed9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/en\/kontakt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Arrange a consultation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89a3f80 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"89a3f80\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f804cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f804cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Dipl.-Ing. David Mauro, Geospector Munich<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b511671 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b511671\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>To ensure their retention and settling function, stormwater treatment facilities must be checked regularly \u2013 usually annually \u2013 for sediment inflow. If deposit thicknesses or volumes are exceeded, they are then cleaned out at great effort and expense.<\/strong><\/p><p>Accurately recording sediment inflow is difficult, especially for facilities with a permanent pool, and is usually done only by spot checks. Combined with complex basin geometries, this approach can lead to grossly incorrect results and is therefore often unsuitable as a basis for decisions and planning. The following shows the typical pitfalls using an example from real-world practice and presents a solution for more accurate surveys.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb22969 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"eb22969\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af3e176 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"af3e176\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Key facts at a glance<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74e8412 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74e8412\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>The usual approach <strong>\u201cwater surface area \u00d7 mean sediment thickness\u201d<\/strong> can be grossly wrong for small basins with sloping banks.<\/li><li>In a practical comparison: deviations of <strong>up to 100%<\/strong> of the calculated sediment volume.<\/li><li>Sample calculation: <strong>202 m\u00b3<\/strong> calculated \u2013 actually only <strong>76.2 m\u00b3<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Remedy: take the basin geometry into account, use significantly more sampling points, use the sediment area instead of the water surface area \u2013 or measure area-wide.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-118ac44 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"118ac44\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Common spot measurements with a sounding rod<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-322b2fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"322b2fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sediment thickness is usually measured with a sounding rod. In the simplest case, the rod is driven from the water surface down to the bed; when it is pulled back in, the material adhering to it directly shows the sludge thickness. However, the water surface of basins with a permanent pool is usually difficult to access; only rarely, with favorable geometries or from jetties, can the deeper areas of the facility down to the bed also be reached from the bank.<\/p><p>Boats therefore often have to be used, which is cumbersome and requires extensive safety measures, in order to obtain even coverage of the entire facility area. The measurements usually remain limited to a few points, and their positions are documented only schematically.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6cf168 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e6cf168\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gross errors caused by the averaging approach \u201cwater surface area \u00d7 mean sediment thickness\u201d<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-adb1f42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"adb1f42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Once the supposedly representative samples have been taken, they are usually aggregated into an average sediment thickness by simple averaging and then converted into a sediment volume by multiplying by the water surface area. This approach is perfectly appropriate for larger facilities and ponds. For small basins and ponds with complex bed profiles and sloping banks, however, gross errors can occur that go far beyond the usual level of measurement uncertainty. This particularly affects settling basins, which usually have these characteristics.<\/p><p>This insight emerged recently during actual facility surveys using the alternative method presented below, which delivers exact results. A comparison with surveys from recent years that had been carried out using the averaging method showed deviations of up to 100% of the calculated sediment volume. As a result, either unnecessary rehabilitation work may have been initiated in the past or work that was actually necessary may have been omitted (the volume deviations can be both positive and negative). This prompted the author to publish this article to raise awareness of the issue.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48c2a69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48c2a69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sources of error and possible improvements to the averaging method<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b769053 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b769053\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The old and newly measured sediment thicknesses from the facility surveys were quite comparable (short interval between them); the error therefore had to lie in the distribution of the samples and the averaging evaluation. To illustrate this, here is an abstracted but real survey example of a typical settling basin:<\/p><p>Originally, five reasonably evenly distributed soundings were taken within the water surface (Figure 1). The calculation using the averaging method (Table 1) gives a volume of <strong>202 m\u00b3<\/strong>. However, the geometry of the basin and the sediment inflow (Figure 2) result in an actual volume of <strong>76.2 m\u00b3<\/strong>!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-737c526 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"737c526\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1080a79 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1080a79\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6461ad elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a6461ad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"677\" height=\"1119\" src=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb1_Sondierungen.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2258\" alt=\"Plan view of the water surface with the positions of the five soundings and measured sludge thickness\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb1_Sondierungen.jpg 677w, https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb1_Sondierungen-182x300.jpg 182w, https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb1_Sondierungen-620x1024.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 677px) 100vw, 677px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 1: Plan view of the water surface with the positions of the soundings and the measured sludge thickness<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b551464 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b551464\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8da5123 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8da5123\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"997\" src=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb2_Beckengeometrie.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2260\" alt=\"Basin geometry with water body (blue), sediment deposits (green) and positions of the soundings (red)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb2_Beckengeometrie.jpg 747w, https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb2_Beckengeometrie-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 2: Geometry of the basin, the water body (blue) and the sediment deposits (green), whose surface is modeled as a plane of constant height; positions of the original soundings (red)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4343773 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4343773\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Looking at the basin geometry, it becomes clear that the soundings, which at first appear reasonably evenly distributed over the area, in reality give greater weight to the deep areas of the basin with higher sediment loads \u2013 the mean value is therefore no longer representative.<\/p><p>A possible first attempt at improvement is to add further soundings, especially in the edge areas (Figure 3, left). As a final correction, the actual sediment area is used instead of the water surface area (Figure 3, right).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9f04f5 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c9f04f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb3_Verbesserungen.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2262\" alt=\"Additional soundings (left) and use of the sediment area instead of the water surface area (right)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb3_Verbesserungen.jpg 747w, https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb3_Verbesserungen-300x226.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 3: Step-by-step improvements \u2013 additional soundings (left) and use of the sediment area (right)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-654b254 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"654b254\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Table 1: Volume calculation with step-by-step improvement of the result<\/strong><\/p><table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:10px 0 20px\"><tr><th style=\"text-align:left;background:#E5F2F9;padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea\">Calculation<\/th><th style=\"text-align:left;background:#E5F2F9;padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea\">Mean (sediment) thickness<\/th><th style=\"text-align:left;background:#E5F2F9;padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea\">Area<\/th><th style=\"text-align:left;background:#E5F2F9;padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea\">Volume = area \u00d7 mean thickness<\/th><\/tr><tr><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">Original measurement (Figure 1)<\/td><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">1\/5 \u00d7 (3 \u00d7 1.50 m + 2 \u00d7 0.28 m) = 1.01 m<\/td><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">Water: 10 m \u00d7 20 m = 200 m\u00b2<\/td><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">200 m\u00b2 \u00d7 1.01 m = <strong>202 m\u00b3<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">Extended measurement (Figure 3, left)<\/td><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">1\/9 \u00d7 (3 \u00d7 1.50 m + 6 \u00d7 0.28 m) = 0.69 m<\/td><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">Water: 10 m \u00d7 20 m = 200 m\u00b2<\/td><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">200 m\u00b2 \u00d7 0.69 m = <strong>137 m\u00b3<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">With sludge area (Figure 3, right)<\/td><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">1\/9 \u00d7 (3 \u00d7 1.50 m + 6 \u00d7 0.28 m) = 0.69 m<\/td><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">Sediment: 16 m \u00d7 6.40 m = 102.40 m\u00b2<\/td><td style=\"padding:8px 10px;border:1px solid #cfe0ea;vertical-align:top\">102.40 m\u00b2 \u00d7 0.69 m = <strong>71 m\u00b3<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/table><p>This value finally corresponds to the actual volume with sufficient accuracy. The following conclusions can be drawn from this example:<\/p><ul><li>Even if the samples are evenly distributed over the area, their mean value can be heavily misweighted depending on the basin geometry and distribution, making it useless for determining volume.<\/li><li>The basin geometry must therefore be taken into account when planning the soundings and in the evaluation.<\/li><li>Reliable volume determination requires far more sampling points than have usually been used to date.<\/li><li>The sediment area, rather than the water surface area, should preferably be used as the multiplier \u2013 especially if sounding is not possible right up to the shoreline (shallows, underwater vegetation, reed areas).<\/li><\/ul><p>In practice, implementing these recommendations is likely to involve considerable effort or even be impossible. An alternative approach therefore suggests itself, which is usually much faster and cheaper and at the same time delivers more exact volumes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d40f4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d40f4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The solution: area-wide surveys with Geospector DTS Acqua<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8c8407 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a8c8407\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The above conclusions lead to the following approach:<\/p><ul><li>high-resolution, area-wide measurement instead of individual sampling points<\/li><li>consideration of the actual bed profile in the evaluation<\/li><\/ul><p>In contrast to the individual manual soundings of the averaging approach, all measurements are carried out comprehensively, in detail and automatically using specialized drone sensors (air, water, underwater) (Figure 4).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f71c963 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f71c963\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"662\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb4_DTS_Acqua.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2264\" alt=\"Geospector DTS Acqua: drone survey above a settling basin (symbolic image)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb4_DTS_Acqua.jpg 662w, https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb4_DTS_Acqua-300x195.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 662px) 100vw, 662px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 4: Geospector DTS Acqua (symbolic image)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1297b16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1297b16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol><li><strong>Bed profile:<\/strong> First, the bed profile or geometry of the basin is reconstructed by automated soundings (cross-sections and longitudinal profiles) (Figure 5). If plans already exist, they are first checked for plausibility by measurements and incorporated. The result is an accurate model of the artificial or natural bed profile.<\/li><li><strong>Sediment level:<\/strong> In the second step, the sediment level is captured across the entire water surface with full coverage and in high detail (Figure 6). In areas that are difficult to access (e.g. reed belts), a specialized flying drone is used for this. The result is an accurate depth model of the deposits, and critical points with high inflow can easily be identified.<\/li><li><strong>Volume:<\/strong> In the last step, the two models are rasterized (typically 0.50 m \u00d7 0.50 m) and the height differences between them are calculated, which correspond to the sediment thicknesses at the respective grid points. Integration over the entire facility area then gives the exact sediment volume (Figure 7).<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-985da56 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"985da56\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-276bfb0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"276bfb0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bb2972 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3bb2972\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb5_Sohlverlauf.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2266\" alt=\"3D model of the bed profile of a settling basin\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb5_Sohlverlauf.jpg 780w, https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb5_Sohlverlauf-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb5_Sohlverlauf-768x443.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 5: Model of the bed profile<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9698214 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9698214\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79547bd elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"79547bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"675\" height=\"390\" src=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb6_Sedimentoberflaeche.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2268\" alt=\"3D model of the surface of the sediment deposits as a color map\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb6_Sedimentoberflaeche.jpg 675w, https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb6_Sedimentoberflaeche-300x173.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 6: Surface of the sediment deposits<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55a4c28 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"55a4c28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb7_Sedimentdicken.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2270\" alt=\"Sediment thicknesses and sediment volume after rasterization, differencing and integration\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb7_Sedimentdicken.jpg 666w, https:\/\/geospector.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Sedimentvolumen_Abb7_Sedimentdicken-300x173.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Figure 7: Sediment thicknesses and volume after rasterization, differencing and integration<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-490552d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"490552d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Depending on requirements, these basic data can then be further processed into 2D and 3D plans, condition reports, visualizations, etc.<\/p><p>Thanks to the latest drone and sensor technology, this approach is actually faster and more economical than conventional methods \u2013 while offering unrivaled precision.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03ba359 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"03ba359\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-122004a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"122004a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further technical articles on stormwater retention facilities<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-488439f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"488439f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/en\/stormwater-retention-highways\/\">Part 1: Introduction and functional description<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/en\/sediment-measurement-retention-basins\/\">Part 2: Measurement challenges for safe operation<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/en\/sludge-depth-retention-basins\/\">Part 3: Findings from drone surveys across Germany<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Supplement: Pitfalls in determining sediment volume<\/strong> (this article)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8956dd0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8956dd0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d86f9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3d86f9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Have the sludge depth in your facilities measured?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c4e752 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c4e752\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With the <a style=\"color:#FFFFFF;text-decoration:underline\" href=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/en\/sedimentbestimmung\/\">Geospector Sludge Check<\/a>, we survey the sediment surface and bed of your stormwater retention facilities area-wide by drone \u2013 without a boat and without the need for an existing baseline survey.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b739174 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"b739174\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/en\/kontakt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Arrange a consultation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe78f4c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fe78f4c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9d0ab3 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a9d0ab3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The full article is also available as a PDF download (in German).<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3f7506 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f3f7506\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a81fdd7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" 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class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pitfalls in volume determination (PDF in German)<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Technical article Determining Sediment Volume in Settling Basins Correctly: Pitfalls of Spot Sampling Arrange a consultation Dipl.-Ing. David Mauro, Geospector Munich To ensure their retention and settling function, stormwater treatment facilities must be checked regularly \u2013 usually annually \u2013 for sediment inflow. If deposit thicknesses or volumes are exceeded, they are then cleaned out at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2234,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2414","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Determining Sediment Volume in Settling Basins Correctly: Pitfalls of Spot Sampling - Geospector<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Why spot measurements can distort the sediment volume in settling basins by up to 100% \u2013 a sample calculation and an area-wide alternative using drones.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/geospector.de\/en\/sediment-volume-determination\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Determining Sediment Volume in Settling Basins Correctly: Pitfalls of Spot Sampling - 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