Automated River Gauge Reading with AI
Published:Dec 29, 2025 13:26
•1 min read
•ArXiv
Analysis
This paper addresses a practical problem in hydrology by automating river gauge reading. It leverages a hybrid approach combining computer vision (object detection) and large language models (LLMs) to overcome limitations of manual measurements. The use of geometric calibration (scale gap estimation) to improve LLM performance is a key contribution. The study's focus on the Limpopo River Basin suggests a real-world application and potential for impact in water resource management and flood forecasting.
Key Takeaways
Reference
“Incorporating scale gap metadata substantially improved the predictive performance of LLMs, with Gemini Stage 2 achieving the highest accuracy, with a mean absolute error of 5.43 cm, root mean square error of 8.58 cm, and R squared of 0.84 under optimal image conditions.”