Rapid advancements in technologies open up possibilities for water resource authorities to increase their ability to accurately, safely and efficiently establish river flow observation through remote and non-intrusive observation methods. Low-cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVS) in combination with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) can be used to collect geometrical information of the riverbed and floodplain. Such information, in combination with hydraulic modelling tools, can be used to establish physically based relationships between river flows and permanent proxy. This study proposes a framework for monitoring volatile, dangerous and difficult to access rivers using only affordable and easy to maintain new technologies. The framework consists of four main components: i) establishment of geometry using airborne photogrammetry and bathymetry; ii) physically based rating curve development through hydraulic modelling of surveyed river sections; iii) determination of non-intrusive observations with for instance simple cameras or satellite observations; and iv) evaluating the institutional and societal impacts of using new technology. To establish this framework, a number of research questions require addressing. First, the factors impacting on accuracy of geometrical information of the floodplain terrain and bathymetry need to be investigated. Second the accuracy of a physically based rating curve compared to a traditional rating curve needs to be established. Third, for rapidly changing river segments, it should be investigated if the collection of occasional snapshots of multiple proxies for flow can be used to assess the uncertainty of river flows. The study finally explores the social and institutional impact of using new technologies for remote river monitoring. If these research gaps are addressed, this may strengthen water manager's ability to observe flows and extend observation networks.

技术的飞速发展为水资源主管部门提高了通过远程和非侵入式观测方法准确，安全和有效地建立河流流量观测的能力。低成本无人机（UAVS）与全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）结合可用于收集河床和洪泛区的几何信息。此类信息与水力建模工具结合，可用于在河流流量和永久代理之间建立基于物理的关系。这项研究提出了一个仅使用负担得起且易于维护的新技术监测易挥发，危险和难以进入的河流的框架。该框架包含四个主要组件：i）利用航空摄影测量和测深法确定几何形状；ii）通过对被调查河段进行水力建模，以物理方式建立等级曲线；iii）用简单的照相机或卫星观测仪确定非侵入式观测仪；iv）评估使用新技术的制度和社会影响。为了建立这个框架，需要解决许多研究问题。首先，需要研究影响滩区地形和测深的几何信息准确性的因素。其次，需要建立与传统评级曲线相比基于物理的评级曲线的准确性。第三，对于快速变化的河段，应该研究是否可以使用偶尔收集的多个流量代表快照来评估河流流量的不确定性。该研究最终探讨了使用新技术进行远程河流监测的社会和制度影响。如果这些研究差距得到解决，这可能会加强水管理者观测流量和扩展观测网络的能力。