Hydropower facilities
Power plants along the Traun (Energie AG, KW Lambach, KW Marchtrenk and others). Inspection of intake, trash-rack installations, stilling basin.
Waters · River
Underwater Inspection at the Traun — Hydropower, Bridges and Weir Facilities
The Traun connects Lake Hallstatt (Hallstätter See) and the Danube and, as a hydropower and flood-protection corridor, is developed by hydraulic engineering along its entire length. ScanSustain inspects power plant facilities, weir structures and bridges ROV-based — diver-free and audit-grade. Power plant deployments require a coordinated shutdown. Actual deployments are subject to approval by the responsible local authorities, facility operators and shipping administrations.
Characteristic Structures
These structure types can be inspected ROV-based at the Traun — subject to approval from local authorities and operators:
Weir structures
Weirs at impoundment facilities. Inspection of the weir body, the weir gates (water side) and the downstream bed protection.
Bridge piers
Pier inspection for scour and corrosion at Traun bridges (Linz, Wels, Marchtrenk, Lambach).
Flood-protection structures
Bank protections, protective dams, confluence structures. Inspection of the water-side components.
Typical Damage Patterns
What can be professionally captured at the Traun — a structured overview of the locally typical damage patterns:
Scour at the structure base
Bedload-induced bed erosion at the pier base. Depth extent is relevant to structural stability.
Weir-body erosion
Concrete weir bodies can develop local erosion marks from constant flow. Findings capture with depth reference.
Sediment deposits
Accumulation in impounded sections and upstream of weirs. Volume capture as a basis for dredging and maintenance planning.
On-Site Methodology
Traun water is clear (visibility 1 to 3 m) — influenced by the source region in the Salzkammergut. ROV optics primarily, sonar for structured bed capture. Deployment planning in coordination with power plant operators.
Water Conditions and Deployment Depths at the Traun
Unlike a lake, a river has no uniform depth — deployment planning is governed by the respective structure geometry and the current discharge and flow conditions.
Visibility
Traun water is clear (visibility 1 to 3 m) — influenced by the source region in the Salzkammergut. ROV optics are therefore used primarily, with sonar as a complement for the structured bed capture.
Water temperature
Cool in summer (12–15 °C), 3–6 °C in winter — likewise shaped by the source region Salzkammergut. Both values are unproblematic for ROV deployment.
Exact water levels, flow conditions and visibility vary by discharge, season and power plant operation. For projects with accuracy requirements we coordinate the current situation in advance with the operator or the water management authority.
Survey & Mapping at the Traun
Beyond pure condition inspection, power plant operators and water management authorities at the Traun are increasingly asking for geometric data — for example for scour-depth surveying at bridge piers, bed-profile mapping upstream of weirs and in impounded sections, or the as-built documentation of weir structures and flood-protection structures. With Survey & Mapping, ScanSustain offers photogrammetric and multibeam-sonar-based capture that delivers depth profiles, site plans and 3D models in CAD/GIS-ready formats.
Because the Traun has clear water conditions (visibility 1 to 3 m), photogrammetric capture carries a substantial share at the Traun, complemented by multibeam sonar for the structured bed capture at weirs and impounded sections. This combination is particularly relevant for bridge piers and weir structures when a geometric baseline is needed for rehabilitation or monitoring.
Regional Authorities and Bodies
Landeswasserwirtschaft Oberösterreich (Upper Austria regional water management authority). Bezirkshauptmannschaften (district administrations) Linz, Wels, Gmunden. Power plant operator: ENERGIE AG. Wasserwirtschaftsamt (water management office) for navigation and flood protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are inspections possible during power plant operation?
No. ROV deployments at machinery installations require a coordinated shutdown. Bridges and flood-protection structures can be captured during ongoing operation.
What water temperature is typical?
Traun water is cool in summer (12–15 °C) — source region Salzkammergut. In winter 3–6 °C. Both are unproblematic for ROV deployment.
What mobilisation time is typical?
Traun lower reach up to Linz: 1–1.5 hours. Middle section Wels-Lambach: 1.5–2 hours. Salzkammergut upper reach: 2 hours.
Does ScanSustain also offer survey and 3D mapping at the Traun?
Yes, as part of Survey & Mapping — currently as a pilot service, with photogrammetric and multibeam-sonar-based capture for depth profiles, site plans and 3D models in CAD/GIS-ready formats.
Does an ROV deployment at the Traun require official approval?
As a rule, yes. Responsible are the Landeswasserwirtschaft Oberösterreich (Upper Austria regional water management authority) as well as the Bezirkshauptmannschaften (district administrations) of Linz, Wels and Gmunden. For navigation and flood protection, the Wasserwirtschaftsamt (water management office) is additionally responsible. At power plant facilities, coordination with the operator (ENERGIE AG) is also required.
How is scour at bridge piers captured?
Bedload-induced bed erosion at the pier base is captured with a depth reference, since the depth extent is relevant to structural stability. The combination of ROV optics and sonar enables structured documentation of the scour situation.
Plan a deployment at the Traun
Describe your use case — within 1 to 3 working days you will receive a concrete initial assessment with method selection and an effort indication.