ISO 1088:2007 provides a standard basis for the collection and processing of data for the determination of the uncertainties in measurements of discharge in open channels by velocity-area methods using current meters. To determine the discharge in open channels by the velocity-area method, components of the flow (velocity, depth and breadth) need to be measured. The component measurements are combined to compute the total discharge. The total uncertainty in the computed discharge is a combination of the uncertainties in the measured components.

ISO 1088:2007 is intended to be applied to velocity-area methods that involve measurement of point velocities at a relatively small number of discrete depths and transverse positions in the flow cross-section, as described in ISO 748. It is not intended to be applied to measurements made by Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profilers (ADVP) or other instruments that produce essentially continuous velocity profiles of the flow field.