Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Dredging Efficiency in Bangladesh

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the dredging systems and dredging machinery used in "capital" and "maintenance" dredging in Bangladesh can enhance the efficiency of the machines and dredging process, enabling the operators to perform regular and repetitive dredging tasks safely in the rivers, ports, and estuaries all over the country. AI, including Big Data, Machine Learning, Internet of Thing, Blockchain and Sensors and Simulators with their catalytic potentials, can systematically compile and evaluate specific data collected from different sources, develop applications or simulators, connect the stakeholders on a virtual platform, store lakes of information without compromising their intellectual rights, predicting models to harness the challenges, minimise the cost of dredging, identify possible threats and help protect the already dredged areas by giving timely signals for further maintenance. Furthermore, the application of AI modulated dredging devices and machinery can play a significant role when monitoring aspects becomes crucial, keeping environmental impacts mitigated without affecting the quality of the human environment. This study includes the evaluation of the application of AI – its prospect and challenges in the existing dredging systems in Bangladesh against the backdrop of the challenges faced in capital and maintenance dredging in the major rivers – and assess whether such inclusion of AI is likely to minimise the cost of dredging in the rivers of Bangladesh and facilitate the materialisation of the objectives of Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100.This paper studies the organisation's infrastructural requirement for the integration of AI into dredging systems, using benchmarking such as 1- "Understanding AI Ready Approach", 2-"Strategies for Implementing AI", 3-"Data Management", 4-"Creating AI Literate Workforce and Upskilling", and 5-"Identifying Threats" concerning the management and dredging operations of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), under Bangladesh Ministry of Shipping and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). The paper also uses several case studies such as channel dredging to show that the use of AI can bring a significant change in the dredging operations both in reducing the cost of dredging and in terms of harnessing the barriers in adaptive management and environmental impacts.

Toward a Better Understanding of Sediment Dynamics as a Basis for Maintenance Dredging in Nagan Raya Port, Indonesia

The Port of 2 × 110 MW Nagan Raya Coal Fired Steam Power Plant is one of the facilities constructed by the State Electricity Company in Aceh Province, Indonesia. During its operation, which began in 2013, the port has dealt with large amounts of sedimentation within the port and ship entrances. The goal of this study is to mitigate the sedimentation problem in the Nagan Raya port by evaluating the effect of maintenance dredging. Field measurements, and hydrodynamic and sediment transport modeling analysis, were conducted during this study. Evaluation of the wind data showed that the dominant wind direction is from south to west. Based on the analysis of the wave data, the dominant wave direction is from the south to the west. Therefore, the wave-induced currents in the surf zone were from south to north. Based on the analysis of longshore sediment transport, the supply of sediments to Nagan Raya port was estimated to be around 40,000–60,000 m3 per year. Results from the sediment model showed that sedimentation of up to 1 m was captured in areas of the inlet channel of Nagan Raya port. The use of a passing system for sand is one of the sedimentation management solutions proposed in this study. The dredged sediment material around the navigation channel was dumped in a dumping area in the middle of the sea at a depth of 11 m, with a distance of 1.5 km from the shoreline. To obtain a greater maximum result, the material disposal distance should be dumped further away, at least at a depth of 20 m or a distance of 20 miles from the coastline.

Advances in Maintenance of Ports and Waterways: Water Injection Dredging

The main objective of this chapter is to demonstrate developments in port maintenance techniques that have been intensively tested in major European ports. As regular port maintenance is highly expensive, port authorities are considering alternative strategies. Water Injection Dredging (WID) can be one of the most efficient alternatives. Using this dredging method, density currents near the bed are created by fluidizing fine-grained sediments. The fluidized sediment can leave the port channels and be transported away from the waterways via the natural force of gravity. WID actions can be successfully coupled with the tidal cycle for extra effectiveness. In addition, WID is combined with another strategy to reduce maintenance dredging: the nautical bottom approach, which enables the vessel to navigate through the WID-induced fluid mud layer. The nautical bottom approach uses the density or the yield stress of sediment to indicate the navigability after WID rather than the absolute depth to the sediment bed. Testing WID-based port maintenance requires thorough preparation. Over the years modeling and monitoring tools have been developed in order to test and optimize WID operations. In this chapter, the application of the recently developed tools is discussed.

Application of an Innovative Jet Pump System for the Sediment Management in a Port Channel: Techno-Economic Assessment based on Experimental Measurements

The realization of infrastructures in coastal environment modifies water and sediment natural current regime. In particular, sediment can be entrained and accumulated in port infrastructure like docks, haling basins, or port entrances and channels, creating problems for navigation and limiting the human activities. The result is that marine basins and approaches are frequently silted and require maintenance dredging. Dredging is a consolidated and proven technology which implies relevant drawbacks, like high environmental impact on marine flora and fauna, mobility and diffusion of contaminants, and pollutants already present on the seabed, limitations to navigation, relatively high and low predictable costs. Starting from 2001 an innovative plant for sediment management, alternative to maintenance dredging, has been developed and tested. The core of the plant is the “ejector”, an open jet pump fed by pressurized water that is able to suck and convey in a pipeline the sediment that may accumulate in a certain area. On August 2018, a pilot plant has been installed in the haling basin of Cattolica (Italy), as part of a pilot initiative included in the Interreg-Med project “Promoting the co-evolution of human activities and natural systems for the development of sustainable coastal and maritime tourism” (CO-EVOLVE). The aim of the specific experimental activity was to test and monitor the efficacy of the technology applied in a port channel and working with sediments like silt and clay instead of sand. The paper shows the results of the monitoring campaign carried out by the University of Bologna from August 2018 to July 2019.

Enhanced Strength Properties of Dredged Marine Sediments Using Electrokinetic Stabilization Method

Nearshore’s facilities are often require frequent and regular maintenance dredging in maintaining appropriate water depths and enlarging the access channel and turning basin. A large amount of sediment was spawned from the dredging work. The dredged marine sediments (DMS) are not apt to be used in construction activities because of its poor geophysical properties. The purpose of this research is to study the improvement in moisture content and strength of DMS by using electrokinetic (EK) method. DMS are classified as a high plasticity silt (MH) with 240.74 % of its natural water content. Stainless steel plate was invoked as the electrode, while distilled water (DW), citric acid (CA) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) were applied as the stabilizing agents. The aforementioned stabilizers are electrically injected into the DMS which causing flow of the solutions through the pores in DMS under 50 V/m of applied direct current (DC). The results of treated DMS are presented in moisture content, undrained shear strength and SEM-EDX analysis. The EK treated DMS shows it increases in strength in the dry zone area after the 14 days treatment. The dry zone area was created near the anode and wet zone was made near the cathode. The application of calcium ions in the treatment had increased the strength and alters the pattern of the soil fabric. Largely, EK has significantly improved the quality of DMS even though the strength increase observed was not homogeneous throughout the specimen.

3D HYDRODYNAMIC MODELING TO CHARACTERISE THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE DISPOSAL OF DREDGED MATERIAL USING A VERTICAL TREMIE PIPE

Dredge plume modelling forms an integral part of the supporting studies for EIA applications for both capital and maintenance dredging projects. The behaviour of dredge plumes is function of many variables, many of which are unknown at the time of undertaking the studies. As such engineering judgment, previous project experience (including engaging dredging contractors) and available literature form part of the tools used to characterize the behaviour of dredge plumes. This paper summarises two case studies where underwater disposal (using a vertical tremie pipe) of dredge material from a cutter section (CSD) was simulated in order to meet the regulatory standard at the edge of mixing zone.