Innovations in Dredging Technology: Equipment, Operations and Management

This technical note describes the management approach used to identify currently existing innovative dredging technologies that may be suitable for use by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in navigation and dredging activities. A summary of current developments in European dredging and channel maintenance technologies is presented. Also, a Corps invention, the telescoping weir, is introduced as the currently emerging technology with direct application to navigation dredging projects. The Dredging Operations and Environmental Research Program (DOER) has identified six applied research focus areas for development of technology, methodology, and techniques that ensure operational and environmental issues of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) dredging program are addressed adequately and efficiently. In the past, there has been no programmatic or systematic approach to ensure adequate demonstration, evaluation, and reporting of new or innovative dredging technology application. Therefore, the Innovative Dredging Tech- nology Focus Area emphasizes identifying and cataloging innovative dredging operations, proc- esses, or equipment and techniques newly developed by dredging and dredging-related industries worldwide.