Page 37: of Marine News Magazine (June 2023)

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Using AI to Improve Dredging Operations

Dredging is the largest individual item in the USACE civil works budget. Now, Corps researchers are using arti? cial intelligence (AI) and operations research methods to help prioritize and schedule dredging operations. This new work was presented in a July 2022 report by Carol Coleman at ACE’s Engineer

Research and Development Center (ERDC).

“These models are not about dredging operations,” said Dr.

Ned Mitchell, an ERDC researcher cited in the report. “This is not about how to dredge,” he added, “it is more about how to manage the dredging program, both from a budgetary standpoint and a scheduling standpoint.”

The new modeling provides answers regarding priority locations, the extent of dredging required, frequency and the best sequencing of work and how to draw the highest number of competitive bids. The result is more cost-effective spending, perhaps saving as much as $100 million/year, money that could go to smaller projects that usually don’t get funded.

In an update report titled “Dredge Optimization Using AI” ACE cites ongoing work and some initial successes. (See illustration) including: •Channel portfolio analysis and dredge sequencing have more ef? ciently targeted dredge utilization.

•While the cost per cubic yard is not less due to in? ationary factors, several bids have been below the government estimate.

•Lesser disruptions from having to move dredges between active projects.

•Fewer no bid or bid busts at Mississippi River Baton Rouge to Gulf hopper contracts (which was a past challenge).

This effort is saving money: $3.7 million at Mobile harbor, for example. And there are operational ef? ciencies, in the Gulf Region, for example, rotating contracts allow for work assignments anywhere to address emergency shoaling needs.

Dredging: still hard work. But now working smarter.

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