The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its Engineer Research and Development Center are currently conducting R&D to operationalize technology that separates sand from mud while it’s being transported in the discharge pipeline of an operating hydraulic dredge.
The simple placement method from the past is being evaluated not only to establish separation performance metrics, but it is also being further developed to enhance sediment distribution capabilities to optimize targeted placement while dredging.
The enhanced placement method will eliminate, or significantly reduce, the subsequent re-handling of the sediment and often exorbitant associated costs of that process.
These improvements will be based on the two key Engineering With Nature® elements: