The Center for Dredging Studies in the Department of Ocean Engineering at Texas A&M University recently hosted the 46th Dredging Engineering Short Course.
Forty-five participants from across the United States, Canada, Nigeria, the United Kingdom and Gabon attended the weeklong course representing consulting firms, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, dredging contractors, ports and state agencies.
The dredging course taught participants the fundamentals of dredging, technical aspects of dredging projects, dredged material placement, beneficial use of dredged material, engineering with nature, beach nourishment, cost and production estimating, advance survey information, environment laws, contaminated sediment dredging and capping, modeling on dredged material placement, separation techniques, dredge safety and various case studies. A geotechnical laboratory demonstrating laboratory sediment experimental techniques, the dredging laboratory demonstrating a cutter suction dredge simulator, a model dredge in operation and sediment transport in pipes were part of the short course experience.
Dr. Robert Randall, Bauer Professor and director of the Center for Dredging Studies, led the dredging course. Twenty lecturers from academia, consultants, the Corps of Engineers, and dredge contractors assisted him. Ocean engineering staff members, graduate students from the department and student assistants provided invaluable assistance for the execution of the short course.
The Center for Dredging Studies was established in 1968. In addition to research and industrial testing, the center's activities include teaching university courses and providing annual seminars and short courses concerning advances in dredging engineering technology. More than 2,000 dredge professionals have participated in the dredging short courses.