Enhancing Data Resolution to Improve Maritime Safety Pacific Northwest Waterways Association 2014 Annual Convention October 15 17 th, Vancouver, WA Jon Dasler, PE, PLS, CH Director of Marine Services, David Evans and Associates, Inc.
Maritime Traffic is Pressing the Limits of our Inland Waterways Current navigation charts are not of sufficient resolution for inland and harbor piloting Port surveys are not readily available to the pilot in a clear and concise format for key decision making Critical soundings are not readily available to the pilot Key infrastructure at marine terminals for safe docking in restricted visibility is not readily available
Traditional Nautical Chart on the Columbia River Pros Easy to read Low chart clutter Supported by object detection surveys in most critical areas Cons Chart scale does not adequately support inland navigation Does not adequately cover marine terminals No soundings in Federal channels Not updated at a frequency to depict shifting sediments (40% of soundings on US nautical charts predate 1940 and are partial coverage based on lead lines)
Implementation of USACE Soundings into Pilot software Pros More frequent surveys to depict changing sediments Tighter spaced soundings with data in the channel Eliminates need for Channel Condition Report
Kalama Export with USACE Soundings in TransView32 (TV32) Pros Ability to customize display in TV32 43 foot contour charted as red Soundings less than 43 feet shown as red
Kalama Export with USACE Soundings in TransView32 (TV32) Pros Chart clutter reduced by non-critical soundings dropped from display at larger scale displays Cons Partial coverage single beam data Surveys do not adequately cover marine terminals Not object detection surveys
Obstruction Detected by Multibeam Sonar Example of multibeam detected obstruction missed by single beam soundings 14 14 ft CRD
Object Detection Multibeam Surveys for Port of Portland Surveys conducted annually after spring freshet Data acquired and processed to NOAA object detection standards Local high points identified for possible investigation and removal Traditionally provided to Pilots as a hard copy map Data not available for real-time navigation
Object Detection Multibeam Surveys for Port of Portland
High Resolution Multibeam Surveys Provide Multiuse Data Surveys serve many purposes for Port and Marine Terminal Managers. Data may be used for dredging evaluation, monitoring of structures, evaluation of slope stability, addressing environmental concerns, planning and navigation. The challenge is how to process and present this high resolution data to be useful to mariners in real-time without chart clutter to improve maritime safety.
Object Detection Using Multibeam Soundings and Imagery No statistical editing that miss obstructions
Objects Flagged for Investigation and Removed by Divers
Port of Portland Hydrographic Surveys Converted to TV32 In 2013 Port of Portland tasked DEA with converting CAD files of terminals and annual surveys into a useful display in TV32. Annual surveys are provided to pilots as updated soundings and critical contours.
Port of Portland Hydrographic Surveys Converted to TV32 Soundings resorted for TV32 All soundings represent least depth in the area critical to navigation Berth stationing provided for docking in reduced visibility and bow thruster protection areas added
DEA Expanded this Service to Kalama Export and other Terminals
Survey Included Precise Positioning of Pier and Fender Line Display of Pier and Fender Line in Columbia River Pilot s portable pilot software TransView 32 (TV32). Data is loaded in TV32 as geographic (Lat/Long) shape files.
Shoal Biased Sounding Selection of Multibeam Data (How it Works) 50 ft radius selection limit 49.4 Fender Line 56.3 53.4 46.7 38.5 39.3 Clip Line
Final Display presented to Pilot in TV32 Clear Display of critical soundings Critical depth contour shown in red Critical soundings shown in red Detail of pier provided for docking in reduced visibility No chart clutter to distract Pilot
Detail of TEMCO Terminal in TV32 produced by DEA Precise survey of the fender system was used to determine a projected fender line. CAD files positioned based on survey of key features. DEA is adding a tide gauge, visibility sensor and current meter to be broadcast over AIS and displayed in TV32 along with other PORTS data.
Port of Portland Hydrographic Surveys Converted to TV32 TV32 real-time display of ship at Port of Portland Berth 601 illustrates need for precise positioning of marine terminal infrastructure
DEA 2009 Survey of the Lower Columbia and Willamette for NOAA 65 Uncharted Dangers to Navigation 1200+ Uncharted Features 200+ Disproved Features Data available for augmentation of TV32
Prescott Anchorage Sounding Selection Produced for Pilots DEA worked with the Columbia River Pilots to provided a useful sounding set from the NOAA survey at Prescott Anchorage. Annual object detection surveys of anchorages on the Columbia should be considered.
Blue Marlin Delivery of Dry Dock Vigorous (TV32 in Action)
Blue Marlin Delivery of Dry Dock Vigorous Blue Marlin Particulars Beam 208 ft Length widest Beam 737 vessel 358 ft standard ft to with ply Vigorous the Panamax Columbia River and almost double the width of a standard 106 ft beam Panamax vessel
Bridge Outline and Critical Soundings at BNRR Bridge Data from surveys for NOAA Office of Coast Survey were processed for critical soundings on fixed hard objects, pier outlines precisely outlined and center of bridge positioned in TV32 for Pilots.
High Resolution Multibeam Survey of Offload Site DEA was contracted by Vigor to conduct a current survey of the offload site and develop a useful data set to support Columbia River Pilots in this unprecedented mission in the Portland Harbor
High Resolution Multibeam Survey of Offload Site Critical contours, selected soundings and bottom image all loaded into TV32 for mission planning and real-time navigation.
TV32 Image of Blue Marlin Navigating Through St Johns RR Bridge Buffer of dry dock overhang Note critical soundings on fixed hard objects not shown in single beam surveys
Blue Marlin Setting Starboard Anchor
Blue Marlin On Station for Offloading Vigorous
Blue Marlin Offloading Vigorous
Height Survey of Lewis and Clark Bridge in Longview, WA Tide: Tide: 4.5 6.3 ft ft Ship Ship Height: 190 190 ft ft DEA recently performed a vessel based laser scan of the Lewis and No No Clearance Clark Bridge to chart clearances relative to the water level reported at the NOAA Clearance water level < < 1.5 gauge 1.5 ft ft in Longview. Clearance >2 >2 ft ft The objective is to provide real-time clearance at intervals across the span relative to actual water level observations at the time of passing. Data above is only shown as an example and does not depict actual height at the tide shown.
Final Thoughts As ships get bigger and dynamic under keel clearance is pushed to the margins of existing uncertainty, the need for more accuracy becomes magnified. Pressures to move ships in reduced visibility demand accurate positioning of terminal infrastructure (fender lines, berth stationing, upland features for reference, etc.) to provide pilots with better tools to improve safety margins. With advancements in positioning methods also comes the requirement for more accurate data. A real-time system is already available on the Columbia to provide 2 cm (1 inch) accuracy. With new technology, the ability to gather new accurate data is unparalleled. A laser scan of the Longview Bridge, just a few years ago was un-thought of when moving cranes under the bridge. Today it is a reality that will allow large cruise ships to use the new dry dock at Swan Island.
David Evans and Associates, Inc. Marine Services Division Vancouver, WA www.deamarine.com Jon L. Dasler, PE, PLS, CH Director of Marine Services jld@deainc.com