DEFINING NEEDS

Technical Note DOER-I1

July 1999 (Revised April 2000)

DEFINING NEEDS: Instrumentation-related projects tend to be technology driven rather than

user driven. To avoid this pitfall, requirements were defined before any other development took

place (Rosati and Welp 1994). The requirements can be summed up as several major goals:

Aid Project Management. Dredging projects are increasingly complex and require sophisti-

cated planning. Data acquired from the project during the dredging process can show the actual

consequences of dredging plans. Because disposal areas are facing increasing constraints, more

data and management effort are required to maximize their capacity and useful life. Comparing

actual dredging results with estimated results is important in tracking project progress and improving

estimating methods. Preproject decisions that can be improved through the use of measured dredge

data include selection of dredge plant, the quality and quantity of preproject geotechnical data,

estimated dredging cycle times, and project duration. Monitoring dredge progress ensures compli-

ance with dredging plans by reducing overdredging (dredging beyond specified requirements,

producing excess material for disposal sites) and documents contractor attempts to meet the

minimum required channel dimensions.

Provide Environmental Surveillance. To address the concern of environmental agencies

about the impacts of dredging on aquatic resources, dredge monitoring can ensure that dredgers are

working in the most environmentally safe manner possible. Dredge monitoring can verify compli-

ance with permit terms that specify dredging methods and restrict dredging areas, working times,

and disposal locations.

Reduce Claims. Contemporaneous records of the activity of a dredge throughout the life of a

project can show changes in dredge performance and assist in ascertaining their causes without

resorting to the claims process. In any case, more factual data will be available to support the

disposition of claims that do occur.

Standardize Contractor Requirements. The Corps of Engineers is working with State and

other Federal agencies to gain acceptance of SI standards for monitoring dredging operations.

Otherwise, the agencies will develop their own requirements, with little consistency between

projects. Inconsistent requirements increase compliance costs. Contractors working for the Corps

should be able to move between Corps Districts without changing their monitoring equipment or

software to meet standard requirements. Projects with nonstandard requirements should be accom-

modated as well. The current Corps experience with monitoring pipeline dredges, as documented

in this TN, illustrates the need for standardized contractor requirements.

SI TASKS: To meet the stated requirements, the SI does the following: it acquires data from

dredges; it produces analyzed data and reports based on actual dredge performance; it allows for

data entry for project information and existing reports; and it provides a common data store for

project information. These functions and how they are performed will be covered in subsequent

TNs.

CORPS' MONITORING EXPERIENCES: Corps Districts were surveyed by phone to identify

respective monitoring activities and objectives. Corps personnel that were interviewed included

project managers, estimators, field engineers, dredging inspectors, and technicians. These personnel

were asked to specify what dredging parameters they collect data on (or monitored) and why they