At the 24th World Dredging Congress & Exhibition (WODCON XXIV), BMT—a global leader in maritime engineering and environmental solutions—unveiled its latest advancement in digital dredging technology. The company introduced a new generation of AI-powered dredging tools designed to improve forecasting accuracy, streamline port operations, and enhance the sustainability of marine infrastructure development. This innovation marks a critical step forward for environmental dredging and the broader dredging industry, particularly in addressing the complex and dynamic challenges facing ports and waterways worldwide.
The Role of Dredging in Port Sustainability
Dredging is a critical process for maintaining navigable waterways, ensuring maritime safety, and supporting global trade. It involves the removal of sediment and debris from harbors, rivers, and channels to maintain or increase depth for ship traffic. However, the process must be balanced with environmental considerations. Poorly timed or excessive dredging can disrupt ecosystems, contribute to water pollution, and increase operational costs. This has driven the industry to seek smarter, more sustainable solutions.
Environmental dredging, in particular, focuses on minimizing ecological impact while maintaining necessary channel depths. This requires a deep understanding of sediment behavior, vessel traffic patterns, and natural coastal dynamics. Traditional models have struggled to meet this need, particularly in high-traffic, sediment-rich environments such as estuaries and deltaic systems. That’s where BMT’s new AI tools come into play.
BMT’s Next-Generation AI Dredging Solutions
BMT’s announcement at WODCON XXIV, hosted by the Western Dredging Association (WEDA) in San Diego, introduced the industry to a new era of dredging decision intelligence. The tools are built on advanced machine learning algorithms trained on high-quality datasets that capture the interaction of natural forces—such as tides, currents, and sediment inflow—with human activities, including vessel movement and port operations.
These AI-powered models are capable of:
- Forecasting channel siltation with high accuracy
- Advising on optimal maintenance dredging windows
- Improving sediment transport predictions in complex coastal systems
- Enhancing operational planning to reduce costs and minimize downtime
- Supporting compliance with environmental regulations and best practices
This suite of tools reflects BMT’s commitment to addressing long-standing issues in coastal and environmental dredging, enabling port authorities and infrastructure planners to transition from reactive to proactive management strategies.
The Technology Behind the Tools
BMT’s platform integrates with its widely respected TUFLOW modeling suite, which has long been a standard for hydrodynamic and sediment transport simulations. The new AI layer enhances this by learning from both historical and real-time data, such as dredge logs, environmental monitoring inputs, and Automatic Identification System (AIS) ship tracking data.
The predictive capability enables the identification of likely sediment accumulation hotspots, the timing of sediment movement based on tidal and seasonal patterns, and potential environmental risks. This results in fewer emergency dredging operations, lower carbon footprints, and extended channel availability, critical for just-in-time logistics and port competitiveness.
Supporting the Global Dredging Community’s Resilience Goals
The theme of WODCON XXIV—“Dredging Towards a More Resilient Future”—aligned strongly with BMT’s mission. As climate change increases the unpredictability of coastal systems and places added stress on port infrastructure, adaptive and intelligent dredging management is more important than ever. BMT’s new tools empower stakeholders to make informed, data-driven decisions that support both economic growth and environmental protection.
Philip White, Senior Business Development Manager for Infrastructure and Environment at BMT, emphasized this alignment:
“We’re proud to co-develop solutions that truly reflect the operational challenges faced by today’s port authorities. Our AI-powered dredging decision tools are designed to maximize channel availability while reducing OPEX and advancing port sustainability goals.”
Delivering Tangible Value for Port Operators
The impact of these innovations extends beyond predictive capabilities. They offer direct cost savings through optimized dredging schedules and reduced reliance on outdated manual methods. By prioritizing interventions where they’re truly needed, ports can reduce unnecessary dredging activity, saving fuel, resources, and environmental disturbance.
Additionally, with BMT’s tools, environmental regulators and port planners can collaborate more effectively. Predictive insights facilitate the alignment of dredging timelines with sensitive ecological periods—such as fish spawning or migratory windows—ensuring that dredging remains both economically efficient and environmentally sound.
Andrew Aldrich, Strategic Account Director at BMT, noted:
“We are delivering the next leap in predictive dredging management—empowering our customers to operate more efficiently, sustainably, and safely.”
A Holistic Approach to Marine Infrastructure
BMT’s integrated service model combines engineering, environmental science, and digital technology to deliver end-to-end solutions. Their approach goes beyond software: expert consultants work closely with clients to interpret model outputs and translate them into actionable strategies. This human-in-the-loop approach ensures that AI tools enhance decision-making without replacing essential domain knowledge.
From channel maintenance planning to long-term sediment budget analysis, BMT’s tools can be tailored to meet the specific conditions of individual ports, offering a customized and future-proof solution.
Looking Ahead: Smarter Dredging for a Sustainable Future
As global trade intensifies and coastal systems face growing pressures from sea-level rise and extreme weather events, the need for intelligent, responsive dredging solutions is undeniable. With its new AI-driven tools, BMT is not just responding to industry needs—it is helping to shape a smarter, more resilient future for dredging.
By empowering port authorities with predictive, data-driven insights, BMT is demonstrating that technology and environmental stewardship can work in tandem. Through collaborations, ongoing innovation, and a commitment to excellence, the company continues to lead the way in transforming how dredging supports sustainable marine infrastructure.