Position control systems in shallow water dredging operations

Positek – specialized in high performance sensors for dredging and subsea applications – has published a blog post on the optimization of position control in shallow water dredging operations.

In marine and freshwater environments, shallow water dredging is a process used to remove sediment, debris, and other materials from beaches, harbors, rivers, canals, wetlands and other bodies of water to ensure they remain navigable and healthy for human activity and aquatic ecosystems.

One of the key challenges in shallow water dredging is maintaining precise control over the dredging machine’s position to ensure efficient material removal, minimise environmental impact, and reduce the risk of damaging underwater infrastructure.

Unlike deeper dredging operations, where minor deviations might go unnoticed, shallow water projects are often close to shorelines, docks, or other structures where there is limited room for error.

This is where position feedback systems come into play, providing real-time data to operators and automation systems to help keep the dredging operation precise and effective.