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CSD - Dredging Button

Dredging

The Dredging button is only available:

  • when a Dredging System and a Dredging Tool are defined in the Database Setup and
  • when the Dredging Module is activated on your dongle.

Changes in dredging parameters are permissible during a recording session.

There are five command buttons:

Dredging

Defines the design DTM used in the Navigation, Generic and/or Profile display.
One of the following can be used: manual depth, layer from a sounding grid file, layer from a .qgf file, layer from a mapping (.pro) file.
Also use: clipping depth, upper and lower tolerances. 

Intrusion Detection (formerly Emergency Hoist) parameters which can be used in the Alert and/or the Generic display. 
Uses areas and polylines defined in the Line Database manager. Warning alarms generated based on proximity, hoist alarm based on intrusion.
Output drivers available to send messages to dredger PLC computer when intrusion alarm generated, triggering automatic hoist.
Production can be used to update the Sounding Grid. 
The current production can also be monitored in a Generic Display and/or in a Timeplot Display.
Enter dumping parameters such as material characteristics and densities. 
These parameters influence the dumping process and production values.
Setting for spill. 
This setting can be used when the dredge tool does not remove the material to the level at which it has been dredging.
Design

Click on the Design icon

Make selections and enter parameter values as follows:

Design Properties
 
Design Method
For the design different options can be chosen:
Manual Depth - Manually enter a value for the design depth.
From Grid File - Select a Sounding Grid File and the layer on which the design resides.
From Mapping File - Select a QINSy Mapping file (*.PRO) File and the layer on which the design resides.
Use Clipping Depth

This option is only available when From Grid file or From Mapping File is selected as Design Method.
Enable this option in order to generate a new target depth for the design.
The clipping depth that is entered must be an absolute value.

Clipping depth is used on cutters when removal of material is done in layers. The design is clipped to the depth entered and the cutter uses it to control cut depth for that pass. For the next cutter pass the clipping depth is set deeper.

Dredge TolerancesEnter upper and lower dredge tolerances These values are relative to the design.

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Intrusion Detection

A dredger may be allowed to enter a certain zone, but because of safety issues, it's dredge tool may not be permitted too close to the seabed where seabed objects could be damaged.
For example live gas pipelines on the seabed are a hazard. Intrusion Detection functionality raises an alarm when restrictions have been violated.
Two types of alarms are generated: a Warning and an Error.

Intrusion Detection requires creating one or more areas and/or polylines

These must be on one layer of a Line Database file to define any avoidance areas.

Online the program uses these areas and/or polylines, along with the Horizontal Clearance Warning and Horizontal Clearance Error distances to create intrusion corridors around the area.
In effect these Horizontal Clearance distances create a Warning and an Error corridor around the avoidance area.

When the vertices of these polygons are given height, the Vertical Clearance works in conjunction with the horizontal and a Height Mode setting of 3D XYZ Position to extend Warning and Error detection to 3D.

The ongoing status of this so-called emergency hoist is visualized in the Generic Display and Alert Display.

In addition this detection system is employed to protect other dynamic objects in the vicinity. For example to prevent a dredger from hitting a barge.
The hull (areal extent) of an object defined in the template database acts as an avoidance area in much the same way as an avoidance area defined by a polyline.

Click on the Intrusion Detection button.

Make selections and enter parameter values as follows:

Settings

 

Pro File

Check this box in order to load to a *.QGF file containing avoidance areas. Use the browse button to select the correct *.QGF file.
Polylines must include two or more points: Easting, Northing and Height in local survey datum.

When defining a closed polyline for an entire area (2D) the last point of the poly line must be identical to the first.

Note that such an Area is always checked in 2D mode only, ignoring the dredge head height.
Any non-closed poly line can be handled in 3D mode.

Layer

Select the layer containing the avoidance polylines.

Horizontal Clearance Warning

Every calculation cycle QINSy checks whether the dredge head(s) is/are located in proximity to the predefined avoidance areas.
If the horizontal distance between the avoidance area and the dredge head is smaller than this distance, the Intrusion Detection Warning alert is raised.

Horizontal Clearance Error

If the horizontal distance between the avoidance area and the dredge head is smaller than this distance, the Intrusion Detection Error (e.g. Emergency Hoist) alert is raised.

Vertical Clearance

Minimal vertical distance between dredge head and avoidance poly line.
Value is only used in 3D mode and for polylines that are not closed.
If the actual vertical distance is smaller then the Intrusion Detection Error (e.g. Emergency Hoist) alert is raised.

Height Mode

Choose between:
2D - XY Position - Only the XY position is considered.
3D - XYZ Position - The height is also taken into account (not for areas!).

Dynamic objectCheck this box to use the hull of an object defined in the Database Setup as the avoidance object. Use the drop down menu to select the desired object.
Save to QGF FileCheck this box if you wish to save the warning and error area polygon to a *.QGF file. This way the areas can be visualized in for example the Navigation Display.
Select which file to store the data in using the browse button.

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Production

Production observations or calculations can be manually overruled by the user.

Click on the Production button.

Multiple overrule parameters may be selected:

Production Setup
 
Overrule Density SolidOption is not available.
Enter a density value for the solids in dry condition. The Density Solid can only be changed under Dumping - Material Type.
Overrule Density Water

Enter a density for the water (fresh or salt water).
This option is only available when a density table is entered in Database Setup.

Overrule Density In Situ

Option is not available; the Density in Situ can only be changed under Dumping - Material Type.
Enter a density value for the solids when the solids are settled at the seabed after they have been dumped (this will affect the dump shape that is drawn in the sounding grid).
This option is only available when a density table is entered in Database Setup.

Overrule ProductionEnter a production value in cubic meters / second.
Count PMO when below DesignCount the times that the Poor Mixture Overboard valve is used when the dredge head is in between a tolerance depth and the design depth.
The tolerance that needs to be specified lies above the design.

Trip Volume
Volume ModeManual - Total Value - This volume will be used to update the sounding grid when the dumping is done and will overrule the production that was calculated during the dredging operation.
Manual - Per Bay - This volume will be used to update the sounding grid when the dumping is done when dump bays are used.
Typically this is used for side stone dumpers.
Automatic - This will use the production that was calculated during the dredging operation.
Total VolumeEnter the volume when Volume Mode was set to Manual - Total Value.
Bay x VolumeEnter the volume when Volume Mode was set to Manual - Per Bay.

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Dumping

Computer models are used to predict the dispersion of dredged material during dumping.

The behavior of dredged material during disposal/dumping is assumed to be separated into three phases:
convective descent: during which the disposal cloud falls under the influence of gravity and its initial momentum is imparted by gravity.
dynamic collapse: occurring when the descending cloud either impacts the bottom or arrives at a level of neutral buoyancy where descent is retarded and horizontal spreading dominates.
passive transport-dispersion: commencing when the material transport and spreading are determined more by ambient currents and turbulence than by the dynamics of the disposal operation.

The dumping parameters entered here influence the dumping process and production values, including updating of the sounding grid to reflect the dump.

In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient (commonly denoted as: cd, cx or cw) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object moving through a fluid environment, such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or hydrodynamic drag. The drag coefficient is always associated with a particular surface area and reflects the net force in the direction of flow due to pressure and shear stress forces on the surface of the object.

Drag Along and Across coefficients are used in determining the dynamic settling location of the dump. Set to 1 if unknown.
The user can empirically determine these coefficients by comparing the actual (surveyed) dump position versus the theoretical position.

Set Drag Along and Across coefficients to 1 if they are unknown. 

The densities should be absolute. The relative density is derived by subtracting the water density.

Solid density: Density of the dry material.
In Situ density: Density of the material once suspended in water. This occurs when the material is dumped.

By default keep values equal. If In Situ Density is smaller than Solid Density then the volume used to update the sounding grid will be larger than the entered trip volume.

Material
 
Material Type

Choose the material which will be discharged. New materials can be added to the drop down list by selecting the New button below the dialog.

Drag Along CoefficientThe Coefficient for the material depends on the shape and can be determined empirically in a laboratory.
If unknown use a value of 1. 
Drag Across CoefficientThe Coefficient for the material depends on the shape and can be determined empirically in a laboratory.
If unknown use a value of 1. 
Stone DiameterEnter a value in meters.
Abs. In Situ DensityThe density can be determined empirically in a laboratory.
Abs. Solid DensityThe density can be determined empirically in a laboratory.
NewAdd a new Material Type and enter its properties. This Type can then be selected from the drop down list.
EditEdit an existing Material Type and its properties.
DeleteDelete an existing Material Type and its properties.
Dumping
Load Discharge setupBy Time - A dump bay is emptied in a certain time.
By Rate - The fixed dump rate is known.
Discharge Time

Enter a dumping time in seconds. This is the time it takes for the vessel to empty its bay.
With the dump bay volume and discharge time a discharge rate is calculated.
This discharge rate is used to update the sounding grid when the vessel is dumping.
This option will affect the dump shape that is drawn and the location in the sounding grid when the vessel is moving.

Discharge Rate

Enter a dumping rate in volume per second.
This should be a constant rate and will be used to update the sounding grid when the vessel is dumping.

Bay x Opened/ClosedSelect whether bay doors are used in this process. If so, select whether they are open or closed.
Current measurementSelect whether the current measurement is done with an instrument such as DVL (as entered in Database Setup) or that a manual value will be given.
Manual Current VelocityEnter a value.
Manual Current DirectionEnter a value.
Current ReferenceRelative (Located on Vessel) - The measurement is done on the vessel. The current is corrected for vessel movement.
Absolute (Located Remotely) - The measurement is done in a fixed location.

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Various


Various Settings
 
SpillEnter a spill value in meters. This value will be subtracted from the dredged depth in the Sounding Grid.
For example: The dredge head is dredging at a depth of 15 meters, but there is a spill of 0.25 meters of material that isn’t removed by the dredger.
The Sounding Grid will store a depth of 14.75 meters.

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