Dredging & Disposal including Pipeline & Cable Burial
ASA develops and uses computer models that simulate the transport and fate of sediments and pollutants in marine and fresh water environments. Our engineers, with these computer tools predict the physical movement and concentrations of sediments and pollutants resulting from dredging and disposal, as well as cable and pipeline burial. These predictions can then be used to estimate the possible biological effects. Hydrodynamic simulations can be performed by ASA to provide currents. ASA combines these sophisticated tools with comprehensive field programs and data collection to provide customized dredging and disposal solutions.
ASA developed SSFATE which fulfills the need for a modeling tool that can be easily customized to simulate a broad spectrum of dredging scenarios, accommodating essentially any hydrodynamic setting and most typical dredge plants. SSFATE is an integrated system combining a Geographic Information System (GIS) with a computational model that predicts the transport, dispersion, and settling of suspended sediments released to the water column as a result of dredging operations.
More about SSFATE
ASA also developed SSDOSE which calculates exposures of various aquatic organisms to sediment plumes resulting from dredging operations and analogous sediment releases. SSDOSE uses the output from SSFATE that includes concentration of suspended sediments as a function of space and time. SSDOSE is contained in the SSFATE graphical user interface system, allowing the user to readily work with both models to produce and view results. Using the models, the user is capable of examining alternative dredging practices and providing insights into risk minimization.
More about SSDOSE
Example of SSDOSE output showing estimated exposures of small pelagic fishes to a hypothetical suspended sediment plume in New York/New Jersey Harbor. Color-coded dose concentrations are shown in the legend box.