VICKSBURG, Miss.—The Dredging Operations Technical Support (DOTS) program provides comprehensive access to information on technology related to Operations and Maintenance navigation and dredging missions. The DOTS program functions include rapid, short-term technical responses for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) field offices, technology demonstrations, database management, publications, development and dissemination of technical guidance, and training opportunities.
The DOTS program is currently sponsoring its first Summer Webinar Series the last Wednesday during the summer months (May-Sept.), 1:00 p.m. CST. The webinar series offers monthly presentations which cover “the basics” of dredged material assessment and management and highlights new advances in the science and engineering of dredging operations. The webinar includes 30 minutes of presentation content and 15 minutes for questions and answers.
“Instead of hosting traditional face-to-face seminars, this is a very practical way to press on with DOTS business in the new virtual paradigm by eliminating the need for travel,” said DOTS Program Manager Cynthia Banks. “We are also sensitive to the difficulty of finding time to participate in such activities; therefore, the DOTS Summer Webinar Series has been designed to be relatively brief yet impactful featuring dynamic speakers.”
On Wednesday, May 29, the first webinar titled, “The USACE National Dredging Program and Regulations,” was presented by Senior Environmental Advisor Joseph Wilson, Headquarters USACE. Webinar participants received an overview of the USACE National Dredging Program and learned which environmental laws and regulations apply to dredging and dredged material assessment and placement activities. Approximately 150 individuals from the USACE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and private industry participated in the webinar.
The second webinar titled, “An Overview of USACE Dredging Operations,” was presented June 26 by Senior Policy Advisor Thomas Verna, USACE Navigation Data Center. Webinar participants learned how the National Dredging Program is accomplished and received informative fiscal year 2012 dredging data. Approximately 80 individuals from the USACE, EPA, and private industry participated in the webinar.
On Wednesday, July 31, Senior Research Scientist Dr. Jeffery Steevens, ERDC-Environmental Laboratory, will present “Dredged Material Evaluation and Testing.” Webinar participants will learn how sediments are evaluated and tested to determine the most appropriate placement/disposal management option. Since last count, nearly 90 individuals have expressed interest in participating.
Future topics and speakers will be announced on a monthly basis on the DOTS website, http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/dots/dots.html. All briefing slides, biographical sketches, audio recordings, and official transcripts are located on the DOTS training webpage, http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/dots/training.html.
If you are interested in participating in future webinars, or would like to know more about DOTS, please contact Cynthia J. Banks, Cynthia.J.Banks@usace.army.mil.