5 Nov 2025

Physical Modeling of Filling and Emptying (F&E) Systems of Proposed 1,200 ft Chambers at Locks 22 and 25: Hydraulic Model Investigation

Abstract: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is considering navigation improvements for several projects to meet predicted increases in tow traffic at the Lock and Dam 22 and Lock and Dam 25 sites in the Mississippi river. Some of these improvements include the addition or replacement of the navigation lock at the site. The following document contains the laboratory model investigations of the lock filling and emptying (F&E) system for additions at the sites. This report provides the results of research testing under the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP). The design guidance includes culvert geometry, port size, location, and spacing. Guidance for the lock chamber performance, based on acceptable filling and emptying operations is also included. The results show that the original design is a feasible design based on the hydraulic performance of the system as a result of the experimental tests. Further discussions with the St. Louis District (CEMVS) arrived at a new culvert to port transition design that was more in line with the existing geometry at Lock and Dam 25. The new design and port spacing configuration were agreed by CEMVS and ERDC to not have significant impact on hawser forces or the overall chamber performance.

16 Sep 2025

Quality Control for Waterway Networks: Processing Algorithm and GIS Toolbox

Purpose: This Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering technical note (CHETN) documents the development of a US centered Geographic Information System (GIS) representation of navigable waterways for research purposes, including connections with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) National Channel Framework (NCF) reaches, depths, and international connections, and the “Quality Control for Waterway Networks” processing algorithm. The algorithm is an automated method to update a waterway network created by the Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL). After a user introduces desired changes to an input line layer representing waterways, the algorithm outputs links and nodes’ shapefiles containing a fully connected network, with geometries and depths aligned with the NCF, and controls for topology and attributes quality. In addition, spatial joins assign attributes to network nodes from other various sources of data. The product of this work is a GIS waterway network, along with a Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) script incorporated via toolbox within an open-source GIS software to maintain the waterway network updated. The algorithm has the capacity to be adapted to other transportation network needs or GIS software packages.

26 Aug 2025

Tampa Harbor, Florida, Navigation Improvement Study

Abstract: The Port of Tampa Bay services approximately 30.5 million tons of cargo each year (based on 2017–2021 data) and is situated on the Tampa Bay/Orlando I-4 Corridor, which serves the largest concentration of distribution centers in the state. To expand operations to include direct Asia, Mexico, and Central America services, numerous port facility improvements were required. This rapid expansion of port capabilities led to increasing difficulty of port efficiency and navigation. A study was conducted investigating proposed channel improvements addressing these issues. In 2022 and 2023, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) assisted the US Army Corps of Engineers–Jacksonville District in evaluating proposed deepening and widening alternatives in Tampa Harbor by completing a ship simulation study using ERDC’s Ship/Tow Simulator. During this study, focus areas were passing lanes in Cut B and Gadsden Point Cut, the turning basin at Hooker’s Point/Port Sutton, the turn widener between Cut F and Gadsden Point Cut, and turns into Alafia and Big Bend. The proposed design was evaluated over the course of 2 weeks with four pilots. Proposed modifications were assessed through analysis of data resulting from the ship simulations including track plots, run sheets, and final pilot surveys.

26 Aug 2025

Miami Harbor Navigation Improvements Study

Abstract: In 2019, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL), Ship/Tow Simulator (STS), was used to perform a navigation study assisting the US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District. The study evaluates channel improvements to allow larger containerships to call at the Port of Miami. This study also evaluates improvements associated with the proposed cruise terminals. This study was conducted at the CHL real-time STS. Real-time refers to the fact that model time uses a 1:1 ratio to prototype time. In addition, real world environmental forces were simulated and acted upon the modeled ships during the study. These forces included currents, wind, bathymetry, and bank effects. Simulations for the project improvements were conducted at CHL for 3 weeks in August 2019 and 1 week in November 2019. Seven Biscayne Bay pilots participated in the validation and testing exercises. The design vessels include the MSC Daniela (14,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit [TEU]) container ship, the Majestic Maersk (18,000 TEU) container ship, the Allure of the Seas cruise ship, the Disney Dream cruise ship, and the M/S Paradise cruise ship. Results, in the form of track plots and pilot questionnaires, were reviewed to develop conclusions and recommendations.

20 Aug 2025

Parameterized Statistical Distributions of Unique Origin-Destination Pairs for Major Waterborne Commodity Groups

Abstract: Modeling the spatiotemporal aspects of freight movements within a distributed network is crucial to forecasting transportation infrastructure needs, prioritizing investments, and estimating emissions. Commodity flow patterns and trends along the inland waterway transportation system are significant because of their importance for the economy, in line with priorities of the US Committee on the Marine Transportation System. Analyzing these inland waterway flows better informs multimodal freight transportation modeling. This exploratory research uncovers, describes, and summarizes patterns and trends of the US waterway transportation system by mining waterborne freight data. The purpose of this work is to identify parameterized statistical distributions that describe the relative dispersion of unique waterborne Origin-Destination (OD) pairs when sorted high to low by annual freight tonnage. Best-fit statistical distributions and associated parameters are identified for the leading commodities transported on waterways, and an 11-year time-series analysis of commodity-specific distribution parameters provide their evolution across time. Results show that the power law best explains the distribution of ranked ODs by tonnage for seven of the twelve commodities analyzed. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) of any given commodity modeled is less than 1%. These results provide insights into the underlying behavior of inland waterway freight transportation.

25 Jul 2025

Brandon Road Lock and Dam, Des Plaines River: Navigation Approach Physical Model

Abstract: This physical model study of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam was conducted to evaluate the navigation conditions associated with the implementation of two proposed engineered channels and associated features in the downstream approach channel. A 1:100 Froude scale physical model was constructed to evaluate the navigation conditions for tows entering and exiting the lower approach. Features included in the scaled model include the lock, the gated spillway, roughly 2 mi of the Des Plaines River and surrounding topography, and two NRG Energy generating stations. Data were collected to evaluate tow tracks and current direction and velocity information. Videos and rough estimations were also collected to gain an understanding of the water that displaces upstream when a downbound tow transits through the engineered channels.

3 Jul 2025

Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock Replacement Study: Hydrodynamic Modeling and Ship Simulation

Abstract: The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Lock connects the Mississippi River to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, surrounded by developed areas in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tow transit times through the current IHNC lock take up to 20 hours. The US Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, has proposed constructing a new lock to reduce tow transit times significantly. However, the new lock will have potential effects on vehicle traffic patterns due to the three bridges across IHNC. To address potential navigation issues, hydrodynamic modeling and ship simulations of the study area were conducted for the three phases of the project: new lock construction, present lock deconstruction, and proposed new lock design. The hydrodynamic model was developed and validated to present conditions, simulating various water levels across the lock structure to provide water levels and currents for ship simulation. The ship simulation was used to record transit times to determine impacts of the waterborne vessel traffic on vehicular traffic due to bridge raising and lowering, as well as navigability of the bypass channels associated with lock construction and existing lock deconstruction. Elicitation from the towing industry was used to inform final design of the new IHNC lock and bypass channels.

2 Jun 2025

Miami Harbor Entrance Channel Improvements Study: Ship Simulation Report

Abstract: The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (ERDC-CHL), Ship/Tow Simulator (STS) was used to perform a navigation study assisting the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District. The study evaluates additional navigation channel modifications from the previous 2019 study to allow larger containerships to call at the Port of Miami. This study was conducted at the CHL real-time STS. Real-time refers to the fact that model time uses a 1:1 ratio to prototype time. In addition, real-world environmental forces were simulated and acted upon the modeled ships during the study. These forces included currents, wind, bathymetry, and bank effects. Simulations for the proposed modifications were conducted at CHL for 1 week in August 2023. Four Biscayne Bay pilots participated in the validation and testing exercises. The design vessels include the MSC Daniela (14,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit [TEU]) container ship and the Maersk Guayaquil (12,000 TEU) container ship. Simulation results are presented in the form of track plots and pilot questionnaires, which were reviewed to develop the conclusions and recommendations.

2 Apr 2025

LaGrange Lock and Dam, Illinois River: Navigation Approach Physical Model

Abstract: A physical model study of the LaGrange Lock and Dam was conducted to optimize the navigation conditions for the new landside lock chamber design developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers–Rock Island District, Inland Navigation Design Center, and Stanley Consultants. A 1:120 Froude scale model was built to evaluate the navigation conditions for tows entering and exiting the upper and lower approaches. The final design consisted of a new 1,200 ft lock chamber located landward of the existing chamber. Data were collected to evaluate tow tracks and current direction and velocity information. Satisfactory navigation conditions were developed, and details are shown in the results section of this report.

6 Mar 2025

Norfolk Harbor Navigation Improvements Project: Modeling of Dredged Material Placement Schemes and Long-Term Sediment Transport at the Dam Neck Ocean Disposal Site

Abstract: US Army Corps of Engineers–Norfolk District requested assistance with the development and evaluation of dredged-material-placement schemes that evenly distribute placed material and avoid or minimize unacceptable mounding in accordance with the site management and monitoring plan. A multiple placement fate and transport modeling study was conducted to determine the optimal placement plan for dredged material from Thimble Shoals Channel and Atlantic Ocean Channel at the Dam Neck Ocean Disposal Site (DNODS). Provided the large volume of dredged material to be placed at DNODS over a short duration during the construction period, a modeling study was performed using the Geophysical Scale Multi-Block (GSMB) modeling system to determine the transport and fate of placed dredged material at the DNODS that is resuspended by currents and waves over a 2-year period. Six scenarios were undertaken to determine the best path forward. Scenarios 1 and 4 were excluded due to high exceedance of the depth threshold. Scenarios 2, 3, 5, and 6 yielded an approximate 1%–2% dispersal of placed materials from the DNODS during ambient environmental conditions; Scenario 6 yielded the least. Most dispersion occurred during two simulated hurricanes. The model findings generally support the DNODS Environmental Impact Statement and site-designation documents.