Single beam bathymetric data modelling techniques for accurate maintenance dredging

Most ports have dredged channels, berths and anchorages. Such infrastructure suffers from siltation which reduces the depth available for shipping, at which, maintenance dredging is required. Accurate bathymetric data modelling is important to control the maintenance dredging in real time and reduce the possible extra cost due to the unpaid over-dredging. In this study, twelve of digital terrain modelling interpolation techniques have been investigated using the data obtained from Port Said East Port maintenance project to conclude the most accurate and fastest ones that can be applied during maintenance dredging projects. The results showed that a triangulated irregular network and natural neighbour interpolation techniques were the optimal choice since they produce the least Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.16 m at 10 m grid size. For real-time digital terrain modelling applications, it is concluded that a triangulated irregular network technique could be used. It was the fastest interpolation technique where only 0.35 s is needed to create a model with 5 m grid size. Natural neighbour was the next fastest technique where 5.21 s were required to create the model.