DfSI
Dredging for Sustainable Infrastructure Course
Why this course matters
Dredging is no longer just about moving sediment – it’s about shaping coastlines, economies and ecosystems for the future. Under today’s climate change and biodiversity decline pressures, growing awareness on sustainable, resilient and holistic marine infrastructure and dredging works is noticed. But what is really mentioned here? What is needed to deliver these future works?
Starting from a distinct holistic perspective, this course helps you go beyond compliance and rethink how resilient dredging projects effectively deliver environmental, social and economic values, integrated with the basic technical goals. You’ll learn how to:
- Understand, engage and include sustainable elements in a marine infrastructure work;
- design and engineer marine infrastructure that works in harmony with ecological and socio-economic systems surpassing basic technical features;
- assess and manage the negative impacts but also to explore the positive opportunities of dredging and reclamation works;
- explore state-of-the-art equipment and sediment management techniques - not only to deliver technical elements but also to generate external added values; and
- use operational management frameworks and holistic tools to make informed, tailored and integrated sustainable choices along the project development track.
Through lectures, case studies, interactive workshops, and a site visit, participants will not just learn theory — they will gain hands-on insight into how to embed sustainability into real dredging projects. Bringing together different perspectives on marine infrastructure works, dealing with confronting preferences and delivering integrated sustainable solutions are the main targets of the course.
Who should attend?
This course is ideal for all kind of professionals involved in dredging and water infrastructure projects, including:
- Government agencies and regulatory bodies;
- Port and maritime authorities;
- Consulting and engineering firms;
- Dredging and reclamation contractors;
- NGOs and environmental planners; and
- Shipbuilders, equipment suppliers, financiers.
Whether you're an engineer, ecologist, policymaker, or project developer – even without dredging experience – you’ll find tools and ideas you can apply immediately. As we are aiming a holistic project approach a wide audience of people with different backgrounds helps to understand and learn from each other’s sustainable positions.
The next DfSI course will take place in Delft, the Netherlands from 15-18 June 2026. For more information and to register, please visit: https://dfsi2026-delft.iadc-events.com/
Please see below some testemonials from lecturers & previous participants:
https://www.discoverdredging.com/book-review-dredging-for-sustainable-infrastructure/