Rowing Line Dredging for Pan American Games 2007 Rio De Janeiro-Brazil
Type:
Presented during:
WODCON XVIII - 2007 Orlando, Florida, USA
Authors:
Batalha
Abstract: The Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, simply called Lagoa (Lagoon), has been chosen to house the Pan American Games – 2007 rowing, canoe, kayak, and water skiing competitions. Especially concerning the rowing competitions, the Lagoon had to be submitted to some improvements. Although the sculling boats have a small draft, for hydrodynamics purposes, the Olympic Committee demands lanes at least 3 m below water level. After the bathymetric surveys, it was found that in order to achieve the desired depth of the rowing line; about 100.000m3 of sediment dredging would have to be performed, in order to meet the Olympic Authority requirements.
The Lagoon is located in the center of Rio de Janeiro’s south zone, close to the Ipanema beach, being on the most important sightseeing places in Rio de Janeiro. The Lagoon is also a highly sensitive environmental site, where occasionally there are serious fish kills resulting in a very strong odor. The causes are still being investigated.
- Considering the aspects of production, distance dumping sites, turbidity during dredging operation, among others, the equipments choice was fundamental to the success of the Job. Three different types of equipments were used, pneumatic system dredge, suction dredge with dustpan draghead and suction head with auger cutter (both with submerged pump).
During the dredge operation, not only bathymetry, but also turbidity, dumping dispersions, water and sediments analyses, and shoreline stability and displacement were monitored.
Keywords: Environmental dredging, open water disposal, monitoring, dustpan, auger, and pneumatic dredges.