DATA MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION WITHIN A DIGITAL MODEL FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AND INTERVENTIONS IN WATERWAYS: A CASE STUDY OF THE PARAGUAY RIVER

Sanchez, João Pedro

Hidrovias do Brasil – [email protected]

Piccelli, Raphael

Hidrovias do Brasil – [email protected]

Kyrousi, Foteini

International marine and dredging consultant, IMDC – [email protected]

Rutger Pasman

International marine and dredging consultant, IMDC – [email protected]

Gijsbert Van Holland

International marine and dredging consultant, IMDC – [email protected]

The Paraguay River Basin covers an area of 1,095,000 km², with 33.8% located in Brazil, 32.4% in Paraguay, 18.7% in Bolivia, and 15.1% in Argentina. The flow regime in the rivers of the basin exhibits strong seasonality, influenced by the regional rainfall pattern. At the headwaters, peak flows primarily occur from January to March, while in the lower course of the Paraguay River, they are more frequent in July, due to the slow movement of waters and the formation of lagoons in the Pantanal plain. The developed digital model studies the segment of the Paraguay River from Corumbá (Brazil) to Asunción (Paraguay), spanning 1146 km, integrating hydrological, hydraulic, topographic, sedimentological, construction, and navigation data. This article aims to define the minimum requirements and a workflow for integrating and managing the data necessary to construct a digital river model, enabling it to be used by stakeholders to assist in necessary interventions, navigation, and ensuring greater predictability of its fluvial dynamics, thereby improving the level of service offered by operators. The 2D hydrodynamic model of the river was developed using the internationally acclaimed open-source software TELEMAC-2D, developed by the LNHE (Laboratoire National d’Hydraulique et Environnement) and validated by comparing the numerical results with in situ measurements. Such comparison indicated that the model is able to accurately reproduce water level and discharge variations at various locations along the river, under different hydrological conditions. The navigation channel was designed based on the new recommendations from the PIANC InCom WG Report No. 141 of 2019: Design guidelines for inland waterway dimensions, adjusted to the local environment. However, current design guidelines in Brazil by DNIT and ANTAQ are based on directives created for maritime port approach channels, which, due to their reference to a different hydrodynamic environment and other vessel types, are not most suitable for the river and barge convoy context. From the digital model, it is possible to calculate the dredging volumes necessary to ensure a satisfactory level of service to its operators for the required time. The case study brings economic comparisons between the additional operating costs due to the increased cycle time imposed by the difficulties resulting from the more restricted navigation and the estimated dredging costs to ensure the optimal draught during the hydrological cycle. According to the adopted data flow for availability, integration, and consumption, it is possible to develop emergency dredging plans for critical steps that pose a risk to maintaining the minimum navigable draft in the waterway, ensuring greater sustainability, efficiency, and economy to the region's inland transport.