Utilization of Dredged Sediments: Contemporary Issues: Fid-Bau Portal

Utilization of Dredged Sediments: Contemporary Issues

Rakshith, Shetty

AbstractDredged sediments have been extensively used in various parts of the world for applications related to various infrastructural developmental activities, such as land reclamation, building construction, beach replenishment, habitat restoration, and so on. The vicinity of the megacities to the water bodies and shortage of naturally available raw materials for the developmental activities is mostly responsible for such a paradigm shift from the conventional application of natural resources (soils and rock mass). However, utilization of dredged sediments has largely been constrained because of their heterogeneity and also because most of the earlier studies were site specific; hence, these findings cannot be generalized. This calls for a critical analysis of the outcome of the existing studies related to the application of such sediments based on their comprehensive characterization, in infrastructure development, policies adopted in this context, challenges in terms of handling and disposal, and potential of these sediments to contaminate the ecosystem. As highlighted in this paper, such a critical review of the literature would be mandatory for framing the guidelines in establishing the beneficial usages of the dredged sediments as an artificial resource.