It was great to be part of PIANC APAC 2026 in Brisbane last week. The three-day conference brought the in2Dredging team together with industry professionals from across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region for technical presentations, discussions and networking.
The
conference provided a valuable opportunity to hear about current projects,
research and developments across the ports and maritime industry. It also
provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas, catch up with familiar
faces and make new connections.
Taking the Stage in Brisbane
For in2Dredging (i2D), a highlight of the conference was seeing Simon Burgmans and Mercedes Cornejo take the stage. They shared some of our recent work in dredging and reclamation and sediment modelling.
Simon presented his paper on Predicting Bulk Density & Consolidation Behaviour of Fine Sediments in Hydraulic Reclamation Sedimentation Basins. His presentation explained the behaviour of fine sediments following hydraulic reclamation. It showed how laboratory testing and consolidation modelling with i2D’s proprietary Fill Consolidation Model (FCM) can improve predictions of how these materials consolidate over time. This can support more informed planning and design of reclamation and containment areas.
Mercedes presented Estimating Solid Retention & Overflow Losses in Hopper Dredgers, showcasing i2D’s Hopper Sedimentation Model (HSM). She demonstrated how this practical one-dimensional vertical model can help explain sediment behaviour within a hopper during loading and overflow. The HSM can estimate sediment retention and overflow losses and support the assessment of dredging production and overflow duration. It can also provide a time-dependent sediment source term for environmental plume modelling. This allows the benefits of controlled overflow to be assessed, potentially increasing cycle production and reducing the carbon footprint. At the same time, the release of fines into the environment can be minimised.
Together, the two presentations provided an opportunity to share practical modelling approaches being developed and applied at i2D. These approaches address challenges encountered in dredging and reclamation projects.
A Valuable Few Days at PIANC APAC 2026
Conferences such as PIANC APAC 2026 are about much more than presenting papers. They provide an opportunity to step away from day-to-day project work and hear different perspectives. They also allow us to exchange knowledge with others tackling similar challenges across the maritime industry.
We appreciated the conversations, questions and discussions throughout the three days. We also enjoyed reconnecting with colleagues and meeting new people from across the region.
A big thank you to PIANC Australia & New Zealand, the organisers, presenters and everyone involved in bringing PIANC APAC 2026 together.
It was a rewarding few days in Brisbane, and we were pleased to have the chance to contribute to the technical program. We also appreciated the opportunity to share some of i2D’s work in dredging and reclamation, sediment modelling and hydraulic reclamation with the wider industry.
Need Support with Your Dredging Project?
If you need support with dredging and reclamation planning, design or delivery, i2D can help. Our team provides specialist dredging engineering and technical advice to support projects from early-stage planning and feasibility through to design, procurement and execution.