Uitdaging

The Flemish Waterway is responsible for the management, maintenance, and further development of the network of navigable waterways in Flanders. One of its core tasks is ensuring safe and smooth routes for shipping. To make this possible, it is essential to have a clear view of the waterways’ depth. Currently, depth measurements are carried out using a manned, traditional survey boat. 

The Flemish Waterway now aims to develop and deploy an autonomous electric survey vessel that, on the one hand, can fully operate independently and unmanned to measure the depth of Flemish waterways and recharge itself without manual intervention, and on the other hand, automatically convert the collected real-time depth or bathymetric data into up-to-date, accessible, and digital depth charts. 

These charts provide an up-to-date and clear insight into the condition of the waterway network, significantly improving management, maintenance, and safety. Through automation and digitization, the need for manual measurements disappears, efficiency increases, and risks can be detected more quickly. This enables a more proactive and well-founded planning of maintenance and dredging works, which is essential for safe and smooth flows of goods.