Strategic and adaptive knowledge-environment-technological (SAKET) management system for sustainable reuse of dredged marine soils

Dredging is the process of removing sediments from the seabed to deepen the waters for the safe navigation of vessels. The dislodged materials from the seabed, i.e. dredged marine soils, are generally disposed of as a geowaste. This paper examines the potential reuse of the dredged materials within a comprehensive framework of technological feasibility, environmental soundness and knowledge creation (SAKET management system). The existing multi-discipline knowledge base serves as a vast reservoir of good practices to be adopted and moulded into the proposed system. The environmental background and impact that are related to the reuse mechanism need to be thoroughly investigated and determined too. The background data enables an informed selection of relevant technology to be implemented in the reuse exercise of dredged marine soils, which could lead to technological integration and innovation for optimum outputs. The subsequent monitoring and reviews would then create new insights and understanding to enrich the existing knowledge base, i.e. a full circle return. The proposed SAKET framework aims to provide a handling and management system of dredged marine soils which is simultaneously proactive and responsive, while being sufficiently flexible and predictive to ensure effective operational outputs with efficient utilization of the resources available. In short, the framework would embrace existing know-how in the folds of technological advances and innovations to develop an all-encompassing management system for reusing the dredged marine soils in a responsible manner for long term benefits.