3 May 2024 – IADC bestowed the Young Author Award 2024 to Juan Cruz Andrini, Hydraulic and Civil Engineer at Hidrovía S.A. in Argentina. The award is given annually to “stimulate the promotion of new ideas and encourage younger men and women in the dredging industry”.
IADC bestowed the Young Author Award 2024 to Juan Cruz Andrini, Hydraulic and Civil Engineer at Hidrovía S.A. in Argentina. The Young Author Award is granted at industry-leading conferences, with 2024’s winning young authors selected from the proceedings of the 35th PIANC World Congress, held from 29 April – 3 May 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.
THE WINNER
Juan Cruz Andrini was selected as the Young Author Award winner for his contribution to the paper “An efficient tool for environmental control in dredging operations”. The paper focuses on the implementation of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) as a monitoring tool in dredging operations, particularly in projects involving trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHD). It discusses how AIS can be utilised to track dredging equipment, verify the use of contract-approved zones, estimate dredging volumes and conduct environmental and contractual controls efficiently and cost-effectively. The practical case study at the Port of Buenos Aires serves as an example to demonstrate the potential and benefits of using AIS in such operations.
“The jury was of the opinion that the winning entry provides added value to the developments within the dredging industry," said Rene Kolman, Secretary General of IADC. "The author has analysed the potential of the system to monitor dredging and aquatic disposal activities for maintenance dredging. This has some merits, thanks to its simplicity. It is a relevant topic and the entry represents solid research, backed up with good references and self-explanatory illustrations. Building knowledge and optimising techniques is something we have to do. But also something we must continue to invest in.”
THE AWARD
The purpose of the IADC’s Young Author Award is to stimulate the promotion of new ideas and encourage younger men and women in the dredging industry. Every year at selected conferences, the IADC recognises the best paper written by authors younger than 35 years of age. The Conference Paper Committee recommends a shortlist of qualifying papers that make a significant contribution to the literature on dredging and related fields. Winning authors receive 1,000 EUR and a trophy of recognition as well as publication of the paper as an article in the IADC’s quarterly journal Terra et Aqua.
THE CONGRESS
The South African chapter of the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC SA) hosted the 35th PIANC World Congress from 29 April – 3 May 2024, in Cape Town, South Africa. The theme of the conference was “Future Ready Waterborne Transport – Unlocking Africa” and addressed the works necessary in creating a sustainable maritime sector.
Photo caption: The Young Author award was handed over by IADC’s Secretary General René Kolman (right) to Juan Cruz Andrini (left) for his contribution to the paper “An efficient tool for environmental control in dredging operations”.