Shipping simulation using hydrodynamic data ascertained from HEC-RAS model

Abstract

High accuracy of hydrodynamic data (flow velocity and depth) changing with time and distance along the transportation route are significantly necessary for the shipping. This paper aims to develop a tool for shipping simulation (total traveling time of each barge for departing from and arriving in the pier, number of ships for transporting per day, and a suitable time for launching the independent barge) related with the hydrodynamic behaviour in the river. Klong Pakasai located in Krabi province, Thailand was selected as a study area. To undertake this research, HEC-RAS model was first applied for hydrodynamic estimation in 5 scenarios covering possibly tidal ranges at the downstream of Klong Pakasai. Thereafter, the algorithm for developing a tool on assessing the shipping was created. All results gained from the HEC-RAS and the barge conditions of the shipment (speed, draft and capacity of barge) were together used for verifying the algorithm. Results explicitly appear that the proposed technique can produce the time travelling of individual barge as spatial and temporal variation. The mentioned results also reasonably correspond to the hydrodynamic and topographical data of the study area. This could be concluded that the developed tool can efficiently be applied for further improving the accuracy on shipping planning and management for the other target area.