Evaluating and analyzing navigation efficiency for the River Nile (Case study: Ensa-Naga Hamady reach)

Abstract

Computer-based systems that aid users in judgment and evaluation the navigation efficiency were developed. The effect of the dredging processes for many activities on the river stability at the second reach, which extends from Esna to Naga Hamady barrage in the river Nile, was analyzed. Rating curves downstream Esna Barrage using statistical model Minitab 16 for before and after dredging the navigational path were estimated. The significant changes in water levels just after dredging was occurred and with time the motion of bed particles towards the pools that were created from dredging which mentioned the river became more dynamics. The morphological changes at the location of navigation bottlenecks from 1982 to 2015 were studied to conclude the factors might affect frequent sedimentation. The integrated management of the dredging process was concluded to avoid and mitigate the direct river disturbance consequently keep navigational path efficiency and the results were presented using GIS. Keywords: Navigation, Management, Dredging, Bottlenecks, River Nile, GIS