Bathymetric Mapping and Evaluation of Sediment Thickness in Woji Creek, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Navigational channels have become a useful transportation corridor that has boosted the commerce, tourism, and security needs of people, communities, states, the country, and other nations. Hence, these channels should be safe and navigable at all times. Through bathymetric processes, information about the thickness of underwater sediments can be evaluated. This study is to map the sediment thickness of Woji Creek using the difference from a dual-frequency method. Data was acquired using ELAC (4300) dual frequency echo sounder for depth measurements, Trimble DGPS was used as the positioning system for the project execution, Eiva Navipac (Navigation Software) and total tide prediction data for processing. The echo sounder was interfaced with the GPS for position fixing. The highest and lowest depths around the surveyed section were 8.34m and 2.31m, respectively, while the total length and width of the channel were 1km and 223m, respectively. The sediment thickness computation along the surveyed section of Woji Creek varied between 0.91m to 4.33m. The average sediment thickness of the analysed area was 2.64m. Sea-going vessels may risk grounding in the future if the channel is not monitored. Hence, to improve the efficiency of the creek, dredging activities would need to be carried out.