Novel Method of Construction-Efficiency Evaluation of Cutter Suction Dredger Based on Real-Time Monitoring Data

A work condition monitoring system is widely used for recording the real-time states of cutter suction dredgers during the dredging process. However, the obtained data cannot provide enough actionable information directly for construction efficiency. This paper presents a novel method to evaluate the construction efficiency of cutter suction dredgers from the perspective of construction cycles. The construction cycle related to dredging operations was first introduced. A new algorithm of selecting cycle characteristic parameters (ASCCP) was proposed to determine the cycle characteristic parameters. Combined with three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the dredging track of the dredger, the method of construction cycle recognition was established. Then, the efficiency-evaluation methods based on construction cycles and the time-utilization ratio were adopted to evaluate the construction efficiency. Finally, a case study showed that the proposed approach was feasible to evaluate the construction efficiency of the cutter suction dredger. Moreover, the methods of the present work can be implemented in any cutter suction dredger and aid construction project managers in managing equipment-related work tasks on construction sites.