Safer ports
Smarter operations
Smarter operations
Ports are under pressure to maintain channel availability while managing rising complexity. More data, tighter budgets, evolving environmental expectations, and increasing operational risk create unique challenges. BMT helps ports move from reactive maintenance cycles to forecast-informed, performance-driven dredge planning that supports safer navigation and smarter operations.
For dredging & engineering professionals:
Discover how our predictive models, survey‑comparison automation and adaptive dredging methods reduce maintenance costs and environmental impacts.
For port operations & infrastructure leaders:
Learn how our digital frameworks deliver measurable ROI through improved channel availability, reduced downtime and enhanced risk‑resilience.
The Port of the Future Conference 2026 is a premier international event addressing the evolving landscape of maritime operations, port infrastructure, and logistics innovation. Scheduled for March 24-25, 2026, at the Hilton University of Houston, Texas, the conference will bring together leaders from over 60 ports across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
Session details
Title: Channel Explorer: Building a Digital Framework for Adaptive Dredging
Speaker: Soma Maroju, Head of Data Services, BMT Americas
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 • 1:30 PM (local)
Track: Advances in Dredging Technology and Methods
Where: The Palacios del Rio (Track 9 room)
Modern ports depend on continuous dredging and sediment management to maintain safe navigation and operational efficiency, but the data required to do this well is often fragmented across surveys, sensors, and models. In this session, Soma Maroju, BMT's Capability Manager for Software and Digital Services, introduces Channel Explorer, a framework within BMT Deep that integrates hydrographic, environmental, and marine traffic data into one digital environment to support sedimentation assessment, survey comparisons, and predictive analysis for adaptive port operations.
Connect with our experts at Booth 4 in the Waldorf Astoria Ballroom.
Capability Manager, Software and Digital Services
Capability Manager, Software and Digital Services
Soma Maroju is an experienced data analyst with a strong focus on leading teams of analysts at BMT in the Americas. His extensive experience covers consulting on large digital transformations, big data, and data science. He has led multiple analysis projects, including the development of Digital Twins for vessel response and structural monitoring, and various analysis services based on model tests and field measurements. He has been involved in creating a data exploration and analytics platform for marine measurement and modelling data.
At BMT, Soma oversees the business unit for data services. He also created BMT Deep, an ecosystem for offering Big Data and Cloud-based solutions that offer insights from enormous amounts of measured and modeling data. He has architected many data solutions and assisted in creating data product roadmaps for difficult business problems. He holds a master's degree in computer science and a PhD in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. He has extensive experience in asset monitoring and hydrodynamic assessment of offshore structures.
Senior Business Development Manager, US
Senior Business Development Manager, US
Phillip White joined BMT as Business Development Manager and brings with him a wealth of experience in business development, software and technical sales, and environmental consulting across multiple industries.
His most recent position was as Business Development and Account Management for the world’s leading GIS software company and prior to that he was an executive for an Enhanced Reality software company creating Digital Twins and training simulators for refineries and chemical plants.
