The Mississippi River, a critical artery for U.S. commerce, faces extreme challenges due to climate variability, including floods and droughts that disrupt transportation and cause significant economic losses. To address these challenges, the NavPortal Digital Twin was developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. NavPortal integrates data from multiple GIS-powered legacy systems, ship tracking solutions, and environmental monitoring tools to provide real-time operational awareness of the river’s 4,200 miles of channels.

This system offers a holistic view of river conditions, sediment build-up, vessel traffic, and historical patterns, enabling engineers to pre-emptively address choke points. NavPortal helps manage resources more effectively, coordinating dredging operations to ensure critical nine-foot-deep channels remain navigable. By integrating AI and cloud computing, it facilitates predictive analysis and scenario planning, empowering decision-makers to mitigate bottlenecks before they escalate.