Large dams | Gathering in Gothenburg


Gothenburg in Sweden is set to play host to ICOLD’s 91st annual meeting from 11-15 June. Here we take a look at what delegates attending the meeting can expect, and include the last news from exhibitors who are set to welcome you at the event


Below: The ICOLD 2023 event will be held at The Swedish Exhibition Centre, Gothenburg Credit: Tommy Alven / Shutterstock.com


MANAGEMENT FOR SAFE DAMS is the theme of the symposium at this year’s annual meeting of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). The aim of the symposium is to disseminate knowledge that will help preserve or enhance the safety of dams and their related advantages. Both authorities and investors are increasingly interested in supporting the development and supplementing the efforts of ICOLD. Examples of such initiatives include the implementation of Global Standards on Tailings Management and updates to national laws and regulations. The conference will feature papers and presentations on six themes (T1-T6) that cover dams with diverse purposes, including hydroelectricity, flood control, irrigation, levees, and other uses, as well as mine tailings. The first theme of the symposium, T1, focuses on Safety Management of Dams and Levees. This topic covers a wide range of aspects that aim to establish a systematic and consistent approach to transforming an operating organization’s values, principles, policies, and procedures into the outputs of industrial or commercial activities. To ensure that the dam safety management system is meeting its defined objectives, monitoring and evaluation are necessary. Any findings from the monitoring, evaluation, audits, and reviews should be used to continuously improve and update the dam safety management system. The second theme is Monitoring and Evaluation of Dam Conditions. The effectiveness and reliability of a dam safety management system depend on the availability of high-quality data on the current condition of the dams. Therefore, it is crucial to use appropriate methods, systems, technologies, and organizational structures to ensure accurate and reliable verification of the safety level of the dams and their reservoirs. One of the challenges of data evaluation is determining relevant alarm and alert levels that trigger appropriate actions to prevent potentially dangerous situations. For existing dams, the focus should be on monitoring and assessing the current and future status or remaining service life of the structures. The third theme of the symposium, Analysis, Modelling, and Decision Making, emphasizes the importance of having a model to interpret the effect of the studied part of the facility. The analysis can range from simple behavior models to complex numerical simulations. The aim of the analysis is to investigate if the dams and spillways meet the requirements based on the collected data. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the different methodologies and validate the models to ensure reliable results that form the basis for decision-making. Defining acceptance criteria is also significant in this process. Theme four is Rehabilitation and Dam Safety


Measures. When the deviation from the set requirements of a dam is unacceptable now or in the


28 | May 2023 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


future, measures are taken to reduce the load, slow down the degrading development, or increase/restore its performance or capacity. Sometimes, planned inspections and monitoring are preferred over physical measures. Case studies can provide lessons learned from projects and incidents. Climate & Environmental Adaptation is theme 5. The changing climate and increased societal expectations demand actions from dam owners to adapt to warmer climate conditions and increased climate variability, which may cause droughts and floods. Hydro power, with its flexibility and cost-effective regulating capability, plays a crucial role in ensuring balance in the power system. However, balancing the power system and fulfilling dam safety requirements while also addressing ecological rehabilitation is a significant challenge that must be handled. The final theme is Innovation. To achieve a fossil-


free society and electrification, hydropower must be updated and sustainable to regulate the increasing number of intermittent energy sources and mining activities. The dam community’s position can be strengthened through interdisciplinary research and innovative solutions developed in collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector. This theme focuses on innovative solutions related to the previous themes (T1-T5) with a particular focus on new technologies and methods. There are a number of short courses on offer on the themes of: Concrete Dam Modelling; Static liquefaction of Tailings; Risk assessment – Current state of practice for tailing dams; Fundamental Tailings Dam Safety & ICOLD Bulletin 194. There are also seven workshops organised by the Swedish Committee (SWEDCOLD). Workshop 1 - Defect Detection in Embankment Dams - will cover pre-modelling measurements and technology, data presentation, and evaluation/post- modelling. The workshop will be presented by Prof. Peter Viklander of Vattenfall and Dr. Sam Johansson of HydroResearch. The experimental embankment dam built by Vattenfall has six built-in defects that can lead to a dam break, and suitable geophysical methods can realistically detect these damages. Workshop 2 - Rock Engineering Issues - will cover issues related to rock and rock foundations, such as the long-term function of grout curtains, control of up-lift pressure under dams, reinforcement bars and cables, and erosion in rock spillways. Dr. Fredrik Johansson of the Royal Institute of Technology will present this workshop. Workshop 3 - Best Practices for Tailings Dam Breach Analysis - is a joint workshop between CDA and Svemin that will be based on new bulletins from both CDA and Svemin and will be presented by Mamun AlMamun of Tetra Tech, Pierre-Louis Ligier of Sweco, Anna Risberg of Sweco, and Sara Töyrä of LKAB.


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