Dam safety |
Advanced dam monitoring
Encardio Rite’s Infinitus approach integrates cutting-edge technologies and comprehensive monitoring solutions to help enhance dam safety and prevent failures globally
Encardio’s Infinitus approach to Above: InSAR data on Proqio
DAMS ARE CRUCIAL IN water management, irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and flood control. However, their failure can have devastating consequences, including loss of life, economic damage, and environmental harm.
Recent statistics show that over 200 dams have failed since 2000, underscoring the urgent need for effective monitoring systems. In the United States, more than 15,600 dams are classified as high hazard, meaning their failure could lead to significant property damage and loss of life. Moreover, nearly 17% of the world’s large dams are over 50 years old, which increases the risk of structural issues and failures. Continuous monitoring is essential to detect potential problems early and ensure timely interventions. Encardio Rite is committed to enhancing dams’ safety and structural integrity worldwide. Their mission is to utilize advanced monitoring technologies to protect these critical infrastructures. They have contributed to the safety monitoring of over 300 dams globally, including 70 under India’s Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).
Below: Dam site on Proqio
dam safety monitoring Jordan Keeney, PE highlighted in the Groundbreakers podcast: “The integration of ground-based sensors with aerial and satellite remote sensing creates a multi-layered defense against potential dam failures.” Encardio Rite’s Infinitus approach to dam safety is designed to provide total assurance of asset safety with a single-point solution converging data acquisition technologies, services, support, and software. This five-step process involves collecting critical Earth-to-Sky data, integrating it on the Proqio platform, providing robust analysis and visualization tools like a digital twin of the assets, facilitating risk assessment and alarm management through scheduled automated reports, and maintaining continuous monitoring throughout the asset’s lifecycle from pre-construction to design life and beyond. Encardio Rite employs a comprehensive range of data collection methods, from ground to aerial, ensuring thorough and accurate dam health monitoring. Their system integrates ground-based sensors, remote sensing, surveying, and drone technologies, providing a complete view of dam conditions. Ground-based sensors include piezometers, which
monitor pore water pressure within the dam body and foundation, essential for assessing structural stability. Uplift pressure meters measure the upward force of water under the dam, indicating potential structural threats. Seepage measurement systems track water movement through the dam, detecting leaks. Ultrasonic reservoir level sensors precisely gauge water levels, while crack/joint meters and biaxial tilt meters detect and measure structural movements. In-place inclinometers monitor lateral movements within the dam, providing data on tilting or shifts. Plumb lines measure vertical alignment, ensuring structural integrity. Fiber optics sensors offer real-time strain and temperature data, which is critical for detecting changes in dam material. Automatic total stations with control computers and prism targets track structural deformations with high precision. GNSS antennas and receivers provide accurate positioning data, and strong motion accelerometers, along with broadband seismometers, measure seismic responses. Video surveillance cameras offer continuous visual monitoring of the dam and its surroundings. Advanced technologies such as automatic wired and wireless sensor monitoring systems enhance the efficiency of dam monitoring. Wired sensors, connected to dataloggers with
18 | August 2024 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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