Condition monitoring |
Automation in dam condition monitoring
Bentley Systems has released the findings of its recently commissioned comprehensive global survey on dam condition monitoring practices and trends. The survey, compiling responses from 400 industry experts across the world, found that automation in dam monitoring is growing rapidly, enabling dam owners to increase efficiency, reduce cost, experience less operational challenges, and boost overall resilience
CONDITION MONITORING FOR DAMS, which play a vital role in water management, flood control, and power generation, is undergoing a transformative shift. The 2024 report Condition Monitoring in Dams reveals that automation is now at the forefront of this industry, driven by the need for improved efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance. For professionals involved in the dam and hydropower sectors, understanding these changes is essential to adapting and staying competitive. The report, commissioned by Bentley Systems,
surveys industry experts from across the globe and delves into the rapid automation of monitoring practices. The findings paint a picture of an industry embracing digital transformation to safeguard critical infrastructure and optimize operational performance.
The rise of automated monitoring Dam safety is a growing concern worldwide,
particularly in regions where aging infrastructure poses significant risks. In the US alone, there are over 91,000 dams, with 15,600 classified as high-hazard. A failure in any of these could have catastrophic effects, including loss of life and severe environmental and economic damage. To mitigate these risks, condition monitoring has become increasingly automated, offering more precise data collection and analysis, helping dam operators identify issues before they become critical. Automation has rapidly taken hold in the industry.
Currently, about 76% of condition monitoring activities for dam owners are automated, with service providers pushing this figure to 82%. Over the next two years, these numbers are expected to rise further, with dam owners forecasted to reach 82% automation and service providers 87%. This trend signals a strong commitment across the industry to digitize monitoring processes, significantly improving data quality and operational response times. The shift toward automation is not simply about
replacing manual tasks but about enhancing productivity and performance through technology. Automated monitoring systems offer real-time data collection, which allows for faster and more informed decision-making. This capability is essential for ensuring the structural health of dams, especially when even small, unnoticed issues can lead to significant consequences.
18 | November 2024 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
Key benefits of automation The advantages of automating dam condition
monitoring are wide-ranging and go beyond operational efficiency. One of the most notable benefits is the accuracy and reliability of data. Fully automated organizations experience far fewer challenges compared to those relying on manual processes. On average, automated systems report only 1.6 challenges, while manual systems encounter nearly twice that number, at 2.9. Common issues like data ingestion problems, compatibility hurdles, and the difficulty of maintaining visualizations are significantly reduced when automation is in place. The real-time data provided by automated
systems also enhances decision-making capabilities. Organizations can gather continuous streams of information that allow them to identify and respond to potential issues faster than ever before. This data-driven approach not only helps in predictive maintenance – addressing problems before they escalate – but also enables dam operators to increase the number of parameters they measure. Over the last two years, nearly three-quarters of organizations have expanded the scope of their monitoring, adding variables like water turbidity and pore pressure to their assessments. Cost savings are another major incentive for
automation. Automated systems allow for more projects to be completed within the same timeframe, with fewer human resources required. Service providers, in particular, have seen substantial productivity gains, with more than three-quarters reporting the ability to execute more projects annually due to automation. This efficiency extends to labor as well, with nearly 60% of service providers noting that they can operate with leaner teams thanks to the automated systems now in place. Another key benefit of automation is its role in
regulatory compliance and public transparency. As environmental and safety regulations become stricter, automated systems provide the high-quality, reliable data needed to meet these demands. The report highlights that organizations using automation are three times more likely to share their monitoring data with the public, helping build trust and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks. This transparency is particularly important for dam operators, who are under increasing pressure to demonstrate that their infrastructure is safe and well- maintained.
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