Condition monitoring |
Next -generation dam monitoring insights
Steven Thurgood and Lidija Špiranec from Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, explore how the right monitoring solution enables dam operators to ensure safety, meet regulatory requirements, and use data to validate and improve engineering designs
Below: Tignes Dam in France Photo courtesy of EDF Hydro DTG
DAM MONITORING PROVIDES EARLY warnings of structural issues, helping operators and owners manage risks and meet regulatory standards. While monitoring technology has advanced considerably, truly effective outcomes depend on how well dam monitoring systems are designed, installed, configured, operated, and maintained. As providers of high-precision monitoring systems for dams, Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has supported dam owners and operators worldwide, providing the technology they need to ensure structural health and safety, from robotic total stations and GNSS sensors to the software that automates measurements and brings the data together.
Here, we highlight three frequent pitfalls in dam monitoring and how to overcome them.
Understanding and configuring the data The most common problem we see in dam monitoring
systems is incorrect use of technology. For example, we recently saw a case where a total station installed to measure the movement of a dam was also moving with the structure, without any stable external reference points. This meant the operators couldn’t distinguish between the movement of the instrument and the movement of the dam by looking at the data, making it less relevant for deformation analysis. Yet, even with a perfectly installed system, the biggest risk is that the data is not actively reviewed by experienced personnel. A monitoring system will be ineffective if data is either not reviewed or poorly analysed. Tailoring the solution to both the site conditions and primary stakeholders is one solution. By using one integrated system, for example an automated system of geotechnical sensors and GNSS, operators can receive a real-time structural health check on critical assets. A central software platform integrates, analyses, and visualises the data from these varied sources into a single, understandable interface. Smart integrated systems can send alerts when movements exceed certain thresholds, keeping stakeholders up to date with the information they need to act swiftly. As required, expert land surveyors can then provide periodic surveys using a total station to gather more detailed spatial data across the wider structure. This hybrid approach allows for a comprehensive, cost-effective, and risk-appropriate monitoring plan.
Outdated technology Another common issue is outdated technology. Many
dams still rely on systems installed decades ago, which are often only replaced after disasters or when enforced by new legislation. For example, one dam we visited recently had
been relying on monitoring equipment installed in the 1970s. Parts kept failing as time went on, and for the last 15 years, the installed system has become ineffectual. The introduction of new legislation – due to increased risk of natural disasters and heavy rainfall in the region – meant the dam operators were obliged to update their monitoring solution as a matter of public safety.
24 | November 2025 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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