Protecting Dams And Reservoirs With Geospatial AI Technology

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Safety is always a major concern by families and local governments where dams and reservoirs are located. One of the worst consequences of overtopping and flooding of dams is losing many people's lives and their properties. Of course, dam breaks also result in billions of losses in infrastructure and livelihood damages. Fortunately, advanced technology paved the way with the development of geospatial artificial intelligence to promote safety in these areas.

Geospatial artificial intelligence refers to the combination of geospatial studies and artificial intelligence, powered by big data, high-performance computing platforms, and computer hardware. This technology mimics the discovery, perception, and spatial reasoning of human beings in resolving environmental problems, including protecting dams and reservoirs.

In this article, you'll learn how geospatial AI technology can help in protecting dams and reservoirs.

Satellite-Based Intelligent Dam Monitoring System

One of the techniques used in geospatial AI technology is a satellite-based intelligent dam monitoring system. This technology can monitor the future movements of dams and reservoirs to detect problems using visual satellite imagery. With artificial intelligence, people don't need to go near a dam to check its vulnerabilities.

Some satellite-based intelligent dam monitoring systems can help identify the dams' unique basal rhythms using advanced analytics in gathering and analyzing historic satellite data, which is one of Rezatec's geospatial artificial intelligence techniques.

Here's how this monitoring system could help protect dams and reservoirs:

  • Remote Monitoring: Dam operators can determine failure indicators such as vegetation moisture changes, which could indicate possible seepage, remotely using this technology at scale.
  • Provide Detailed Risk Profile: A satellite-based intelligent dam monitoring system provide valuable insights with a detailed risk profile, improving reservoir safety. Learn more about dam and reservoir risk assessment below.
  • Accurate Data: Because geospatial AI uses a satellite, dam operators have peace of mind that they obtain accurate data every time. This technology also promotes appropriate planning, prioritization, and optimization of critical infrastructure investments to upgrade dam safety.

 

Implementing Dam Safety Management Best Practices

In the past, operators relied on photos, visual inspections, and engineers' interpretations to analyze the safety levels of dams and reservoirs. Today, dam owners and operators should be abreast with the latest technology along with the important dam safety management tips and strategies they need to consider and follow.

Modern dam monitoring tools can help dam operators manage the integrity of the dams remotely using geospatial data. Dam operators don't need to rely much on visual inspection because geospatial AI can track every criterion, from moisture levels to ground movements.

Using geospatial AI, dam owners and operators can detect dam breach and non-breach events. Dam breach events include malfunctioning or failure of the dam itself such as changes in the watershed. Non-breach dam events, on the other hand, don't pose direct harm to the dam itself but may cause disaster to the surrounding area, affecting many people's lives.

 

Dam Breach Risk Assessment And Profiling

A dam break can endanger thousands of lives and domestic animals. With advanced monitoring systems, dam operators can now prevent and predict dam breaks.

Geospatial AI started as basic geographic information systems (GIS) and innovation maps in which they were used in creating simulating dam-break problems. These inevitable tools are paramount in dam risk profiling and decision-making process.

Geospatial AI can simulate digital elevation models and propagation of a flood wave. In addition, this technology visualizes dam break effects by assessing the following dam risk assessment parameters:

  • Characteristics: Drainage area, annual mean precipitation, annual mean flow, and predicted flow.
  • Reservoir: Maximum water level, maximum operation level, maximum capacity, maximum reservoir area, minimum operation level, minimum operation area, active volume, dead volume, flood peak, and downstream river capacity.
  • Body: Type, volume, crest level, crest weight, and crest length.

 

Predict Non-Breach Dam Events

Non-breach dam events don't lead to a dam breach directly. However, they require investigation and notification of external and internal personnel because non-breach dam events can lead to flooding if not abated early.

With geospatial AI technology, the following non-breach dam events can be detected and addressed easily:

  • Upstream Flooding: This non-breach dam event can result from gate malfunction, improper operation, and flooding events exceeding the dam design. These conditions lead to a high reservoir elevation, resulting in upstream flooding. Geospatial AI can help identify areas that need easement and enforce proper land use planning.
  • Large Reservoir Releases: Dam operators may need to release reservoir storage during extreme weather events to prevent catastrophic dam failure. However, these releases can lead to downstream flooding conditions. With sensing imagery, dam owners can better communicate large releases with local emergency managers. Using geospatial release inundation maps, state and local government agencies can develop and integrate this information into their evacuation maps, zoning plans, and land development plans.
  • Partial Or Controlled Breaches: Sometimes, dam operators need to release a certain amount of water on a regular basis to prevent dam failure and for maintenance purposes. Dam owners and operators can better explain to locals and authorities the need to controlled breaches with the help of sensing imagery and other geospatial AI techniques. Having access to valuable information and maps makes communities more resilient and compliant when constructing infrastructures near dams and reservoirs.

Prioritize Dam Maintenance And Repairs For Safety

Because of the use of dam sensors, geospatial AI, and other advanced technologies, experts can identify risky dams. Dam operators can set schedule to prioritize areas that need repair and maintenance.

In addition, creating dam planning safety protocols is now easier with this technology. Dam owners can use this tool to map electricity generation, wastewater treatment infrastructure, population, and transportation to enhance dam safety.

Conclusion

Geospatial AI technology is an innovative and useful tool in monitoring potentially anomalous and routine dam movement. This technology helps predict a dam safety incident to notify authorities and residents close to the area for immediate evacuation in the event of dam breach or non-breach dam events.

Dam owners and operators are more empowered using geospatial AI technology. They don't need to send actual people to inspect the dam because its entire view and movements can be accessed remotely. Hence, they can create the best plans and strategies to enforce safety in dams and reservoirs.