Committee on Monitoring of Dams and Their Foundations

Purpose: To provide technical support to USSD, focusing on the role of monitoring the stability and operational performance of water resource structures. The Committee believes that a great deal of education is needed to describe the significant role of monitoring in the context of dam safety programs and to establish it's value for detecting, evaluating and responding to dam safety concerns. The Committee accomplishes this by accumulating, compiling, and publishing information for the dam safety community, dam owners, and the public to enhance their knowledge and to promote the safety of dams. These efforts include the basic concepts as well as the current state of practice, and recent advancements in monitoring techniques, equipment, data analysis, and performance evaluation.

Committee Membership: Current membership includes 15 individuals from 12 different professional organizations, both public and private. Annual meetings are open to guests that are interested in our work, or have suggestions for additional work. There has been 3-5 guests at each meeting on average.

Activities: Following are examples of the contributions the Committee has made in recent years:

1. The Committee responds to requests from other USSD technical committees as well as from ICOLD. Two such contributions were made in the recent past include the review of the draft ICOLD Report on Cost of Risk Reduction by Non-Structural Measures and the provision of two case histories of automated dams for publication in the ICOLD Guidelines for Dam Automation.
2. The Committee is currently developing a white paper (6-8 pages) to describe the fundamental philosophy of monitoring. It will be in laymen's terms and only address the cursory aspects of monitoring such as: what is it, when is it used, what results are expected, the necessity of analyzing the data that systems produce, etc.
3. The Committee recently published General Guidelines for Automated Performance Monitoring of Dams which includes descriptions of proven ADAS configurations, a generic approach to implementing automated systems, and case histories. This revision of the Guidelines is based on experience with several systems having operational histories that exceed 10 years. The Guidelines address all of the general aspects of automated monitoring of dams, including planning, procurement, installation, operation, and maintenance. The document also addresses related aspects of automated performance monitoring such as data processing, analysis and data management. A glossary and bibliography is also included data acquisition systems for field application. The objectives of the Guidelines are to:
• Provide a framework for making the decision to automate
• Identify problem areas and shortcomings to be avoided
• Provide models for discussing distinct approaches for implementation
• Identify issues to be considered in implementation
• Provide concepts for appropriate maintenance and calibration
• Identify practical methods for dealing with data management
• Clarify concepts and terms to facilitate interdisciplinary communication
4. The Committee developed an interactive relational database of automated experience entitled, USSD Database of Automated Data Acquisition Systems. The database contains a large variety of information that is characteristic of automated systems that would be of great value to those designing and installing similar systems. The database is destined to be posted on the USSD web site. Information in the database includes: sensor types, applications, hardware components, software, points of contact and operational and maintenance information. That information was submitted by many dam owners and operators in the U. S. and Canada that responded to a survey that was initiated for this purpose by The Committee. When posted, there will be an online copy of the survey along with an e-mail contact to facilitate the incorporation of new and revised information.
5. The Committee co-sponsored the Eighteenth Annual Lecture Series, Managing the Risks of Dam Project Development, Safety and Operation, Buffalo New York, August 10-14 1998. The co-sponsorship included review of abstracts and serving as session moderators.

Appeal for Involvement: The Committee invites the interest and talent of others. For the most part, our membership is closely involved with monitoring dams as a full time professional occupation. It is possible that some of the needs and concerns of the industry or the public escape our attention. Therefore, the Committee is receptive to input from others.

The USSD Database of Automated Data Acquisition Systems needs to be programmed (web-enabled) for use on the internet and posted and supported on a website. A few parties have offered to post and support. There remains a need for someone to do the necessary programming. The Monitoring Committee and USSD is searching for a qualified candidate to volunteer to accomplish this task.

Consider becoming a member of the Committee and of USSD. Membership on the Committee has varied by +/- 5 members for the past several years. There are no specific qualifications that would restrict professional well-intentioned individuals from participating in our work.

Terms of Reference

The USSD is dedicated to advancing the technology of dam engineering, construction, operation, maintenance and dam safety; to fostering socially and environmentally responsible water resources projects; and to promoting awareness of the role of dams in the beneficial and sustainable development of the nation's water resources. The purpose of the Committee on Monitoring Dams and Their Foundations is to provide technical support to the USSD, focusing on the role of monitoring the stability and operational performance of water resource structures.

The Committee believes that a great deal of education is needed to describe the significant role of monitoring in the context of dam safety programs and to establish it's value for detecting, evaluating and responding to dam safety concerns. The Committee accomplishes this by accumulating, compiling, and publishing information for the dam safety community, dam owners, and the public to enhance their knowledge and to promote the safety of dams. These efforts include basic concepts as well as the current state of practice, recent advancements in monitoring techniques, equipment, data analysis, and performance evaluation.

Examples of products produced by the committee include:

• Bulletins. Concise descriptions of specific aspects of monitoring, such as: monitoring techniques, monitoring equipment, performance evaluation, data communication, integration with other systems, etc.
• White Papers. Brief discussions of emerging issues and/or evolving technologies.
• USSD Publications. In-depth treatment and detailed discussions of actual experience that is of value to others. A reference document.

The committee is vigilant for appropriate topics to meet the needs of the public and the industry and fosters a healthy and talented membership to bring their expertise to bear.

The committee encourages close and frequent coordination with other USSD technical committees and the Board of Directors, as necessary and appropriate.

The committee stands ready to continue its support of ICOLD.

These Terms of Reference are considered to be a continuous, ongoing and permanent aspect of the overall purpose of USSD, recognizing that monitoring will always be a critical and variable aspect of assuring the stability and the safe performance of dams.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Committee Chairperson:

James Hummert

URS Corporation

1001 Highland Plaza Drive West, #300

St. Louis, MO 63110

Telephone: 314-743-4142

Fax: 314-429-0462

e-mail: jim_hummert@urscorp.com