New dam under construction Uzbekistan
The Lower Chatkal Hydroelectric Plant, currently under construction in Uzbekistan, is based on an RCC (Roller Compacted Concrete) dam. Given the scale and strategic importance of the project, the design team required a comprehensive and reliable monitoring system to ensure structural safety and operational efficiency throughout construction and during long-term operation.
Sisgeo was selected to provide technical support to the designers, define the monitoring strategy, and supply the complete set of instruments. This support involved multiple site visits in Uzbekistan and close collaboration with local engineers.
To strengthen knowledge transfer, Sisgeo also hosted a delegation of government officials and technical staff at its headquarters near Milan, Italy. The program included both classroom training sessions on Sisgeo instruments and a technical site visit to the Ravedis RCC dam in Northern Italy, a structure with similar characteristics to the Chatkal dam.
The monitoring system for the Lower Chatkal RCC dam was designed with a comprehensive mix of automatic and manual instrumentation to cover structural, geotechnical, and hydraulic parameters.
Sisgeo supplied and supervised the installation of the following equipment:
- Telecoordinometers (automatic and manual)
- Tiltmeters and 3D crackmeters (manual)
- Digital 360 tiltmeters
- 3D VW crackmeters
- Thermometers
- Multipoint borehole extensometers
- Pressure transducers
- Water Level Radars
- VW pressure gauges
- V-notch weirs
- Dataloggers and multiplexers for automated data acquisition
The supply also included instrumentation from Huggenberger, a Sisgeo Group company specialized in monitoring concrete dams.
During the visit to the Ravedis RCC dam, the Uzbek engineers and technicians had the opportunity to observe Sisgeo instruments installed and operating in the field, gaining practical insight into best practices for correct installation and long-term operation.
Thanks to this integrated approach combining: design support, high-quality instrumentation, training, and field experience, the project stakeholders are now fully prepared for the installation and operation of the monitoring system at the Lower Chatkal dam.
Thanks to this integrated approach combining: design support, high-quality instrumentation, training, and field experience, the project stakeholders are now fully prepared for the installation and operation of the monitoring system at the Lower Chatkal dam.
Sisgeo’s solution has ensured:
- Enhanced technical capacity of local engineers through hands-on training.
- Optimized monitoring strategy, tailored to RCC dam behavior.
- Reliable long-term safety assurance through robust and proven instrumentation.
The collaboration between Sisgeo, Huggenberger, and the Uzbek authorities has created a strong foundation for successful monitoring of the Lower Chatkal Hydroelectric Plant, contributing to the dam’s safe construction and operation.
