Embankment dams

An embankment dam, also known as a fill dam, is a type of dam that is constructed by building a long, narrow embankment made of compacted earth or other materials across a river or other watercourse. The embankment is designed to hold back water and create a reservoir behind the dam.
Embankment dams are commonly used for water supply, irrigation, hydroelectric power generation and flood control. However, they require careful design, construction, and maintenance to ensure their safety and prevent failures that could result in catastrophic flooding and loss of life and property downstream.

The following are some of the key topics that are typically monitored in embankment dams:

• Structural stability: this includes monitoring the deformation, settlement, and stability of the embankment dam, as well as any changes in the slope stability of the downstream slope.
• Seepage and leakage: monitoring the seepage and leakage through the dam and its foundation is important to detect any potential problems with the dam’s integrity and to ensure that the dam is not losing water that could affect its performance or stability.
• Pore water pressure: monitoring the pore water pressure in the dam and its foundation is important to detect any changes that could indicate potential problems with the dam’s stability or the possibility of a dam failure.
• Reservoir levels: monitoring the water levels in the reservoir is important for flood control, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation.