Dams and Levees
Dams perform vital functions for flood control, hydroelectric power generation, water storage for agricultural, industrial and domestic consumption and lake recreation. They also serve to retain by products from mining, industrial and sewage treatment plants. However, many dams built decades ago are now aging and are in need of costly repairs to meet modern dam safety standards. In light of a changing climate, increasingly frequent and severe storm events result in larger volume of water that can generate more force on the retaining structures of the dam together with higher sediment loading and debris such as trees and rocks obstructing inlet structures. KONGSBERG’s sensors assist dam operators and civil engineers with infrastructure inspection, siltation or scour monitoring, as well as environmental monitoring of fish passage and habitat.
Infrastructure inspection
There are approximately 91,000 dams in the US. In addition, “As of 2019, there are approximately 15,600 dams in the United States that are classified as high-hazard structures” (Dam Infrastructure | ASCE's 2021 Infrastructure Report Card).
Dams perform vital functions for water flow control, hydroelectric power generation, and water storage for agricultural, industrial, and domestic consumption. They are also used to retain mining tailings, food processing wastewater, and sewage during treatment. Structural integrity of dams is critical to ensure they do not fail. Operators must ensure inlets are clear of trash that could harm the dam flow control mechanisms or power generation equipment. Kongsberg sensors can be deployed on ROVs, surface vessels, or remotely using mechanical deployment systems for persistent or periodic acoustic inspection and to monitor sediment and debris levels. This data provides dam operators and civil engineers with critical information they can use for condition assessment and maintenance planning.
Reservoir mapping and siltation monitoring
Many reservoirs act as traps for debris that is carried to the dam by feeder creeks and streams in the watershed. This debris can become waterlogged and sink to the bottom of the reservoir. Siltation is also a significant issue for reservoirs. Siltation of the entire reservoir can render a dam useless because it can’t store any water at all. But siltation at the inlet or blocking bypass outlets can cause significant problems for the safe and efficient operation of the dam. Kongsberg has sensors for periodic mapping of the reservoir, and for permanent continuous monitoring of critical inlets. This provides the dam operator with situational awareness that allows for immediate intervention to prevent a problem before it impacts the operation.
Species monitoring
Kongsberg has sensors for measuring biomass in ocean and lake water columns. Navigable river systems do have an environmental impact - they sometimes create an artificial barrier to aquatic species like fish and eels. Kongsberg has environmental sensors that provide scientific data about the water column and the species in it - important data required for today's increasingly stringent enviromental permits.