scope:

PREFACE

This Manual of Practice for Monitoring Dam Performance: Instrumentation and Measurements is an addition to the series of publications by members of the Hydropower Committee of the Energy Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

The Hydropower Committee of ASCE's Energy Division was formed to develop and distribute information on all aspects of hydroelectric power to the hydroelectric community. The Hydropower Committee prepares and publishes Manuals of Practice, Guidelines, and Technical Reports about engineering and scientific issues related to hydroelectric facilities. The Hydropower Committee seeks to serve an audience beyond civil engineers to include scientists, economists, and technologists with expertise in related areas. This focus is driven by the hydropower industry's desire to integrate science, environment, economics, operation, and maintenance into the scope of its activities.

In 1997, task committee volunteers studied and reported means and methods of monitoring dam performance with instruments and measurements. The outcome of that committee's work was Guidelines for Instrumentation and Measurements for Monitoring Dam Performance published in 2000. Since that publication, there have been many innovations in both means and methods of monitoring dam performance. This manual presents the current state of practice with the intent of providing a convenient reference for owners, engineers, regulators, and others with an interest in dam safety.

There are no simple rules or standards for determining the proper level of instrumentation and measurements to monitor dam performance. Each dam is unique. The consequences of failure, complexity of dam and foundation, known problems and concerns, and degree of design conservatism all require consideration in deciding both what to measure and how to measure. With that understanding, the purposes of this manual are to consider the following:

• Recognizing vulnerabilities affecting dam performance,

• Identifying performance indicators,

• Understanding means and methods of measuring performance indicators,

• Planning and implementing a monitoring program,

• Acquiring data,

• Managing, presenting, and evaluating data, and

• Making decisions and taking action.

Additional advances in monitoring technology will bring new and better means and methods for monitoring, but the principles outlined in this manual will have enduring value.

This manual is intended to be informative but not prescriptive. With its foundation and appurtenant works, each dam presents its own set of challenges. Deciding on how to monitor its behavior requires skill and judgment beyond the scope of this manual.