Ensuring the long-term safety of dams located near densely populated cities or industrial regions is of paramount importance. To achieve this, it is essential not only to incorporate appropriate considerations during the design and construction phases, but also to implement necessary monitoring and controls throughout the operational period to guarantee the dam's performance and safety. This study presents a straightforward yet effective quantitative criterion for estimating and predicting the long-term safety status of dams, based on a comprehensive analysis of a set of instrument data. For this study, five major earthen dams in Iran were selected, and an examination of their characteristics, alongside their instrumental data, was conducted. These dams are situated near major cities in Iran, making it crucial to ensure their optimal performance and safety. The method proposed in this research introduces four performance and safety levels for earthen dams: "safe," "moderately safe," "unsafe," and "severely unsafe," based on various studies and criteria, including structural aspects, environmental impacts, and the consequences of potential dam failures. The results of this classification can inform management decisions related to the monitoring of dam safety during their operational lifespan.
Reference:
Jafarzadeh, F., Garakani, A. A., Maleki, J., & Banikheir, M. (2019). Safety measures for earth dams on basis of instrumentation data, dam site location and reservoir volume. In Sustainable and Safe Dams Around the World/Un monde de barrages durables et sécuritaires (pp. 2284-2297). CRC Press.