SPEPC TECHNOLOGY

Solution

Reservoir Dam Safety Monitoring Solution

Background Introduction

Reservoir dams are the cornerstone of flood‑control safety, water‑supply security, and ecological health; their structural integrity directly affects the lives and property of downstream populations as well as the economic and social stability of the region.

As service life increases, extreme weather events become more frequent, and operational loads vary, dams face risks such as seepage anomalies, dam‑body deformation, and structural aging.

Traditional manual inspections and decentralized monitoring systems suffer from low efficiency, incomplete coverage, and delayed early warnings, making it difficult to meet the demands of refined, intelligent management in modern water‑conservation projects.

Accordingly, establishing an intelligent dam safety monitoring system that integrates comprehensive sensing, intelligent analysis, precise early warning, and efficient coordination—thereby shifting from “reactive response” to “proactive prevention”—has become a critical strategic task for enhancing the safety management of water‑related infrastructure and ensuring water security.

Solution Overview

This solution is a comprehensive smart water‑conservancy safety‑monitoring system that deeply integrates IoT, big data, artificial intelligence, and BIM/GIS technologies. The solution aims to enable the monitoring of reservoir dams… Digital monitoring and intelligent management across all factors and throughout the entire process.
The system deploys intelligent sensing devices—including GNSS receivers, vibrating-wire piezometers, radar water level gauges, rain gauges, video surveillance cameras, and array-type displacement sensors—at critical locations such as the dam body, foundation, spillway, and gate stations, enabling automated acquisition of multi‑parameter data on dam deformation (surface displacement and internal settlement), seepage (pore pressure, seepage rate, and phreatic line), water levels, rainfall, and video imagery.

Data is aggregated to the smart water‑conservation cloud platform via redundant communication networks, including 4G/5G, LoRa, and BeiDou. The platform leverages specialized analytical models and AI algorithms for in‑depth data mining and intelligent decision‑making, enabling real‑time assessment of safety conditions and proactive risk alerts.

Meanwhile, the platform integrates Rainfall monitoring, flood forecasting, operational scheduling simulation, and inspection & maintenance These services provide comprehensive technical support for the standardized, refined, and intelligent management and maintenance of reservoir dams.

FEATURES OF THE SOLUTION

All-weather, multi-parameter monitoring

All-weather, multi-parameter monitoring

By deploying GNSS, piezometers, water level gauges, rain gauges, video surveillance systems, and array-type displacement sensors, an all‑weather automated monitoring network is established to cover the dam’s surface, interior, and surrounding environment, enabling continuous 24/7 acquisition of critical parameters such as deformation, seepage, and water levels.
High-Precision Deformation and Seepage Monitoring

High-Precision Deformation and Seepage Monitoring

GNSS static positioning accuracy: horizontal ±(2.5 mm + 0.5 ppm), vertical ±(5 mm + 0.5 ppm); vibrating‑wire piezometers have a resolution of 0.025% of full scale and can accurately detect dam displacement and changes in the phreatic line.
Multi-source Fusion and Intelligent Early Warning

Multi-source Fusion and Intelligent Early Warning

The platform integrates advanced analytical algorithms and AI models to perform fused analysis and trend forecasting on multi-source data, including piezometric pressure, deformation, and water level. This enables early risk identification and tiered early warning, with alert information disseminated precisely through multiple channels such as SMS, in-platform pop-ups, and broadcasts.
Digital Twin and 3D Visualization

Digital Twin and 3D Visualization

By deeply integrating BIM, GIS, and 3D visualization technologies, a digital twin of the dam is constructed, enabling the integrated visualization of monitoring data with the 3D scene, dynamic simulation, and interactive analysis, thereby enhancing the intuitiveness of safety monitoring and the scientific basis of decision-making.
“Technology-based prevention + human-based prevention” in highly efficient coordination

“Technology-based prevention + human-based prevention” in highly efficient coordination

The platform strengthens intelligent monitoring (technical safeguards) while empowering on-site management personnel through mobile inspections, video conferences, and hazard reporting functions (human‑based safeguards). It has established a “one database, one code” identification system to ensure seamless last‑mile response to early warnings.
Redundant Communication and Low-Power Deployment

Redundant Communication and Low-Power Deployment

Supports multi-mode redundant communication, including 5G/4G, LoRa, and BeiDou, to address signal blind spots in remote mountainous areas; equipped with a solar power system to ensure long-term, stable operation in challenging outdoor environments.

 

Rainfall Monitoring System

The integrated rainwater video monitoring station comprises rainfall monitoring in the reservoir area, water-level monitoring, AI-powered video surveillance, early-warning broadcasting, and a power supply system. By leveraging various intelligent sensing devices, it enables dynamic monitoring and real-time data collection of rainfall amounts, reservoir water levels, and regional intrusion detection and alerts, thereby achieving 24/7 remote automated monitoring and early warning.

Dam Safety Monitoring System

The main components of the dam safety monitoring system include the installation of deformation benchmarks, GNSS-based dam‑body displacement monitoring, piezometers (seepage pressure transducers), weirs for flow measurement, and other automated monitoring instruments, enabling 24‑hour online data acquisition and analysis of dam deformation, seepage pressure and flow, phreatic line position, and seepage discharge.

Deformation Monitoring

Typically, manual observations are conducted using installed observation piers; depending on the circumstances, GNSS‑based automated surface deformation monitoring may also be employed. Alternatively, GNSS‑based automated monitoring systems can be added alongside manual observations, with automation taking precedence and human oversight serving as a supplement, enabling comparative analysis of monitoring data and enhancing both efficiency and reliability.

RECOMMENDED CASES

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

Geodetic GNSS receiver

The geodetic GNSS receiver is a versatile deformation‑monitoring device that integrates a high‑precision GNSS module with MEMS sensors. It supports multi‑system, multi‑frequency signal reception, including BeiDou‑3, GPS, and GLONASS, and delivers millimeter‑level static monitoring as well as centimeter‑level dynamic monitoring. Equipped with an advanced intelligent fusion algorithm, the device combines satellite positioning data with inertial sensor information to enable continuous, reliable displacement monitoring in complex environments. It is widely applicable to geological hazard and engineering safety monitoring scenarios, such as landslides, subsidence, and mining‑area deformations.

Radar water level gauge

Radar water level gauges are developed based on millimeter-wave radar and designed for measuring water levels. By recording the time it takes for a pulse wave to travel and multiplying it by the speed of electromagnetic waves, the gauge measures the distance between the liquid surface and the radar antenna, thereby indicating changes in water level. This device is a compact, all‑weather, 24/7 sensor that offers high integration, a small footprint, and easy installation.

Integrated Soil Moisture Monitor

The integrated soil moisture monitor is a multi-layer soil moisture sensing device based on the frequency-domain reflectometry (FDR) principle, capable of simultaneously measuring volumetric water content at three distinct depths within the same soil profile. The device integrates high‑sensitivity sensors, a low‑power processor, and a wireless communication module, supporting remote configuration and real-time data transmission. It features robust temperature compensation and excellent soil adaptability, making it well suited for long-term soil moisture monitoring in applications such as precision agriculture, landslide early warning, and ecohydrology.

Rainfall monitor

The rainfall monitor is a fully automatic rain‑gauge device featuring a dual‑bucket mechanical design, offering 0.2 mm resolution and ±2% measurement accuracy, and capable of stable operation under extreme temperature and vibration conditions. The instrument integrates rainfall sensing, data storage, and wireless transmission functions, supporting real-time calculation of rainfall intensity and cumulative rainfall totals. It is widely used in meteorology, hydrology, geological hazard monitoring, and urban flood‑control surveillance.

Integrated Tilt (Collapse) Monitor

The integrated tilt (collapse) monitoring device is an intelligent monitoring system that combines high‑precision sensing, wireless transmission, and a robust protection rating. It employs triaxial MEMS tilt and vibration‑acceleration sensors to continuously acquire real‑time data on structural tilt angles and acceleration, which are then transmitted via 4G, LoRa, or other methods to a cloud platform. This device is ideally suited for long‑term safety monitoring of slopes, bridges, transmission towers, and similar structures. Featuring low power consumption, extended battery life, and strong anti‑interference capabilities, it provides reliable data to support structural health assessments and disaster early warning.

Integrated Crack Monitor

The Integrated Crack Monitor is an intelligent monitoring terminal that leverages cable‑pull displacement sensing and multi‑parameter fusion technology, specifically designed for monitoring surface deformations such as slope cracks and retaining wall fissures. The device incorporates a high‑precision displacement sensor and a triaxial accelerometer/tilt sensor, enabling real-time monitoring of crack width changes, wall vibrations, and tilt angles, while supporting remote data transmission and alarm notifications via LoRa or 4G networks. With a robust structure and straightforward installation, it is well suited for long‑term automated monitoring in harsh outdoor environments.

Debris Flow Line-Disconnection Monitor

The debris‑flow line‑break monitoring device is an intelligent monitoring and early‑warning system specifically designed for geological hazard prevention in mountainous valleys during flood season. It focuses on real-time sensing and timely reporting of sudden geological hazards such as debris flows and flash floods caused by torrential runoff. The device integrates high‑precision cable‑strain sensors, data acquisition, and wireless transmission modules, featuring a highly compact and modular design that adapts to complex field conditions. Typically deployed at both ends of debris‑flow‑prone gullies, it employs a physics‑based triggering mechanism to accurately detect the impact and destructive signals generated by debris flows and floodwaters carrying sediment and rocks. This enables second‑level hazard detection, instant data upload, and remote alarm notification, buying valuable time for preemptive evacuation and emergency response.

Array-type displacement sensor

The array-type displacement meter is a flexible, series‑connected three‑dimensional inclinometer array composed of multiple measurement units. It is ideally suited for monitoring three‑dimensional spatial deformations, such as deep‑buried displacements, tunnel convergence, and excavation pit deformation. The device employs high‑precision MEMS sensors and a flexible circuit design, enabling it to bend freely with structural deformation while providing real‑time outputs of displacement, tilt angle, and vibration data. It also features trigger‑based data acquisition and a low‑power sleep mode, making it well suited for long‑term, concealed‑installation monitoring and automated safety‑alert systems.
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