Monitoring Dam Conditions
Kouris Dam, Cyprus
Highlights
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Non-intrusive monitoring: Used satellite data analysis instead of traditional site visits, sampling, and lab testing for water quality in Cyprus' Asprokremmos and Kouris reservoirs.
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Key indicators measured: Total suspended matter and chlorophyll-a concentration across the entire surface area of the reservoirs.
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Efficiency and cost-effectiveness: Satellite technology enabled rapid, large-scale, and remote assessments, saving time and resources.
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Transformative approach: Ideal for challenging or costly site access, offering valuable insights into the health and dynamics of water bodies.
Monitoring the structural integrity of the 110m high Kouris Dam in Cyprus is crucial to ensure safe operations and long-term stability. Since 2015, Sentinel-1 satellite data has been leveraged to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the dam’s displacements. By utilising Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), it was possible to identify areas of high displacement and assess their potential risk over time.
Ensuring Comprehensive Monitoring
Kouris Dam, being a critical infrastructure, requires ongoing monitoring to detect any displacement that could lead to structural issues. Traditional monitoring techniques often rely on in-situ measurements, which gather data from specific points only. This method, while useful, may miss broader displacement patterns occurring across the dam’s entire surface. A more efficient, wide-area monitoring solution was needed to provide detailed, millimetric-accuracy data.
InSAR Analysis of Kouris Dam
InSAR technology was employed to monitor the dam's surface displacements using Sentinel-1 satellite data. The rockfill surface of the dam provided excellent coherence for InSAR analysis, resulting in many displacement points being captured across the entire structure. This allowed for comprehensive, millimetre-level displacement measurements with historical data spanning from 2015 onwards.
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With regular satellite passes, displacement data can be updated as frequently as every few days, giving dam operators near real-time insights into the dam’s condition. This kind of frequent, accurate data is invaluable for assessing structural health and planning preventive measures.
Enhanced, Cost-Effective Dam Monitoring
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Frequent Updates: Displacement data can be refreshed as often as required, providing up-to-date insights into dam conditions.​​
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Full Surface Coverage: Unlike conventional methods, InSAR analysis monitors the entire surface of the dam, not just discrete points.​
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Millimetric Accuracy: The technology captures even the smallest displacements, allowing operators to detect early signs of instability.​
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Retrospective Analysis: Historical trends of displacement can be identified, offering insights into long-term structural behaviour.​
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Cost-Effective Monitoring: Satellite-based monitoring is highly efficient and allows resources for detailed in-situ investigations to be allocated more precisely where needed.
A Smarter Approach to Dam Safety
By utilising InSAR technology and Sentinel-1 satellite data, the monitoring of Kouris Dam has been revolutionised, providing a comprehensive, cost-effective, and highly accurate solution. This proactive approach enables operators to detect issues early, ensuring the long-term safety and stability of this vital infrastructure.
