Hydropower Dams – Structural Health Monitoring
Continuous monitoring of hydropower dams using the xDAS Sentry equipment with alarming and advanced analysis. Strengthens compliance, operational safety, and long-term resilience…
View case study →Dam safety and operational reliability are critical for flood protection levees, hydroelectric plants, and water reservoirs. With this scale and the importance of these critical civil infrastructures, continuous condition monitoring is essential to ensure public safety and long-term performance.
Digitex Systems built the xDAS Distributed SHM platform around triaxial and MEMS accelerometers (xWave) for precise vibration and dynamic response monitoring. Moreover, to extend situational awareness, we integrate with inclinometers for tilt detection and weather sensors. Thus, it captures environmental parameters that directly affect dam stability (xInc/xMet).
With Observer software, engineers can perform detailed Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) to extract modal properties. In this way, it tracks changes in dam behaviour. Furthermore, for continuous surveillance, there’s the Voyager platform that automates OMA and ensures that it detects subtle modal shifts in real time without manual intervention.
For critical safety events, the xAlarm device delivers instant alerts via SMS and digital outputs. On the other hand, our integrated triggering mechanism and ring buffer functionality capture essential data during seismic activity, severe weather, or operational anomalies.
In recognition of their importance, many countries now classify dams as part of their critical infrastructure. For this purpose, they started enforcing mandatory regulations for permanent monitoring. That’s a reason, plus why Digitex Systems provides the technology and expertise to meet these requirements. Our main goal is to empower dam operators with actionable insights to maintain safety and optimize maintenance.
Beyond permanent monitoring, Digitex also offers xDAS Ambient, a portable and wireless SHM solution. We designed it precisely for this purpose – on-demand measurement campaigns or rapid assessments after significant events. Leveraging the high sensitivity of xWave accelerometers and DigiMESH® protocol, xDAS Ambient can detect even the smallest ambient vibrations without the need for external excitation.
Additionally, using these recordings, civil engineers can perform OMA analysis with Observer to extract dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. In this manner, the system enables quick, reliable structural diagnostics when and where they are needed.
From earth-fill embankments to concrete gravity dams and hydroelectric dam facilities, our condition monitoring systems support rapid deployment, scalability, and reliability. This way, they empower dam operators with actionable insights to maintain safety and optimize maintenance.
A primary challenge in dam monitoring is capturing the dynamic response of these massive structures. Triaxial MEMS digital accelerometers (xWave) are essential for continuously recording vibrations caused by seismic activity, environmental loads, or operational stresses. Additionally, changes in modal behaviour can indicate the onset of instability long before visible damage occurs.
Besides that, equally important is the ability to react quickly when the system detects a threshold exceeding. The xAlarm device, together with our integrated trigger mechanisms and ring buffer functionality (Voyager). It ensures that critical events are captured and that operators receive immediate alerts via SMS and digital outputs, enabling timely corrective action.
Another challenge lies in monitoring deformation and tilt. Inclinometers (xInc) help detect shifts, rotations, or settlement within the dam body. Thus, they offer early insight into structural behaviour under long-term loading conditions.
Environmental influences add further complexity. With weather stations connected via xMet, operators can track parameters such as rainfall, temperature, and wind, all of which directly impact water loads, material properties, and dam performance.
As a last resort, when it comes to identifying natural frequencies, Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) is not possible for dams—no one can artificially excite a structure of such scale. This makes Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) with accelerometers the only practical solution. With Observer software, engineers can perform post-processing OMA, while the Voyager platform automates OMA in real time. In conclusion, it ensures that modal properties and dynamic changes are continuously tracked under natural operating conditions.
Our systems are built around triaxial MEMS accelerometers (xWave), enabling precise monitoring of vibrations and modal behavior. With Observer software, operators can extract modal properties through Operational Modal Analysis (OMA), while the Voyager platform automates OMA in real time—a critical advantage since Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) is not possible for dams.
The xAlarm device, together with our trigger mechanisms and ring buffer functionality, provides instant alarms via SMS and digital outputs when vibration, tilt, or other critical thresholds are exceeded—delivering immediate early warnings for rapid response.
Inclinometers track even subtle tilts, rotations, or settlement, helping detect potential structural deficiencies before they develop into major risks.
Our integrated weather stations provide continuous data on rainfall, temperature, and wind, ensuring that environmental influences are directly correlated with dam performance.
Beyond permanent installations, Digitex offers xDAS Ambient, a portable SHM solution ideal for measurement campaigns on demand or after significant events such as earthquakes, floods, or extreme weather. Leveraging the high sensitivity of xWave accelerometers, the system captures ambient vibrations without the need for artificial excitation. Using these recordings, engineers can perform OMA to quickly extract the dam’s dynamic characteristics and assess its structural condition.
Digitex SHM systems are retrofit-friendly and can be seamlessly integrated with non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, ensuring advanced diagnostics without disrupting dam operations.
Designed for harsh environments, our platforms deliver durable, low-maintenance monitoring, ensuring dependable performance for both new and aging dams.
A top-notch system for instrumenting large and complex structures. All in all, a fully digital monitoring solution for every type of civil infrastructure.
Researchers, engineers, and contractors can now do a rapid and reliable structural health assessment with ease.Â
A Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and earthquake engineering software – a powerful suite that covers the full lifecycle of any project!
Continuous monitoring of hydropower dams using the xDAS Sentry equipment with alarming and advanced analysis. Strengthens compliance, operational safety, and long-term resilience…
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View case study →Unlock the full potential of your Structural Health Monitoring with Digitex.
Digitex Systems
Provider of real-time structural health monitoring systems to assist engineers with non-destructive testing and early structural damage detection