Dam engineering expertise

We provide reliable advice for embankment dams, concrete dams, and their appurtenant structures such as spillways.  Our track record equally includes other water-retaining structures, such as canals and levees.

 

We provide dam geology services at every stage of the project life cycle.

 

dam engineering expertise

Investigation

Geological investigations for new and existing dams, including:

  • Desktop studies – including remote sensing, data mining and its modernisation.
  • Scoping, supervision, and management of site investigations.
  • Geological mapping – using various techniques.
  • Drilling supervision – most methods, including significant experience drilling through concrete and embankment dams.
  • Core logging.
  • In-situ testing and instrument installation.
  • Test pitting and trenching – including in live dams.  To investigate both embankment materials and foundations.
  • Concrete coring – large-diameter, to investigate concrete structures.
  • Laboratory testing programmes.
  • Investigation reinstatement supervision.

We have a high familiarity with important standards and guidelines, ensuring high-quality data is obtained safely (with consideration for people, the environment and dam safety).

dam engineering expertise

Geological models

The type of geological model needed depends on the stage of the project. We develop  2D and 3D engineering geological models for all stages of the project life-cycle. Model types include:

  • Concept geological models – using pre-existing information and experiences of similar materials in similar settings.
  • Initial engineering geology models – where the above is supplemented with some limited site data.
  • Detailed engineering geology models – incorporating the findings of investigation campaigns.
  • Geotechnical/analytical models – the model is adapted for use in analysis/design, defined ‘units’ of similar engineering characteristics and expected behaviour.

The characteristics of the data available are important.   Key data characteristics include:

  • Quality – how the available data conforms to modern standards/methods.
  • Reliability we have in the data available – is it right or wrong or do we just not know?
  • Representativeness – does the data show the actual material characteristics (e.g. is enough information available? Is there a sampling bias present?).
dam engineering expertise

Foundations and construction materials

Dam foundation characterisation includes:

  • Bearing and deformability.
  • Abutment and foundation failure mechanisms – such as sliding or wedge failure.
  • Liquefaction susceptible soils.
  • Internal erosion (piping) susceptible materials.
  • Founding levels  – establishing the geological criteria for this.
  • Required foundation preparation and treatment.
  • Foundation permeability and pressures, geological controls on uplift, foundation drain efficiency.

Dam construction material services, for both embankment and concrete dams, include:

  • Identifying borrows and quarry locations, and their likely available volumes.
  • Processing requirements to achieve the required specification.
  • Identify undesirable characteristics – such as those related to durability, reactivity, dispersivity and erodibility.
  • Spoil disposal.
dam engineering expertise

Assessment

We also undertake engineering geological assessment of the following items for dam projects:

  • Active faults (neotectonic features).
  • Foundation characterisation for site-specific seismic hazard assessments (such as Vs30).
  • Reservoir shoreline stability – both existing landslides and potential first-time failures.
  • Reservoir water losses – such as due to the presence of soluble rocks.
  • General excavation stability – such as for spillways, diversions.
  • Rock erodibility.
  • Excavatability.
  • Grout curtains and foundation drains.
dam engineering expertise

Construction

Site-based construction services include:

  • Foundation and excavation mapping (both surface and underground).
  • Foundation treatment and preparation requirements as per the specification, based upon the as-encountered conditions.
  • Supervision of foundation treatment and preparation (dental concrete, seam treatment, anchor bars etc.).
  • Grouting supervision.
  • Foundation drainage drilling.
  • Sourcing and processing of construction materials.
  • Placement of construction materials.
  • Slope stabilisation.

We provide office-based support during construction. This includes technical advice, review of QA data, comparison of assumed vs as-encountered conditions, and geological completion reporting.

dam engineering expertise

Operation

During dam operation, our dam geology services include:

  • Safety inspections and reviews – such as Comprehensive Dam Safety Reviews (CDSRs) in New Zealand and 20-year Dam Safety Reviews (DSRs) in Australia.
  • Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) – identifying credible vs non-credible geological-based Potential Failure Modes (PFMs).
  • Comprehensive Risk Assessments (CRA) and Portfolio Risk Assessments (PRA)– identifying factors that make the identified PFMs more or less likely, quantifying geological uncertainty and knowledge gaps.
  • Technical studies to address identified dam safety recommendations – such as new investigations.
  • Condition surveys.
  • Monitoring and surveillance advice – those related to geological-based PFMs.

We are also experienced in incident and emergency response, including following rainfall, earthquake and flood events.

dam engineering expertise

Review

We provide dam geology peer reviews, due diligence and expert witness for:

  • Owners – including Panel of Experts (POE).
  • Regulators.
  • Purchasers.
  • Financers.
  • Insurers.
Our Work

Recent Projects

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Newlyn Reservoir Spillway Piezometer Project

Investigations and instrumentation installation

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20-year Dam Safety Reviews and Comprehensive Risk Assessment

Panel of Experts (POE)

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Catagunya Dam Flume Spillway Erodibility Study

Rock erodibility assessment

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Testimonials

Geological Consulting has supported Stantec on several New Zealand dam safety projects. They have provided desktop studies and site investigations; where a good understanding of the local geology, dam and foundation materials, instrumentation, and wider dam safety issues including flooding, internal erosion and seismicity has been required. They have consistently exceeded expectations in terms of technical delivery, programme, safety, and end-client satisfaction.

Stantec New Zealand
Principal Dams Engineer

Stantec has partnered with Geological Consulting on several projects in Australia that have required dam geology expertise. They adopt an approach that is thorough and systematic, conforms to practice, and upholds high ethical standards. They are an asset for any project with complex geological challenges.

Stantec Australia Pty Ltd
Project Manager