Instrumentation of Embankment Dams and Levees: Fid-Bau Portal

Instrumentation of Embankment Dams and Levees

This manual provides guidance to Corps of Engineers (CE) personnel who are responsible for monitoring and analyzing embankment dams and levees. This revision focuses on issues that are of current concern in the Corps' mission of dam safety which includes monitoring embankment dams and levees. Design and construction of new projects have been decreasing. The majority of Corps dams have been instrumented, and the basic instrumentation concepts for monitoring seepage, pressure, and movement have been emphasized over the years in several CE regulations, directives, and programs. Geotechnical personnel are generally familiar with the behavior of instrument systems for which they are responsible. The current challenge for personnel responsible for embankment dam and levee safety is increased, and continuous attention must be paid to operation and maintenance of existing embankment structures and instrument systems. Therefore, a significant amount of engineering judgment must be applied to major rehabilitation, assessment of system performance, replacement, maintenance, and other situations that have become unique to each embankment structure and instrument system. This manual provides information and guidance that is needed for modifying existing systems as well as for new system installation for new construction.