Monitoring Dam Conditions
with Satellite Data Analysis
Kouris Dam - Cyprus
Highlights
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Non-Intrusive Monitoring: Leveraged satellite data instead of traditional methods like site visits, sampling, and lab testing for water quality and structural monitoring.
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Key Indicators: Measured total suspended matter and chlorophyll-a concentrations across the Asprokremmos and Kouris reservoirs.
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Cost and Efficiency: Provided rapid, large-scale, and remote assessments, reducing time and resources required for monitoring.
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Transformative Approach: Enabled monitoring in areas with challenging or costly site access, delivering valuable insights into water body health and dam stability.
Introduction
The 110m Kouris Dam near Limassol, Cyprus, is crucial for water management. Ensuring its structural integrity is vital for safety and resource security. Since 2015, Sentinel-1 satellite data and InSAR technology have revolutionised monitoring, enabling millimetric precision tracking of structural shifts. This allows for timely interventions and better resource allocation.
Traditional Monitoring: Strengths and Limitations
Conventional dam monitoring uses ground surveys, extensometers, and piezometers, but these methods have drawbacks:
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Limited Coverage: Data is collected at specific points, missing broader displacement trends.
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High Costs: Requires significant manpower, equipment, and frequent site visits.
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Access Issues: Harsh terrain and weather can hinder regular monitoring.
Satellite-based monitoring overcomes these challenges by providing comprehensive, cost-effective, and non-intrusive surveillance.
Leveraging InSAR for Dam Monitoring
How InSAR Works
InSAR uses satellite radar to detect ground movement with millimetric precision, identifying even the slightest displacements over time—an invaluable tool for infrastructure monitoring.
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Ideal for Kouris Dam: The rockfill surface ensured strong radar coherence.
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Sentinel-1 Advantage: Frequent passes and high-resolution imaging provided consistent, reliable monitoring.
Comprehensive Monitoring of Kouris Dam
Full-Surface Coverage
Unlike traditional methods, InSAR covers the entire dam surface, ensuring no displacement patterns are overlooked. This early detection capability allows operators to identify subtle changes and respond proactively, enhancing structural safety.
Millimetric Precision
InSAR's millimetric accuracy is crucial for Kouris Dam, where even minor shifts could indicate instability. This precision allows operators to detect early warning signs and implement targeted interventions before issues escalate.
Historical Data Analysis
Satellite monitoring enables retrospective analysis, allowing engineers to examine displacement trends since 2015. This long-term view helps assess the impact of external factors like rainfall and seismic activity, improving predictive models and proactive maintenance strategies.
Regular Updates
With Sentinel-1 satellites providing frequent updates, operators receive near-real-time insights into the dam’s condition. This ensures early detection of potential issues, enabling proactive maintenance and risk mitigation before problems escalate.
Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness
InSAR-based monitoring is not only highly accurate but also incredibly cost-effective. Traditional methods, which involve labour-intensive site visits and expensive equipment, are often limited in scope.
By contrast, satellite-based monitoring:
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Reduces Costs: Eliminates the need for extensive ground equipment and personnel, saving significant resources.
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Saves Time: Provides rapid assessments over large areas, reducing the time required for data collection and analysis.
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Minimises Risk: Avoids putting surveyors in hazardous conditions, such as steep slopes or unstable ground near the dam.
In addition, satellite monitoring allows resources to be focused on areas showing signs of instability, ensuring that in-situ investigations are conducted where they are most needed.
Environmental Applications: Water Quality Monitoring
Moreover, satellite technology has also enabled large-scale water quality assessments for the Kouris and Asprokremmos reservoirs. By measuring total suspended matter and chlorophyll-a concentration, remote sensing provides a comprehensive, high-frequency view of water health—far surpassing traditional point-based sampling. This near-real-time monitoring allows for swift responses to environmental challenges.
A Proactive Approach to Dam Safety
Integrating InSAR technology into Kouris Dam’s monitoring framework marks a shift toward proactive, data-driven dam safety. With millimetric precision, frequent updates, and full surface coverage, operators can detect and address potential issues early, preventing escalation and ensuring long-term structural integrity.
Key Benefits
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Improved Safety: Early detection of displacement helps prevent failures.
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Enhanced Planning: Historical and real-time data guide maintenance and resource allocation.
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Sustainability: Non-intrusive monitoring reduces environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Expanding the use of satellite technology
The success of InSAR at Kouris Dam showcases the vast potential of satellite technology for infrastructure monitoring. Similar methods can be applied to bridges, tunnels, retaining walls, and geohazards like landslides and subsidence.
With advancements in satellite resolution and frequency, monitoring capabilities will continue to improve. Future integration with AI and machine learning could further enhance predictive analytics, enabling even more proactive infrastructure management.
Conclusion
Satellite-based InSAR monitoring has revolutionised Kouris Dam’s safety and efficiency, ensuring long-term stability with precise, cost-effective insights. Beyond structural monitoring, its application to water quality highlights the transformative potential of remote sensing. As adoption grows, satellite technology will become a cornerstone of modern infrastructure and environmental management.
Want to learn more? Contact Geofem today to discover how InSAR can support your geotechnical needs.
