Dams As Aid brings together key issues in the aid/environment/development debate. Through her examination of dams, Usher sheds light on wider issues of the political economy of aid.
Detailed analysis of dams and aid case studies are included, particularly on Nordic dams which provide most graphic illustrations, and these detailed case studies are located within a broad comparative and theoretical perspective.

This study contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms and processes of sand bypassing in artificial and non-artificial coastal environments through a numerical modelling study. Sand bypassing processes in general is a relevant but poorly understood topic. This study attempts to link the theory and physics of sand bypassing processes which is significantly important in definition of coastal sedimentary budget. The main question is how can we model sand bypassing processes and whether the modelled sand bypassing processes represent the actual sand bypassing processes. In this study, it is shown that a process-based model can be used to simulate the processes of sand bypassing around groyne and headland structures. Both hypothetical and real case studies were successfully developed. Results comparisons were made among analytical models, empirical models and field data measurements. In general, the process-based model can produce reasonable results. In summary, through numerical modelling this study reveals the importance of understanding coastal processes and the role of geological controls in governing headland sand bypassing processes and embayed beach morphodynamics. The morphological model developed in this study is useful to increase understanding of the natural sand distribution patterns due to combination of engineering efforts and natural coastal processes.

This reference book presents the theory and methodology to conduct a finite element assessment of concrete structures subjected to chemically induced volumetric expansion in general and alkali aggregate reaction in particular. It is limited to models developed by the author, and focuses on how to best address a simple question: if a structure suffers from AAR, how is its structural integrity jeopardized, and when would the reaction end. Subjects treated are: * Brief overview of AAR: nature of the chemical reactions, AAR in both dams and nuclear power plants, and how does it impact the mechanical properties of concrete. * Constitutive model for both the AAR expansion, and concrete nonlinearities (both smeared and discrete crack models). * Validation of the model along with a parametric study to assess what are the critical parameters in a study. * Selection of material properties for an AAR finite element simulation, followed by applications in dams and massive reinforced concrete structures. * Micro Model for improved understanding of the essence of the reaction, along with a newly proposed mathematical model for the kinetics of the reaction. * Review of relevant procedures to estimate the residual expansion of a structure suffering from AAR, along with a proposed approach to determine when the reaction will end. The book is extensively illustrated with numerous figures and provides guidance to engineers confronted with swelling in concrete infrastructures.

Geotechnical Engineering of Dams, 2nd edition provides a comprehensive text on the geotechnical and geological aspects of the investigations for and the design and construction of new dams and the review and assessment of existing dams. The main emphasis of this work is on embankment dams, but much of the text, particularly those parts related to geology, can be used for concrete gravity and arch dams. All phases of investigation, design and construction are covered. Detailed descriptions are given from the initial site assessment and site investigation program through to the preliminary and detailed design phases and, ultimately, the construction phase. The assessment of existing dams, including the analysis of risks posed by those dams, is also discussed. This wholly revised and significantly expanded 2nd edition includes a lengthy new appendix on the assessment of the likelihood of failure of dams by internal erosion and piping. This valuable source on dam engineering incorporates the 200+ years of collective experience of the authors in the subject area. Design methods are presented in combination with their theoretical basis, to enable the reader to develop a proper understanding of the possibilities and limitations of a method. For its practical, well-founded approach, this work can serve as a useful guide for professional dam engineers and engineering geologists and as a textbook for university students.

Overview of Japan's long water history, by the Japanese Commission on large dams. Starting from the 7th century, when irrigation ponds were first constructed for paddy cropping, until the beginning of the 21st century. Elaborates on various roles of dams: water supply, power generation and flood control. Moreover, tries to clarify the negative impacts of dams on the natural environment and local societies, as well as extensive efforts made to minimize these impacts. Includes appendices with location and characteristics of main dams, administrative organs, river management system and water resources development river systems and facilities to offer the full picture. Richly-illustrated. Intended for dam and water resources professionals.

Reservoir operation is a multi-objective optimization problem, and is traditionally solved with dynamic programming (DP) and stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) algorithms. The thesis presents novel algorithms for optimal reservoir operation, named nested DP (nDP), nested SDP (nSDP), nested reinforcement learning (nRL) and their multi-objective (MO) variants, correspondingly MOnDP, MOnSDP and MOnRL. The idea is to include a nested optimization algorithm into each state transition, which reduces the initial problem dimension and alleviates the curse of dimensionality. These algorithms can solve multi-objective optimization problems, without significantly increasing the algorithm complexity or the computational expenses. It can additionally handle dense and irregular variable discretization. All algorithms are coded in Java and were tested on the case study of the Knezevo reservoir in the Republic of Macedonia. Nested optimization algorithms are embedded in a cloud application platform for water resources modeling and optimization. The platform is available 24/7, accessible from everywhere, scalable, distributed, interoperable, and it creates a real-time multiuser collaboration platform. This thesis contributes with new and more powerful algorithms for an optimal reservoir operation and cloud application platform. All source codes are available for public use and can be used by researchers and practitioners to further advance the mentioned areas.

In the last decades, the technology of dam protection has undergone major advancements. The increasing demand for safety in modern society has created the need for cost-effective measures to protect critical infrastructure such as dams. This situation has resulted in the drafting of new regulations and technical manuals in countries like Norway, Sweden, and the USA, among others. Dam Protections against Overtopping and Accidental Leakage includes the latest advances in dam protection, and a portfolio of applications in representative case studies. The main topics include: - Failure of embankment and concrete dams due to overtopping or accidental leakage - Hard protections for embankment dams (RCC, wedge-shaped blocks, reinforced concrete slabs) - Soft protections for embankment dams (rockfill toes, articulated concrete blocks, vegetation cover) - Concrete dam protections and additional issues directly related to dam protections The book includes contributions from the 1st International Seminar on Dam Protections against Overtopping and Accidental Leakage (Madrid, Spain, 24-26 November 2014), and also a summary of the technical manual "Overtopping Protection for Dams", published by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in March 2014. Dam Protections against Overtopping and Accidental Leakage provides a comprehensive summary of dam protections, covering case studies and applied research worldwide, and will be invaluable to professionals and academics in Dam Engineering.

Hydraulic research is developing beyond traditional civil engineering, since the number of natural hazards increased in recent years, and so did the extent and scope of structural safety assessment and environmental research. Hydraulic Engineering II contains 44 technical papers from the 2nd SREE Conference on Hydraulic Engineering (CHE 2013, Hong Kong, 2-3 November 2013, including the Third SREE Workshop on Environment and Safety Engineering, WESE 2013), discusses recent advances and issues, and identifies challenges associated with engineering applications in hydraulic engineering. The contributions showcase recent developments in the areas of hydraulic engineering and environmental engineering, and other related fields. The sections on hydraulic engineering mainly focus on river engineering and sediment transport, flood hazards and innovative control measures, rainfall modelling, dam safety, slope stability, environmental hydraulics and hydrology, while the contributions related to environmental issues focus on environmental prediction and control techniques in environmental geoscience, environmental ecology, water pollution and ecosystem degradation, applied meteorology, coastal engineering, safety engineering and environmental pollution control. Hydraulic Engineering II will be invaluable to academics and professionals in both hydraulic and environmental engineering.

Dam engineering is currently experiencing a strong revival of labyrinth oriented weirs. Labyrinth weirs, with a repetitive constructional character and an increased specific discharge capacity, are a very good technical-economical compromise. The concept of Piano Key Weir (PKW), with alveoli developed in overhangs from a reduced support area, enables the installation of non-linear crests at the top of concrete dams. As a result it eliminates the main drawback of classical labyrinth weirs, and enables their use to rehabilitate numerous existing dams. Since the first implementation of piano key weirs by Electricite de France on Goulours dam (France) in 2006, at least eight PKWs have been built in France, Vietnam and Switzerland. Their operation over a few years has already provided the first prototype data. Other projects are under study, construction or planning in varied countries. On another hand, research programs are under progress all over the world. Following a first edition in 2011, Labyrinth and Piano Key Weirs II - PKW 2013 collects up-to-date contributions from people with various backgrounds, from engineers and researchers to academics. Summarizing the last developments on labyrinth oriented weirs, the book constitutes the state-of-the-art in research and application of piano key weir solutions, and will be invaluable to professionals and scientists interested in Dams Engineering.

Floods are one of the most common and widely distributed natural risks to life and property worldwide. There is a need to identify the risk of flooding in flood prone areas to support decisions for flood management from high level planning proposals to detailed design. An important part of modern flood risk management is to assess vulnerability to floods. This assessment can be done only by using a parametric approach. Worldwide there is a need to enhance our understanding of vulnerability and to also develop methodologies and tools to assess vulnerability. One of the most important goals of assessing flood vulnerability is to create a readily understandable link between the theoretical concepts of flood vulnerability and the day-to-day decision-making process and to encapsulate this link in an easily accessible tool. The present book portrays a holistic parametric approach to be used in flood vulnerability assessment and this way to facilitate the consideration of system impacts in water resources decision-making. The approach was verified in practical applications on different spatial scales and comparison with deterministic approaches. The use of flood vulnerability approach can produce helpful understanding into vulnerability and capacities for using it in planning and implementing projects.

Since its construction in the early 1960s, the hydroelectric Akosombo Dam across the Volta River has exemplified the possibilities and challenges of development in Ghana. Drawing upon a wealth of sources, A Dam for Africa investigates contrasting stories about how this dam has transformed a West African nation, while providing a model for other African countries. The massive Akosombo Dam is the keystone of the Volta River Project that includes a large manmade lake 250 miles long, the VALCO aluminum smelter, new cities and towns, a deep-sea harbor, and an electrical grid. On the local level, Akosombo has meant access to electricity for people in urban and industrial areas across southern Ghana. For others, Akosombo inflicted tremendous social and environmental costs. The dam altered the ecology of the Lower Volta, displaced 80,000 people in the Volta Basin, and affected the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians. In A Dam for Africa, Stephan Miescher explores four intersecting narratives: Ghanaian debates and aspirations about modernization in the context of decolonization and Cold War; international efforts of the US aluminum industry to benefit from Akosombo through cheap electricity for their VALCO smelter; local stories of upheaval and devastation in resettlement towns; and a nation-wide quest toward electrification and energy justice during times of economic crises, droughts, and climate change.

Overview of Japana (TM)s long water history, by the Japanese Commission on large dams. Starting from the 7th century, when irrigation ponds were first constructed for paddy cropping, until the beginning of the 21st century. Elaborates on various roles of dams: water supply, power generation and flood control. Moreover, tries to clarify the negative impacts of dams on the natural environment and local societies, as well as extensive efforts made to minimize these impacts. Includes appendices with location and characteristics of main dams, administrative organs, river management system and water resources development river systems and facilities to offer the full picture. Richly-illustrated. Intended for dam and water resources professionals.

Breakwaters and closure dams belong to the most spectacular hydraulic structures. They are exposed to the most severe loading by waves and currents, either during their construction, or during their life cycle.
Design and construction of these structures are so vitally interrelated that a proper understanding requires a thorough knowledge of the theory and a proper understanding of practical matters.
This book offers an essential, integrated combination of theory and practice to the graduate student. Beginning with a description of the functional requirements, it discusses the relevant theory and shows the application of experience and theoretical knowledge to the design.

This book aims to develop the ideas from fundamentals of percolation theory to practical reservoir engineering applications. Through a focus on field scale applications of percolation concepts to reservoir engineering problems, it offers an approximation method to determine many important reservoir parameters, such as effective permeability and reservoir connectivity and the physical analysis of some reservoir engineering properties. Starring with the concept of percolation theory, it then develops into methods to simple geological systems like sand-bodies and fractures. The accuracy and efficiency of the percolation concept for these is explained and further extended to more complex realistic models.Percolation Theory in Reservoir Engineering primarily focuses on larger reservoir scale flow and demonstrates methods that can be used to estimate large scale properties and their uncertainty, crucial for major development and investment decisions in hydrocarbon recovery.

In the last one hundred years, a number of catastrophic events associated with rockslide dam formation and failure have occurred in the mountain regions of the world. This book presents a global view of the formation, characteristics and behaviour of natural and artificial rockslide dams. Chapters include a comprehensive state-of-the-art review of our global understanding natural and artificial rockslide dams, overviews of approaches to rockslide dam risk mitigation, regional studies of rockslide dams in India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Argentina. Rockslide dams associated with large-scale instability of volcanoes are also examined. Detailed case histories of well-known historic and prehistoric rockslide dams provide examples of investigations of rockslide dam behaviour, stability, and characteristics. The formation and behaviour of rockslide-dammed lakes ("Quake Lakes") formed during the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, China are also comprehensively summarised. The formation, sedimentology and stability of rockslide dams is examined in several analytical papers. An analysis of break-out floods from volcanogenic lakes and hydrological methods of estimating break-out flood magnitude and behavior are reviewed. The use of remote sensing data in rockslide-dammed lake characterisation is explored and a new approach to the classification of rockslide dams is introduced. Finally, a unique section of the book summarises Russian and Kyrgyz experience with blast-fill dam construction in two papers by leading authorities on the technology. The volume contains 24 papers by 50 authors from 16 countries including most of the recognised world authorities on the subject.

Since its construction in the early 1960s, the hydroelectric Akosombo Dam across the Volta River has exemplified the possibilities and challenges of development in Ghana. Drawing upon a wealth of sources, A Dam for Africa investigates contrasting stories about how this dam has transformed a West African nation, while providing a model for other African countries. The massive Akosombo Dam is the keystone of the Volta River Project that includes a large manmade lake 250 miles long, the VALCO aluminum smelter, new cities and towns, a deep-sea harbor, and an electrical grid. On the local level, Akosombo has meant access to electricity for people in urban and industrial areas across southern Ghana. For others, Akosombo inflicted tremendous social and environmental costs. The dam altered the ecology of the Lower Volta, displaced 80,000 people in the Volta Basin, and affected the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians. In A Dam for Africa, Stephan Miescher explores four intersecting narratives: Ghanaian debates and aspirations about modernization in the context of decolonization and Cold War; international efforts of the US aluminum industry to benefit from Akosombo through cheap electricity for their VALCO smelter; local stories of upheaval and devastation in resettlement towns; and a nation-wide quest toward electrification and energy justice during times of economic crises, droughts, and climate change.

Among development assistance agencies, the World Bank has led the way in policies to mitigate the impact of large-scale engineering projects on local populations, particularly in the building of dams. Since the 1980s the Bank has implemented guidelines for policies with respect to displacement, social infrastructure and services, environmental effects, resettlement, compensation, and the restoration of income for those affected. Having learned from the failures of past resettlement programs, the Bank has endeavored to function as a responsible and caring agency. This volume builds upon earlier studies and field work to offer a broad look at dam-building projects in six countries and to review the outcomes of Bank policy, learn from experience, and assess outside criticism.
The book covers representative dam projects in India, Thailand, Togo, China, Indonesia, and Brazil. Each project was undertaken after Bank resettlement guidelines had been implemented. The widely ranging results in each country are assessed. In the areas of compensation for acquired land, relocation, infrastructure and services, the contributors note satisfactory levels of improvement or positive trends. Governments are moving towards acceptance of the idea that displaced families should be paid the real value of their lost assets. Relocation processes are now keeping pace with water movement caused by dam building, and health, education, utilities, and roads are better than before the resettlement.
Other results have been less positive. The impact on incomes of those involuntarily resettled has been harsh in some locations. Resettler dissatisfaction has been intense, notably in those countries where the national economies are not experiencing strong growth. The Bank's performance itself has been uneven. There have been lapses in appraisal and monitoring during the projects and insufficient follow-through support for resettlement operations after the completion of loan and credit disbursements.
In addition to its case by case analysis of countries and projects, the book includes detailed lessons and recommendations to strengthen resettlement policy and practice. Involuntary Resettlement will be of interest to economists, sociologists, and professionals working in regional development policy.
Robert Picciotto is director general of Operations Evaluation at the World Bank. Warren van Wicklin is task manager and evaluator at the Operations Evaluation department of the World Bank.

As well as much-needed electricity, dams generate extremes of emotion. Traditionally, dams have facilitated hydraulic civilizations such as those in the Nile Valley, China and Mesopotamia, and, in the twentieth century, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Yet with the proliferation of dams there are now more than 40,000 large dams worldwide opposition and support can be measured in equal proportion. Their outstanding design and construction, often in inhospitable conditions, is representative of the skills of their engineers, yet others do not see such beauty in the taming' of rivers. In 1998 the continuing controversy led to the forming of the World Commission on Dams to seek a meeting of minds. "Dam", a new addition to Reaktion's "Objekt" series, traces the development of dams from the Industrial Revolution to the present day through a number of themes both successes and failures including the extension of the design teams forming an alliance between engineering, architecture, landscape architecture and ecology. A profusely illustrated exploration of a previously neglected subject, this book is neither a polemic against dams nor a defence of their proliferation.It offers a fresh and much-needed account of their design, construction and function, which will appeal to general readers and those interested in environmental policy, history and civil engineering.

In the last one hundred years, a number of catastrophic events associated with rockslide dam formation and failure have occurred in the mountain regions of the world. This book presents a global view of the formation, characteristics and behaviour of natural and artificial rockslide dams. Chapters include a comprehensive state-of-the-art review of our global understanding natural and artificial rockslide dams, overviews of approaches to rockslide dam risk mitigation, regional studies of rockslide dams in India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Argentina. Rockslide dams associated with large-scale instability of volcanoes are also examined. Detailed case histories of well-known historic and prehistoric rockslide dams provide examples of investigations of rockslide dam behaviour, stability, and characteristics. The formation and behaviour of rockslide-dammed lakes ("Quake Lakes") formed during the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, China are also comprehensively summarised. The formation, sedimentology and stability of rockslide dams is examined in several analytical papers. An analysis of break-out floods from volcanogenic lakes and hydrological methods of estimating break-out flood magnitude and behavior are reviewed. The use of remote sensing data in rockslide-dammed lake characterisation is explored and a new approach to the classification of rockslide dams is introduced. Finally, a unique section of the book summarises Russian and Kyrgyz experience with blast-fill dam construction in two papers by leading authorities on the technology. The volume contains 24 papers by 50 authors from 16 countries including most of the recognised world authorities on the subject.

Dam and levee remediation has become more prevalent since the start of the twenty-first century. Given the vastness and complexity of the infrastructures involved, keeping up with maintenance needs is very difficult. Major surges in repair are usually triggered by nature's wake-up calls, such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. The challenge has been to develop methods that ensure safe, effective, reliable, and robust solutions for current and future remediation issues. Specialty Construction Techniques for Dam and Levee Remediation presents the state of practice in North American dam and levee remediation as it relates to the use of specialty geotechnical construction techniques, such as anchors, grouting, cutoff (diaphragm) walls, and deep mixing.

The book focuses on the actual construction processes, describing design and performance aspects of remediation where appropriate. Chapters deal with the application of drilling and grouting methods, methods to install mix-in-place (category 2) cutoff structures, excavated and backfilled trenches (category 1), composite cutoff walls, and stabilization using prestressed rock anchors. The book also provides a comprehensive guide to dam and levee instrumentation, covering planning, operating principles, data management, staffing, and automation. As an educational and salutary example of ineffective efforts, the final chapter presents a case history of a series of remediations performed on a single project, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.

A wide range of methods has been developed in response to the challenges that arise in the dam and levee remediation arena and the need for a competitive edge. These new methods are designed and monitored using state-of-the-art techniques, giving rise to the emergence of new intensity and initiative in this field. This book captures this transformation by examining the theory and practice of contemporary remedial techniques, using recent U.S. case histories to provide knowledge and inspiration to readers, both in North America and around the world.

Dam Safety Assurance: Global Comparative Assessment of Legal and Institutional Frameworks

ICOLD Bulletin 150, Cutoffs for Dams, discusses foundation treatment methods using cutoff-type barriers. High emphasis is given to alluvial deposits throughout this document; however, different materials may require cutoff. The construction of cutoffs has made significant advances mainly through the development of more powerful machinery for drilling and excavation, but also through the introduction of new concepts and techniques, such as jet grouting and deep soil mixing. The following types of cutoffs are presented in this Bulletin: - Diaphragm walls - Vib walls - Pile walls - Superimposed concreted galleries - Jet grouting - Deep mixing These methods are described, and the practical application of each method is illustrated by selected case histories. These case histories also demonstrate how certain difficulties specific to a particular dam site have been dealt with. The performance of cutoffs should be monitored so that their efficiency in reducing flow and piezometric head can be evaluated. Piezometers installed in the foundation upstream and downstream of the cutoff are needed to meet this objective.

Karst terrains have been modified and adapted through a range of human activities as the need for flood control, irrigation, food production, hydropower production and other resources has increased. Successful reclamation projects require construction of dams and reservoirs. Karst terrains present the most complex working conditions for dam foundation and realization of safe reservoir space. Practical engineering solutions are extremely complex and the need for successful solution requires serious investigations and the cooperation of a wide spectrum of scientists and engineers. A wealth of data on dam projects in karst has been collected and presented in this book. Since reservoirs in karst may fail to fill despite extensive investigations and remediation treatment the book includes a description of failures as well.

The present volume provides a comprehensive understanding of the modern criteria, models and methods of analysis of arch dams, for normal operation conditions and under exceptional loads. This information is important for all those involved in the evaluation of the behaviour and condition of arch dams and other large structures, either for design or monitoring purpose.