Hydro

Dams and Spillways

Dams are critical assets that provide flood control, hydroelectric generation, and water storage benefits for our communities. The proper condition monitoring and inspections for these important assets ensures our safety and ensures that we can continue to enjoy these valuable benefits. As these assets continue to age, condition assessment monitoring is becoming even more important.

However, with current methods, detailed dam and spillway inspections and condition assessments can be laborious, subjective, and difficult to monitor deterioration through time. In fact, sometimes a structure is so large and inaccessible that a detailed inspection of the entire asset is impossible!

At NIRICSON™, we developed AUTOSPEX™, our AI-backed defect detection algorithm and DRONIC™, our patented data fusion architecture, to automate the inspection and condition assessment of dams and spillways, helping asset owners to objectively monitor cracks, spalls, delamination, and other defects on their asset as it progresses over time.

As the global leader in digital dam and spillway infrastructure condition assessments, our work was referenced in a recent USBR Report, which details some of the advantages of digital asset inspections, and using artificial intelligence to automate the inspection process.

Go to Case Studies

Data Processing

NIRICSON™ processes optical, thermal, and acoustic data collected by our third-party partnering Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) service providers. This data is analyzed by AUTOSPEXᵀᴹ to build an interactive baseline condition map for the entire structure.
Optical Imaging
NIRICSONᵀᴹ uses optical imagery to identify surficial defects on the concrete dam or spillway. Our subcontractors collect images with a Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) of 1 mm. This imagery is processed into a 3D model, and the NIRICSON™ AI algorithm automatically maps and quantifies each defect.
Infrared Imaging
NIRICSONᵀᴹ uses commercial-off-the-shelf thermal cameras to identify and map voids and delamination up to 50mm into the concrete. Our hydro and water utility clients find this particularly useful for identifying delamination along spillway joints, as well as identifying leakage areas across their dam.
Acoustic Signatures
NIRICSONᵀᴹ developed a proprietary acoustic sensor that can detect and create a geo-referenced map of delamination. This UAV-equipped sensor replaces the well-known ‘hammer sounding test’. The sensor makes physical contact with the surface of the structure and sends a stress wave into the concrete, which is then recorded to detect delamination up to 200mm into the concrete.

AUTOSPEX™

Dam and Spillways

With AUTOSPEXᵀᴹ, asset owners can easily navigate their structure, interact with the artificial intelligence- detected defects, and quantify the cracks, spalls, leakage, and other defects on the structure. In addition, with the world’s first and only patented and proprietary drone- mounted concrete sounding hammer, asset owners can map delamination on horizontal, vertical, and inverted concrete surfaces. This dataset allows asset owners to quantifiably monitor their structure over time, perform preventive maintenance, conduct detailed structural analyses, and design maintenance and rehabilitation plans.

 

What to Expect...

  • 3D Model
  • Map of Defects
  • Report Detailing Methodologies

Benefits

NIRICSONᵀᴹ offers a complete and reliable solution for asset owners. AUTOSPEXᵀᴹ allows users to visualize and overlay defects discovered by optical, thermal, and acoustic analyses, providing a baseline assessment of the structure, which can be tracked over time.

Change Detection

Track defect changes over time to build reliable asset deterioration models

Enhanced Maintenance Planning

Easily quantify the amount of material needed for repairs

Unprecedented Documentation

Detailed documentation of dam and spillway conditions

Simpler & Safer

Reduces the need for heavy equipment, rope access, scaffolding, and labour

Why Choose Niricson?

NIRICSON offers a complete and reliable solution for asset owners. AUTOSPEXᵀᴹ allows users to visualize and overlay defects discovered by optical, thermal, and acoustic analyses, providing a baseline assessment of the structure, which can be tracked over time.

Niricson's Method

Traditional Method

Repeatable Through Time

Reduced Operational Liability

Time-Efficient

Reduces risk of asset failure

Identifies and Quantifies Defects

100% Coverage of Asset

Predictive Capabilities and Deterioration Modeling

3D Visualization of Data

Allows for Better Allocation of Maintenance, Rehab, Replacement and Deterioration Modeling/Asset Lifecycle Planning

50+

Number of Inspections performed

95%

Defect Detection Accuracy

100%

Percentage Coverage of Asset

Experience the future of Asset Management

Get in touch with us and our team of experts will walk you through our platform and show you how the World’s Leading Infrastructure Condition Assessment Platform is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning to make infrastructure safer.

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