Slope Stability Monitoring of Embankment Dams Using Remote Sensing and Numerical Modelling

Slope Stability Monitoring of Embankment Dams Using Remote Sensing and Numerical Modelling

Supervisors

University of Toronto

University of Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

Students

Jacob Sibanda, MEng

University of Johannesburg

Tyler Rankin, MEng

University of Toronto

Seifeldin Ismail, MEng

University of Toronto

Research Problem Addressed Expand

At a coal-powered electricity generation station in Mpumalanga, South Africa produces about 3,600MW of electricity. The by-product of this process is a considerable amount of ash, which is stored near the premises as an ash dam spanning about 450 hectares. The process used at the power station produces wet ash that gets pumped into the Ash Dam. Following this, the settled water is gradually transferred to a Low-Level Ash Water Return Dam (LLAWRD), before it is pumped back to the station to be recycled back into the system. A groundwater study was conducted on the Ash Dam with results showing that water seepage may be resulting in ground water contamination. This seepage was located towards the fresh wash dam on the river (the Witbank dam). The Witbank dam is a buttress type dam with main use for municipal and industrial water supply purpose. If preventative measures are not put in place, there is potential for contamination of the fresh water and ash dam instability in the future. Furthermore, it may result in the generation facility having to shut down to prevent adverse environmental effects.

This study looks at implementing an innovative UAV-enabled mapping technology (photogrammetry, LiDAR and thermal sensors) system or use very high resolution (VHR) satellites to generate a digital elevation model (DEM), which will then be used to numerically model  and monitor slope stability and seepage on embankment dams. Moreover, the study investigates different procedures (relating to remote sensing) that could be useful in reducing operational risks, planning risk reduction and responsive strategies to reduce severity/consequences should the unfortunate and undesirable events, such as dam failure, occur.