Importance of long-term monitoring of the earth dams

As structures of high risk, with catastrophic consequences in case of exceeding the limit states, dams must be continuously monitored in order to timely identify potential problems and to take preventive measures to preserve the structural integrity of the dams. This is especially the case with earth dams, which are extremely sensitive to ubiquitous changes in climate patterns. The paper describes the techniques of long-term monitoring of earth dams and gives a summary of the possible monitoring equipment used. Through the example of the Butoniga dam in Istria, the importance of long-term monitoring, as a vital part of the dam’s functionality and safety, is demonstrated. Monitoring of the Butoniga dam, with a total height of 23 m and a reservoir volume of 20 million m3, began during construction from 1979 to 1986 and continued in operation until today, with the monitoring system being continuously upgraded.