Dam maintenance technologies with emphasis on unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract Dams have been engineering masterpieces of human civilization for centuries and highlight the requirement for sustainable development to meet climate challenges and increasing energy demands, making their role even more critical. Maintaining and inspecting a dam is crucial to ensure the safety and efficient operation of the whole infrastructure and the surrounding areas. The installation of upgraded sensors and related geotechnical equipment helps detect dam behavior and early detection of potential hazards for prompt action. Regular cleansing and vegetation control to prevent obstruction, improve fish passages, and maintain appropriate water flow are other obvious measures in dam maintenance. This review is focused on the dam’s history, classification, purposes, current maintenance of dam practices, structural health monitoring (SHM) systems, and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. It demonstrates the assessment and analysis of UAV technologies, the identification of research gaps and evaluates current literature on the applications of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for underground inspections and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in dam maintenance. It also elaborates on the case studies and challenges associated with dam maintenance. Consequently, it suggests further research and collaborative efforts of professionals across all the related expertise with the potential to answer the forthcoming problems with lower cost, easy accessibility and ensured effectiveness and safety. The dam owners, operators, and policymakers are recommended to comply with the latest national and international safety guidelines and regulations to protect downstream communities and ecosystems by conducting regular inspections and implementing all essential measures.