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Utilizing 3-D Visualization and Animation Techniques to Evaluate Dam Rehabilitation

May 2007

Joint Services Environmental Management Conference (JSEM)Shalene M. Thomas, AMEC Minneapolis

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Outline

The Site- Wolf Creek DamThe Situation- Dam Seepage and 60 years of dataThe Solution- Data integration, modeling, and 3-D AnalysisThe Benefits- More efficient analysis and smarter decision-making

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The Site- Wolf Creek Dam, KY

USACE, Nashville District

Construction 1941 to 1950

240 ft high

3,940-ft long embankment

22nd largest dam in the US

9th largest reservoir in the IS

Credited with preventing several $100M in flood damage

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The Situation- Dam Seepage Problems

First signs of seepage in 1968Traced back to Karst geologyShort-term grouting solution implemented from 1968 to 1970Long-term seepage cut-off wall solution constructed from 1975 to 1979

Profile of Cut-off wall, from USACE base, view upstream and showing the lateral extent

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The Situation- 60 Years of DataComplex volume of data including:

1. Temperature data2. Piezometric data3. Grouting records4. Design and construction information5. Lidar data

WOLF CREEK DAM, KENTUCKY (158807)Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary

Period of Record : 6/ 1/1948 to 11/30/1970

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec AnnualAverage Max. Temperature (F) 0 46.9 49.8 57.3 69.8 79.2 85.7 89 88.4 83 72.7 58.9 0Average Min. Temperature (F) 0 25.4 26.5 32.5 42.3 51.2 59.6 63.5 61.7 54.9 43.1 33.5 0Average Total Precipitation (in.) 0 0 4.96 4.52 5.3 4.38 4.22 4.47 4.45 3.26 3.41 2.62 4.43Average Total SnowFall (in.) 0 0 1.4 2.1 0.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.4Average Snow Depth (in.) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Percent of possible observations for period of record.

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The Solution- Data Integration, Modeling, and 3D-Analysis

Major dam rehabilitation analysisHistorical construction /remediation data

analysisNew data development and evaluationEnhancement of model/distribution to

stakeholders via web

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The Solution- Data Integration

3D layers were developed for the following: Surface TopographyAerial Photography3-D structures including:

grout curtaindiaphragm wallcable tunnel

Geology (including top of bedrock surface)Temperature SurveyPiezometer (Water level) dataReservoir levels

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The Solution- Seepage Modeling

Used embankment geometry, soil profile, and soil engineering properties

Analyzed groundwater conditions in both the saturated and unsaturated states

Resulting model quantifies naturally occurring groundwater and lake water seeping through embankment

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The Solution- 3D-Analysis and Visualization

EVS Top of rock contours

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The Solution- 3D-Analysis and Visualization

EVS View of Core Trench

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The Solution- 3D-Analysis and Visualization

EVS Karst with Grout Curtain and Concrete Monoliths

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The Solution- 3D-Analysis and Visualization

EVS Wet Areas with Diaphragm Wall and Grout Curtain

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The Solution- 3D-Analysis and Visualization

EVS Wet Areas with Piezometers, diaphragm wall, grout curtain, and top of rock contours

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The Benefits

Utilization of data simultaneously and efficiently through data automation.

Conditions evaluated temporally through several confounding factors.

Communication of past, present, and potential future conditions to various stakeholders to form rationale for funding needs.