Use Cases
Structural monitoring of displacement and tilt
in dams
Summary
When Stability Must Be Guaranteed, Precision Monitoring is Non-Negotiable
Dams are critical infrastructure. A structural failure can have catastrophic human, environmental, and economic consequences. Monitoring displacement, tilt, and subsidence in real time with high accuracy is essential to ensure long-term safety and compliance.
Reliable, Long-Term Structural Monitoring for Dams with FOGALE Sensors’ HLS, WPS and Modular Systems
The challenge
Hydraulic structures like dams face continuous mechanical stress, seismic risk, and temperature-driven deformations. Traditional visual inspection or limited sensor systems often fail to detect early warnings, leading to delayed response and costly repairs.
Key monitoring challenges include:
- Micrometric Deformation Tracking – Detecting structural movements as small as a few microns over long distances.
- Environmental Exposure – Harsh temperature variations, humidity, magnetic interference, or radioactive fields.
- Complex Geometries and Layouts – Arched, curved, or massive concrete dams require flexible and scalable instrumentation.
- Long-Term Stability – Systems must operate for decades without recalibration while maintaining metrological traceability.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS IN STRUCTURAL MONITORING
FOGALE’s HLS and WPS systems are deployed across a wide variety of civil and energy infrastructure projects to ensure safety, precision, and compliance in complex environments. These solutions are designed for both short-term campaigns and permanent installations, enabling operators to monitor:
- Vertical displacement of dam foundations and galleries
- Tilt and deflection of dam crests and penstocks
- Crack propagation and slab deformation
- Subsidence in underground galleries and tunnels
- Structural movement during hydrostatic testing or construction phases
By combining sensor accuracy, environmental resilience, and scalable system architecture, FOGALE enables predictive supervision and continuous structural insight in all types of dam environments.
The solution
With over 40 years of experience and more than 2,000 systems deployed worldwide, FOGALE provides a comprehensive suite of measurement tools tailored for structural monitoring in civil and energy infrastructures.
Key Technologies:
- HLS (Hydrostatic Levelling System)
Based on the communicating vessels principle, HLS sensors deliver ultra-stable altitude measurements across hundreds of meters, referenced directly to gravity.
- Measurement range: Up to 100 mm (custom on request)
- Repeatability: As low as 0.5 μm
- Offset drift: ±1 µm/°C, ±2 µm/month
- Operating conditions: -20°C to +60°C, radiation-tolerant
- Real-time acquisition and predictive deformation tracking
- WPS (Wire Positioning System)
Used as a telependulum or deflection sensor, the WPS tracks bidirectional displacements over long spans.
- 1D and 2D configurations
- Range: Up to ±30 mm (larger ranges on request)
- Repeatability: From 1 to 10 µm
- Ideal for dam crests, tunnels, and penstocks
- DOMS, Acquisition Units & Software
Complementary extensometers, vibration sensors, and robust acquisition software enable complete structural models and predictive maintenance.
KEY ADVANTAGES OF FOGALE’S STRUCTURAL MONITORING SOLUTIONS
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Micrometric Accuracy | Detect deformations as small as 0.5 µm |
| Long-Term Stability | Drift < 0.01% per month for trusted continuous monitoring |
| Modular & Scalable | Systems adapted to any dam geometry or layout |
| Proven in Harsh Environments | Used in magnetically, thermally, and radiologically harsh sites |
| Gravity-Referenced Measurement | HLS is independent from building deformations |
The results
FOGALE’s HLS and WPS systems provide a robust, flexible, and high-accuracy solution for long-term structural monitoring in dams. With successful deployments across Europe, Fogale enables operators to move from reactive to predictive safety strategies—protecting critical assets and communities alike.