Abstract:
The use of instrumentation to monitor the performance of dams is widely accepted as a
prudent component of a successful dam safety program to manage and minimize the risks
to the public posed by dams.
Ethiopia in the last decade has seen a resurgence in construction of massive dams. And
also, it has significant number of Aged Dams, health and safety of the dams are paramount
importance for the sustainable use of these valuable national assets. Thus, it is important
to study the Dam safety management practice and particularly the application of Dam
Instrumentation in the Ethiopian Dam construction and operation industry in depth in
order to identify the gaps.
The study elaborated the Ethiopia’s Dam Instrumentation practice through a case study of
selected nine sample large Dams. Stratified and quota sampling method were used to
sample dams among the existing nationwide large dams, the research used both qualitative
and quantitative design methods in order to address the research objectives. Data collected
mainly from questionnaires, observation and interview for primary data and document
review for secondary data source, this research used descriptive and thematic analysis
methods in order to draw a meaningful and conclusive result, Interpretation and
discussions were made on the basis of results from the analysis.
The research finds out that despite almost all targeted dams are equipped with proper and
reasonable dam instrumentation, the majority dams are not monitored to ensure timely
response to problems, and also the study revealed that Dam instrumentation Maintenance
and calibration are fully overlooked activity.
And the research recommended that issuing the dam safety regulation as a nation,
Preparing Dam operation, maintenance and surveillance (O, M &S) manual for each dam
and implementing accordingly, Retrofitting (reinstalling) the Instrumentations that are
already malfunctioned, and also strengthen the dam monitoring team in order to improve
the Dam safety management of the country.
