Applying Emerging Technologies to Critical Infrastructure

Abstract Only - Many of our nation’s mitigation challenges focus on risks to critical infrastructure. Dams, particularly the large, federally-owned structures, have advanced flood/breach monitoring and alert systems while many smaller, state-, local-, and privately-owned dams do not. Although routinely inspected, significant risks, often unknown by the public and downstream communities, are present and can rapidly develop within these structures. The Kentucky DOW, in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate, is nearing completion of a four-phased project to establish a means of monitoring critical infrastructure, particularly dams, as part of the DHS Flood Apex Program. Kentucky DOW seeks to identify a replicable, cost-effective and efficient solution that can be applied to other dams where flood risks may be lesser known on a wide-scale across Kentucky (and the nation). Freeman Lake Dam in Elizabethtown, KY was selected as the initial pilot location for the project due to existing instrumentation available for comparison and control purposes. In addition, Willisburg Lake Dam in Willisburg, Guist Creek Lake Dam in Shelbyville, and Clements Lake Dam in Morehead were selected as pilot sites with little to no existing instrumentation. The project is primarily comprised of dam instrumentation research to determine flood/breach monitoring and alert systems that are applicable to potential dam failure modes or risks. Phases of the project include development of instrumentation into a dam flood/breach warning system; deployment, operation and performance evaluation; and dissemination of best practices. This presentation will discuss lessons learned and best practices which may be applied to dam locations throughout the country that have limited information and/or instrumentation. These tools are intended to increase warning and response time, reduce risks to lives and property, and ultimately build community resilience to flood events.