Design of a Barrage Surveillance and Decision Support System: A Systemic Approach

As barrage provides a pool rather than a storage, its operation is very sensitive. As the entire pool is a dynamic volume, barrage hydraulics is different from that of a dam. The barrage structure is very complex and requires several health parameters, performance parameters and behavioral parameters to be monitored. Abutments, levees, hoists, gates, aprons, navigation, fish passes, etc. are the components that require comprehensive functional and health monitoring which can not be done manually in a precise way. Siltation, temperature, water quality, fish movements, inflow, outflow, levels, vessel movements, tide levels in the downstream if any, safety measures, etc. are required to be observed to respond to the call for sustainability of economic and ecological benefits. As barrage provides a pool rather than a storage, its operation is very sensitive. As the entire pool is a dynamic volume, barrage hydraulics is different from that of a dam. The barrage structure is very complex and requires several health parameters, performance parameters and behavioral parameters to be monitored. Abutments, levees, hoists, gates, aprons, navigation, fish passes, etc. are the components that require comprehensive functional and health monitoring which can not be done manually in a precise way. Siltation, temperature, water quality, fish movements, inflow, outflow, levels, vessel movements, tide levels in the downstream if any, safety measures, etc. are required to be observed to respond to the call for sustainability of economic and ecological benefits. Additionally, surveillance should include: (a) precipitation in the upstream catchment, flood moderation, and climate change; (b) the impact on downstream land due to water release at the barrage; and (c) the risk of overtopping of the dam. This paper discusses a Barrage Surveillance and Decision Support System (BSDSS) that consists of not only the installation plan of the instrumentation but also the communication protocols, data collection system, data processing and interpretation, and decision support features based thereon. An integrated and systemic approach makes the hardware and software installation meaningful when decision-making is to be done in a dynamic mode based on several parameters. The objective is to help prepare a blueprint for the BSDSS as a generic tool that can be applied as a template for any barrage. This tool can be further modified using AI tools to be specifically applied to specific barrages. Now when the decisions of the project authorities are in the crosshairs of several agencies due to deeper penetration of democratic attitude, they need to be compliant to the forensic aspects as well. Thus, in a multiple way, this approach would be a boon to barrage owners and hence this paper. This paper discusses a Barrage Surveillance and Decision Support System (BSDSS) that consists of not only the installation plan of the instrumentation but also the communication protocols, data collection system, data processing and interpretation, and decision support features based thereon. An integrated and systemic approach makes the hardware and software installation meaningful when decision-making is to be done in a dynamic mode based on several parameters. The objective is to help prepare a blueprint for the BSDSS as a generic tool that can be applied as a template for any barrage. This tool can be further modified using AI tools to be specifically applied to specific barrages. Now when the decisions of the project authorities are in the crosshairs of several agencies due to deeper penetration of democratic attitude, they need to be compliant to the forensic aspects as well. Thus, in a multiple way, this approach would be a boon to barrage owners and hence this paper.