Dams or ponds classification based on a new criterion to assess potential flood damage to roads in case of failure

Eduardo Martínez-Gomariz (), Carlos Barbero, Martí Sanchez-Juny, Edwar Forero-Ortiz and Marcos Sanz-Ramos
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Eduardo Martínez-Gomariz: Cetaqua, Water Technology Centre
Carlos Barbero: Agència Catalana de l’Aigua (ACA)
Martí Sanchez-Juny: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numèrics en Enginyeria
Edwar Forero-Ortiz: Cetaqua, Water Technology Centre
Marcos Sanz-Ramos: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - Centre Internacional de Mètodes Numèrics en Enginyeria

Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2023, vol. 117, issue 1, No 27, 625-653

Abstract: Abstract Dams are hydraulic infrastructure that have several purposes, such as irrigation, hydropower, water supply, flood control, recreation, fish breeding and navigation. However, their failure or malfunctioning can pose a threat to downstream communities, and thus, their safety is paramount to public protection and economic security. A variety of approaches to classify dams can be found in countries worldwide. Their classification allows to distinguish among those that are to be subject to safety regulation in each country. A common approach to classify them is according to their potential damage in case of failure. Roads are usually among the infrastructures that these approaches consider to be assessed in terms of the level of damage that can suffer. A new people-centred criterion is proposed in this paper to assess potential intangible damage (i.e. human lives) when roadways could be flooded due to a dam failure. This novel methodology is based on the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of roadways and sets a maximum and a minimum number of vehicles expected in the area receiving the flood. To evaluate its appropriateness, it is verified from the results obtained after being applied to three existing ponds located in Catalonia (Spain).

Keywords: Dams; Safety; Potential damage; Roadways; Vehicles’ stability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-023-05875-5

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