Technical Topics

T1: Precautionary management of dams and river basin under climate change

Considering the changes in hydrological conditions due to climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, the following aspects related to safety of reservoir dams and river basin will be discussed:

• Evaluation of the flood control standards and improvement of structural design for reservoir dams
• Real-time hydrological monitoring and forecasting warning technologies
• New requirements and adjustment of operation and dispatching
• Risk assessment and emergency plan
• Innovation and state-of-the-art technologies for small dams and small reservoirs

T2: Multifunctional development of dams and reservoirs

Regarding the new requirements for reservoir dams, such as regional economic development and ecological environment improvement, the following aspects will be discussed:

• The ecological compensation of reservoir dams, including downstream river channel shaping and ecological restoration through reservoir dispatching
• The multifunction of downstream urban water supply, shipping, leisure tourism, and etc.
• The technologies for new functional changes and engineering renovations of built reservoirs and dams.
• Changes in operation and upgrading technologies for existing reservoir dams
• Decision tools and technological innovations for the multifunctional operation and dispatching

T3: Technologies for dam design and construction under complex (extreme) conditions

Focus on dam design and construction techniques under complex geological conditions, strong earthquake zones or high-altitude conditions, the following aspects will be discussed:

• The technologies for geological exploration, foundation or high slope treatment
• Research on dam materials
• Innovation in dam structure design
• Construction technologies and new equipment in complex conditions

T4: Digital technology applied in dams and digital river basins

Focus on the digital technology application in design, construction, operation and maintenance of dams, the following aspects will be discussed:

• Digital design technologies, including BIM design
• Intelligent construction control system and self-driven equipment
• Intelligent operation, detection, maintenance technologies
• Remote sensing prediction and forecasting of rainfall-flood, simulation of flood scenarios, and their application in intelligent dispatching of river basins
• Digital twin dam or river basin: applications and typical cases

T5: The role of dams in achieving the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions

Focus on the role of dams in energy transition and achieving the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, case experience and study results sharing will be included with following aspects:

• Function of hydropower in new power systems
• The regulatory role of hydropower to wind/solar energy volatility
• Spatial time complementarity of different renewable energies
• Changes of reservoir dispatching modes and technological innovation
• Pumped Storage Power Stations and development prospect