Impact of Dam Discharge Increase in Preparation for Torrential Rain
On June 12th, the Daecheong Dam, situated on the border between Daejeon and Cheongju in Chungbuk, South Korea, was actively discharging water through its floodgates at a rate of up to 153 tons per second. This discharge was part of a strategy to create additional storage capacity in anticipation of torrential rain.
Current Situation:
Flood Preparedness: The decision to discharge water was made due to the nationwide rainfall exceeding 360mm early this month, ahead of the flood season. This action was aimed at ensuring the dam's reservoir capacity is sufficient to handle increased water inflows.
Flood Mitigation: The Daecheong Dam, with a total storage capacity of 1.49 billion tons, plays a crucial role in flood prevention. For instance, during last year's record-breaking rainfall in southern Chungcheong Province, the dam managed to retain 81% of the incoming water, thus minimizing damage to the downstream Geumgang River.
Monitoring and Simulation: The Korea Water Resources Corporation has been closely monitoring the situation of multi-purpose dams across the country, especially considering the abnormal climate patterns. Last year, 16 out of 20 dams experienced their highest recorded rainfall. This year, early rainfall has already triggered flood warnings.
Utilization of AI and Digital Twin Systems:
Digital Garam Plus: This next-generation dam management technology utilizes a digital twin system, integrating artificial intelligence to simulate and analyze dam and river basin conditions. This system helps in predicting real-world scenarios and supports decision-making during extreme weather events.
Enhanced Flood Management: The Korea Water Resources Corporation operates a 24-hour water management situation room during the flood season, overseeing 56 water resource facilities nationwide. This includes constant monitoring, flood analysis, water circulation management, and drought management.
Expansion of Capabilities: The "water bowl" concept has been implemented to provide an additional 6.14 billion cubic meters of storage capacity for floodwaters, three times more than the original design. This capacity is equivalent to twice the capacity of the Soyanggang Dam, Korea's largest storage reservoir.
Community Engagement and Communication:
Local Collaboration: Regular communication meetings are held with local governments, residents, and officials from dam branches across major river basins in Korea. This helps to build consensus on dam operations and prepares communities for emergency situations.
Precautionary Measures: Prior to any discharge of water, notifications are sent via text messages to related organizations, local governments, and residents. This ensures that everyone is informed about the pre-release plans and can take necessary precautions.
Future Preparedness:
- Global Context: Water disasters are increasing worldwide, necessitating advanced flood management techniques. In Korea, the use of digital twin technology and enhanced cooperation with related organizations are part of the strategy to ensure public safety during the flood season.
Conclusion:
The proactive approach of the Korea Water Resources Corporation in managing dam operations and flood response is a critical component of disaster preparedness in South Korea. By leveraging advanced technologies like AI and digital twin systems, they are able to predict, manage, and mitigate the impact of extreme weather events more effectively.
This article highlights the importance of such technologies in modern water management, ensuring that infrastructure remains robust and capable of handling the challenges posed by climate change-induced severe weather patterns.
