Draft Practice Notes on the Geotechnical Investigations of Dams, their Foundations, and Appurtenant Structures were presented to a workshop at the recent ANCOLD 2018 Conference in Melbourne.
The purpose of the Practice Note is to benefit dam owners through more effective and targeted investigations to answer key questions about dams and their foundations. Among other things, it describes common issues and objectives of geotechnical investigations for dams, outlines ways to determine the appropriate scope and types of investigations, and provides general advice on appropriate methods. It does not provide details of the investigations methods but directs readers to suitable sources of information. ANCOLD are working towards completion of the document which espouses principles that apply to all large geotechnical investigations projects.