Introducing technology into the operation of reservoirs and dams in mountainous areas.

VTV.vn - Every rainy season, concerns about the safety of dams and reservoirs resurface in many localities in mountainous provinces.

Son La province has hundreds of large and small irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs. Safe operation is not only related to electricity production and irrigation but also to the safety of tens of thousands of people in downstream areas.

In the context of increasingly unpredictable extreme weather events, Son La province is gradually applying digital technology and automation to the management, monitoring, and warning systems of dams and reservoirs, helping to shift disaster prevention efforts from a passive to a more proactive approach.

Data streams are constantly updated every minute…The surveillance camera system operates 24/7…Or with just one operation from the control center, warning signals are transmitted to downstream communities…This is the warning and monitoring technology system installed at the Ban Mong reservoir in Son La province.

Mr. Bui Nam Hung from the Son La Irrigation Works Management and Exploitation Company said that before the availability of supporting equipment, the staff all conducted monitoring manually. Manual monitoring posed a safety risk to those performing monitoring duties because the Ban Mong reservoir catchment area is very large, and the water level is very high during the flood season. Manual monitoring is much safer when regulating floods for downstream areas.

Automation improves accuracy and shortens processing time in case of unusual situations. Through sensors measuring rainfall, water flow, and dam pressure, all operating parameters are continuously updated in real time.

Digitizing dam data, connecting it to early warning systems, and improving forecasting capabilities are crucial for proactive disaster prevention and mitigation.

Son La province currently has numerous large and small irrigation and hydroelectric reservoirs nestled amidst its complex hilly terrain. Climate change is causing extreme rainfall and floods to occur more frequently, placing a very high demand on monitoring and early warning capabilities.

To minimize risks, many units have invested in automated monitoring systems that transmit data online to the control center, significantly contributing to the advancement of disaster forecasting and warning through digitalization and automation.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, Vice Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee, said: "We are also ready for the 2026 flood season to operate the reservoirs and mitigate flooding downstream. Installing equipment is very important in reservoir operation. The province has proposed to the Ministry to build a system of large reservoirs to store water for agricultural production."

Natural disasters are becoming increasingly extreme, but along with digital transformation, technology is becoming a new "shield" in the management and operation of reservoirs and dams. Especially in mountainous areas, investing in technology for reservoir and dam operation is making a significant contribution to protecting the safety of downstream communities.

Source: https://vtv.vn/dua-cong-nghe-vao-van-hanh-ho-dap-tai-vung-cao-100260521085052474.htm