Mosul Dam - Building 2D & 3D Project Information Systems for Construction Monitoring and Risk Assessments-Paper

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The paper describes how the US Army Corps of Engineers used its SIMDAMS methods to manage construction data and support dam-safety assessments at Mosul Dam in Iraq. The dam’s karst foundation requires repeated grouting, and the project combines decades of historical records with large volumes of current drilling, grouting, quality-assurance, geological, and instrumentation data. Much of the older information was available only in scanned documents, making it difficult to search, compare, and interpret.<br /><br />SIMDAMS organizes spatial data in a central geodatabase and links mapped features to relevant documents. It provides GIS-based 2D plan, profile, and section views, as well as 3D models, through a web interface accessible to the construction team, US-based support staff, and the Government of Iraq. Users do not need GIS expertise to view and search project information. New data are processed and added regularly, creating a continually updated record of construction.<br /><br />The system helps users compare current and historical grouting, view data alongside geology and instrumentation, locate high- and low-grout-take areas, and generate statistical and graphical analyses. Digitizing original construction records also enables assessment of earlier foundation treatments and their effectiveness. These capabilities support construction planning, risk analysis, and the development of dam-safety modifications.<br /><br />The authors conclude that SIMDAMS serves both as a searchable visual library and as a living as-built model. By integrating dispersed information and making it quickly available to teams across locations, it improves collaboration, monitoring, and analysis. The Mosul implementation demonstrates the value of a BIM-like information environment for dam construction and safety projects.

Keywords

Mosul Dam

SIMDAMS

US Army Corps of Engineers

grouting

karst foundation

dam safety

GIS geodatabase

construction data management

3D models

BIM-like environment