Dam Safety Management System / Purpose-built for the NZ dams industry

Damtec is an online platform that serves as a single point of truth for all your dam safety data and documentation. The platform provides you with an easy and up-to-date understanding of a dam’s condition to manage risk more effectively, sustain the value of a critical asset, and simplify compliance with the Building (Dam Safety) Regulations 2022 (Regulations), which come into force on the 13 May 2024.

The platform’s framework and terminology are directly aligned with the New Zealand Dam Safety Guidelines and Regulations.

Damtec has been built to specifically satisfy the 12 elements of a Dam Safety Management System (DSMS) recommended by the Guidelines, and the requirements of a Dam Safety Assurance Programme (DSAP) specified in Clauses 10 to 19 of the Regulations.

Whau Valley water supply dam, Whangārei. Concept, site investigation, feasibility, design, observation, and surveillance by Tonkin + Taylor

  • Manage dam safety risk more efficiently & effectively.
  • Simplify compliance with the Building (Dam Safety) Regulations 2022.
  • Sustain the value of critical assets.
  • Intuitive & easy to use
  • Utilises established industry terminology
  • Live dashboards for quick insights into alerts and alarms, regulatory deadlines, dam safety issues, and tasks
  • Up-to-date, secure, shared information accessible from anywhere
  • Easy searching & filtering
  • Task planning & tracking
  • Transmittals
  • A smart & powerful portal for surveillance, including:
    • Live data
    • Geospatial maps
    • Graphing of data for rapid interpretation
    • Alerts and alarms, with customisable text / email notifications
  • Governance
  • People, roles, & training
  • DSMS / DSAP audits, reviews, & tracking of ideas for improvements
  • Failure modes
  • Operation, maintenance, surveillance, & testing
  • Intermediate, Comprehensive, & Special Dam Safety Reviews
  • Dam safety issues, including a live register to track actions to resolve
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Emergency preparedness

Why has it been developed and who is it for?

Damtec has been purpose-built by Tonkin + Taylor’s dam experts and digital specialists to support dam safety management. Ultimately, the purpose of dam safety management is to protect people, property, and the environment, present and future, from the harmful effects of a dam failure. Damtec helps owners manage dam safety risk more effectively and efficiently.

Moreover, Damtec has been developed specifically for the New Zealand context and makes it easier for owners to comply with accepted practice and legal requirements.

On 13 May 2024, the Building (Dam Safety) Regulations 2022 come into force. The new regulations will introduce requirements for dam owners to:

  • Determine whether they own a dam covered by the regulations i.e., a “classifiable” dam.
  • Assess the consequences of their dam failing through a Potential Impact Classification (PIC).
  • For Medium and High PIC dams, develop and implement a Dam Safety Assurance Programme (DSAP).
  • Have the PIC, DSAP, and annual compliance certificates audited and certified by a Recognised Engineer, then submitted to regional authorities.
  • Review the PIC and DSAP at specified intervals.

Since their inception in 1995, the New Zealand Dam Safety Guidelines (Guidelines) have served as the reputable source of recommended practice for dams in New Zealand. MBIE’s “Guide to complying with the Dam Safety Regulations” refers to the Guidelines as a ”best practice guide”.

Damtec has been built to specifically satisfy the 12 elements of a Dam Safety Management System (DSMS) recommended by the Guidelines, and the requirements of a DSAP specified in Clauses 10 to 19 of the Regulations. Damtec also makes it easy to track upcoming deadlines under the Regulations.

  • Flexible to fit your organisation & dams
  • Device-agnostic. Damtec works with different instrumentation & systems
  • You choose the level of access for different users
  • Onboarding & training for your staff to get the most out of Damtec
  • Wraparound dam specialist services available as you need.
    • Instrumentation
    • Field collection tools
    • Dam safety advice
    • Dam engineering
    • Certification by Recognised Engineers

Dams are long-term assets that frequently outlast individuals and organisations. Over time, legislation changes, development occurs upstream and downstream, and knowledge and technology continue to advance.

Tonkin + Taylor is the third largest environmental and engineering consultancy in New Zealand. We still provide dam safety services on the first dam we designed in 1967. We are here to stay. Moreover, we are committed to ongoing support and improvements to Damtec.

Damtec has been developed up as a “living” system with change in mind. The platform has been set up to continuously adapt and improve as the industry advances and your needs change.

Pricing includes a one-off setup fee & a monthly or yearly license fee. Fees will depend on the specific needs of your organisation and dams portfolio. Contact us to learn more.

The surveillance element of Damtec is powered by Cirro, which is a real time site data and analytics solution developed by Geotechnics, NZ’s leading civil engineering testing company. Cirro is a powerful tool that can pull together data from a broad range of sources, including manually collected observations and readings, automated and telemetered devices, and a broader variety of data formats and reporting cadences. Geotechnics offers installation of many types of devices as you need, but Cirro and Damtec is device-agnostic and readily able to accommodate your existing devices or devices installed by other providers.

Dam engineering is part of
Tonkin + Taylor’s DNA

Dam projects draw on core expertise across our consultancy and testing companies under the careful eye of our dam engineering experts.

Tonkin + Taylor’s specialist services for dams include:

  • Concept design and feasibility studies
  • Geotechnical investigations
  • Hydrological and flood hazard studies
  • Dambreak modelling and Potential Impact Classification, including certification by Recognised Engineers
  • Environmental assessments, monitoring, and compliance advice
  • Assessments of Environmental Effects
  • Resource consents and renewals
  • Building consents
  • Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
  • Dam design and documentation
  • Construction management
  • Dam safety management including:
    • Development of Dam Safety Management Systems (DSMSs) and Dam
    • Safety Assurance Programmes (DSAPs), including certification by Recognised Engineers
    • Operation, Maintenance and Surveillance Manuals and training
    • Emergency Action Plans and training
    • Technical support for surveillance and instrumentation
    • Intermediate and Comprehensive Dam Safety Review
  • Dam rehabilitation and upgrade
  • Peer review and expert witness services for dams

Maitai water supply dam, Nelson. Design, construction, supervision, and surveillance by Tonkin + Taylor

Wai-Iti water augmentation dam, Wakefield. Concept and options assessment, feasibility study, detailed design and documentation and construction supervision by Tonkin + Taylor

Aniwhenua Hydroelectric scheme, Galatea. Feasibility study, environmental impact assessment, design, construction supervision, commissioning and ongoing surveillance by Tonkin + Taylor

More about Tonkin + Taylor’s work on dams

Our dam engineering experts have made and continue to make significant contributions to the industry, serving on the Management Committee of the New Zealand Society of Large Dams (NZSOLD) and contributing to the New Zealand Dam Safety Guidelines since their inception in 1995.

Construction of Whau Valley dam in Whangarei, the first large dam designed by Tonkin + Taylor began in 1967. In the decades since then, we have developed concepts, assessed feasibility, and designed many dams, stopbanks, and other large water infrastructure for hydropower, irrigation, flood detention, industry, and multi-purpose schemes.

Our designs have included 18 dams in the ICOLD large dam category, as well as the following landmark projects:

  • Whangarei and Nelson’s main water supply dams (Whau Valley and Maitai),
  • Kerikeri Irrigation Company’s two large storage dams,
  • Watercare’s Mangitangi Dam,
  • Opuha Water’s Dam and Hydrostation,
  • Wellington’s Stuart Mackasill Lakes, and
  • Waimea Community Dam, the largest dam built in New Zealand for over 20 years.

Tonkin + Taylor is proud to continue to provide dam safety and technical advice for many of dams and schemes. Our team has completed over 50 dam safety reviews, rehabilitation, and upgrade projects.

For more information please see below:

If you would like to talk directly to one of team please contact us here.

You can check out our Frequently Asked Questions here.

To find out more about Damtec Terms of Use please click here.

How can we help?

Get in touch with a Tonkin + Taylor representative today. Our friendly and knowledgeable team make it easy to find the right solution to suit your specific needs.

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