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Southern Rural Water and Seismology Research Centre collaborate to monitor earthquake activity at Lake Glenmaggie dam using triaxial accelerographs

Southern Rural Water and the Seismology Research Centre have collaborated to enhance earthquake monitoring at Lake Glenmaggie dam with triaxial strong motion accelerographs, ensuring rapid structural response assessment during seismic events.

By news@gippsland - 3rd July 2024 - Back to News

Southern Rural Water has partnered with Melbourne-based Seismology Research Centre to install additional earthquake monitoring equipment at Lake Glenmaggie dam. The technology, known as triaxial strong motion accelerographs or SMA, monitors the structural response of the dam to earthquakes.

Lake Glenmaggie is located on the Macalister River in Central Gippsland, Victoria - VicRoad Reference Map 82 E8

Monitoring enhances safety

While Australia is regarded as a low earthquake hazard region, there was a 4.5 magnitude earthquake in June 2023 that was an aftershock of a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in September 2021, at Woods Point, 66 kilometres northwest of Lake Glenmaggie. Thankfully, the 2023 event was neither large enough or close enough to cause any damage but still provided useful insights to researchers, particularly on motion and vibration data.

Principal Dams Engineer Aida Gibbons said the monitoring equipment was an essential risk tool. "We have plans in place for all types of emergencies, including earthquakes. This technology gives us peace of mind that should an earthquake occur, data can be provided near real time and assessments made quickly on the integrity of the dam structure and if the dam is operating as designed. Monitoring data for the 2023 earthquake actually showed that the dam was stronger than previously assumed, which was important to know."

The Seismology Research Centre will manage and operate the equipment 24 hours per day, seven days per week, as part of the agreement with Southern Rural Water. Seismology Research Centre has the largest number of earthquake seismograph stations in Australia and clients include government and private organisations that require rapid notifications of earthquake epicentre locations and magnitudes to aid in the emergency management of assets and infrastructure, such as dams, buildings and power stations.

Pictures from Southern Rural Water website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com