Image © Chris Ma

Programme

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Wednesday 19 November

8.30am – 4.30pm

Pre-conference workshops

  • ANCOLD Guidelines on Tailings Dams

  • Stopbanks/Levees Design and Management

    Proudly sponsored by GHD

  • Dam Regulations – Learnings and Perspectives from New Zealand/Australia

5.00pm – 6.30pm

Welcome reception
Fat Eddies/Original Sin, Oxford Terrace
Proudly sponsored by Riley Consultants

Thursday 20 November

8.30am

Mihi whakatau and welcome

9.00am

Keynote presentation
Andrew Watson, Director of Dam Safety BCHydro

9.45am

Keynote presentation
Dr Sulojana Shanmuganathan, Chief Engineer, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

10.30am

Morning tea

Proudly sponsored by Anderson Lloyd

11.00am

Concurrent Session #1

Proudly sponsored by Entura

  • 11.00am
    Aligning Surveillance and Monitoring with Potential Failure Modes: A Case Study of Three Snowy Hydro Concrete Dams, Tom Budgen

    11.15am
    Framework for Utilizing Digital Condition Assessment Datasets for Maintenance planning and on-going monitoring of the Pukaki Spillway, Harsh Rathod, Ph.D., Jim Walker

    11.30am
    Spillway Gate Reliability - International Database Development and Insights, Jackson Wilson

    11.45am
    Automated dam safety monitoring and public safety warnings – with rugged, low cost wireless technology, Philip Winter, Simon Croft

    12.00pm
    The modern flownet: a tool to assist in interpretation of piezometric data, Steven Pells

    12.15pm
    Data Deluge: Interpreting and managing the flood of dam surveillance information, Chris Rogers

  • 11.00am
    Seismic Performance Evaluation of a Control Gates Structure, Ioannis Antonopoulos

    11.15am
    Mapping the Mount Bold Dam Stilling Basin - a time constrained logistical feat, Rebecca Smart

    11.30am
    Shaping Resilience: Evaluation of hydraulic performance and geological hazards for the Tekapo Lake Control Structure, Grant Webby

    11.45am
    Successful Operation of an Innovative Retrofitted Energy Dissipation Solution for Reservoir Filling, Jeremy Bruce

    12.00pm
    The importance of geological history and processes in developing engineering geological models for dams – case study Hāwea Dam, Rose Coulter

  • 11.00am
    Engineering Judgement addressing Complex Geotechnical Conditions: The Otawere Reservoir Case Study, Ben Anderton

    11.15am
    Site C Roller Compacted Concrete Buttress - Lessons Learned from Construction, Corey Aurala

    11.30am
    Responses to Challenging Geological Conditions in a High Seismic Environment during Construction of the Concrete-faced Rockfill Waimea Community Dam, New Zealand, Tyler Bain

    11.45am
    Case Studies in Unusual Geological Features in Off-Stream Storages, Ella Baxter

    12.00pm
    Verification of Multiple Wedge Analysis using Strength Reduction Method in Abaqus, Katie Dodman

12.30pm

Lunch

Including Emerging Professionals (EP) networking lunch
Proudly sponsored by Sunwater

1.30pm

Concurrent Session #2
Proudly sponsored by Entura

  • 1.30pm
    Case Study on Determining the Influence of Input Parameters on CPT Derived Undrained ‘Red Mud’ Strength,Marina Costa Medeiros

    1.45pm
    A modern approach to dam surveillance and monitoring combining deterministic and statistical models, Sam Weatheritt

    2.00pm
    How well do we understand the selection and role of Ground Motion Models in a PSHA study?Vicki-Ann Dimas

    2.15pm
    What the FMEC-UA? Risk assessment and uncertainty; qualifying the known unknowns across a portfolio,Michael Ford

    2.30pm
    The role of engineering judgement in the reinstatement of Kuranda Weir,Sarah Krkobabic

    2.45pm
    How low do we go? Application of ALARP principle to tailings and water dams using qualitative risk inputs,Chris Topham

    3.00pm
    Operational risk and damage state assessment for dams – the current state of Australian and international practice,Richard Mannix, Kathleen Brock

    3.15pm
    Scenario-based Probabilistic Fault Displacement Hazard Analysis for Enhancing Dam Safety: Applications to the Willunga Fault in Australia and the Porters Pass Fault in New Zealand,Yuxiang (Gideon) Tang

  • 1.30pm
    When Python meets risk data – how to manage and present a risk database using Python and Power BI, Sean Gottschling

    1.45pm
    Design Considerations and Selection of Head Block Type for Large Capacity Anchors using FEA, Sam Lalli

    2.00pm
    Decommissioning a 161yr Old Puddle Clay Core Dam., Eli Maynard

    2.15pm
    Challenging the need for a spillway on an Extreme consequence dam: ALARP/SFAIRP to the rescue?Sam Taubert

    2.30pm
    A suggested enhanced framework for deficiency management decision making,Ian Walsh

    2.45pm
    Does my berm look big in this? Foundation considerations for Swedish berm design in an embankment dam upgrade, Jaretha Lombaard

    3.00pm
    Operational Reliability of Spilltubes and Turbines,David Bowles

    3.15pm
    Prudent and Efficient Planning to Meet ALARP for Sunwater Referable Dams – A Portfolio Approach to Dam Safety Improvement Program,Peyman Andaroodi

  • 1.30pm
    Evaluating Alkali Aggregate Reaction (AAR) Impact on Concrete Gravity Dams Using Finite Element Analysis, Radin Espandar

    1.45pm
    Crotty Dam’s Innovative Spillway – 30 Years of Performance Providing Valuable Precedent Data to the Industry, Richard Herweynen

    2.00pm
    Drawdown Without Drawback: Innovative Design and Stability Analysis of Poatina Buffer Dam for Rapid Drawdown Conditions, Rhys Koppelmann

    2.15pm
    Mapping it all together: Scaling GIS to support multiple water infrastructure projects, Elliott Simmons

    2.30pm
    Guidance for use of empirical methods for design of roller buckets informed by computational fluid dynamics modelling,Nicholas Thomas-Kinsella

    2.45pm
    ALARP During Design. A Pragmatic Approach to Decision Making, Risk Reduction, and Ensuring Long-Term Adaptability,Tom Ridgway

    3.00pm
    Fatigue Failure of Ground Anchors in Energy Dissipation Structures, Maz Mahzari

3.30pm

Afternoon tea
Proudly sponsored by Contact Energy

4.00pm

Concurrent Session #3
Proudly sponsored by Entura

  • 4.00pm
    Is FoS of 1.5 the magic number in geomembrane design, Polly Guan

    4.15pm
    From Concept to Final Design: Waimea Community Dam Spillway Configuration. Lessons Learned, David Menendez Aran

    4.30pm
    Consistent Estimation of Joint Roughness Coefficient and 'i' using a Digital Method & the Selection of Phi, Deryk Forster

  • 4.00pm
    If not full height, what height is acceptable? Matthew Aitken

    4.15pm
    Spillway upgrades for dams that are also road or rail embankments, Dewi Knappstein

    4.30pm
    Stability Assessment of Complex Structures using FEA to Determine the Remediation Pathway for an Existing Arch Dam, Brendan Shute

  • 4.00pm
    Consequences of Differences between ANCOLD 2019 and NZSOLD 2024 Seismic Guidelines, Paul Somerville

    4.15pm
    Consideration of new seismic hazard knowledge in seismic design and safety evaluation of dams in New Zealand, Vis (Yuanzhi) Chen

    4.30pm
    Holding it all together – Defensive design to resist the effects of liquefaction in the foundations of a new urban Flood Detention Dam in Rotorua, New Zealand, Dominic Fletcher

4.45pm

Day one concludes

7.00pm – midnight

Conference dinner

Friday 21 November

7.00am

Women in large dams breakfast

Proudly sponsored by Goulburn-Murray Water

8.30am

Keynote presentation | Earthquake cracking of embankment dams
Lelio Mejia, Senior Principal, Geosyntec Consultants

9.15am

Panel: Understanding and managing legacy risk

Panelists: Andrew Watson, Peter Mulvihill, Lelio Mejia, Barton Maher

10.00am

Morning tea

Proudly sponsored by Engineering Geology Limited

10.30am

Concurrent Session #4

Proudly sponsored by Dam Safety Intelligence

  • 10.30am
    Future of the Possible Maximum Precipitation in New Zealand,Oscar Barrett-Garnier

    10.45am
    You have been warned are we allowing enough time for robust evacuation of background populations, Adam Broit

    11.00am
    Levees, then and now, when and how? Ones state’s efforts to update their levee regulations and guidelines, Samuel Holden

    11.15am
    Bushfire Impacts and Climate Change: Advancing Landslide Hazard Assessments for Dam and Reservoir Safety, Timothy Mote

    11.30am
    A Risk-Based Approach for Integrating Climate Change Factors to Inform Hydraulic Design in the Mining Sector, Izabela Gontijo da Fonseca Moreira

    11.45am
    New Hydrologic Method for DefiningHydrograph Shape in Ungauged Catchments, Tim Rhodes

    12.00pm
    Benchmarking the Probable Maximum Floods of Australian Dams Against the Regional Flood Envelope Curves, Ash Rasheed

    12.15pm
    Robust interpolation between design rainfalls and the Probable Maximum Precipitation, Declan O'Shea

  • 10.30am
    Investigating the Depth of Over-Consolidation in the Crest of an Embankment Dam, Chris Coulson

    10.45am
    The importance of modelling accuracy in predicting dam gate behaviour, Cameron Ewing

    11.00am
    Historical Insights for a Resilient Future: A Case Study of the Cobb Dam, Leah King

    11.15am
    Curve Your Enthusiasm: Taming Risk with the Dam Screening Tool, Nathan Snorteland

    11.30am
    3 Practical Examples of Success using Quantitative Risk Assessments of Tailings Storage Facilities, James Alcorn

    11.45am
    Wrong but useful?  A retrospective on the ‘best available’ New Zealand Inventory of Dams (NZID), Kaley Crawford-Flett

    12.00pm
    Typical cyber security failure modes, dam safety and operational risk reduction measures for dam flow control systems, Jordan Hunt

    12.15pm
    Linking Our Past with Emerging Technology: A Case Study on Seepage Detection at Thompsons Creek Dam, Martin Ryzak

  • 10.30am
    Risk Assessment of Dams - Aligning Engineering and Legal Principles, Greg Smith

    10.45am
    Implementing a Dam Safety Management System: A Practical Guide, Josh Clark

    11.00am
    Implementing Dam Safety Regulations in New Zealand – A Central Regulators Perspective,Tim Farrant

    11.15am
    The Drivers of Dam Safety Legislation in New Zealand - Connecting the Past to the Future, Gavin Palmer

    11.30am
    The Requirement for a Technical Review Team in Dams Design, how it is Managed and its Function in Ensuring the Successful Delivery of a Project, David Ryan

    11.45am
    When is enough, enough? - Discharging duties in dam safety risk management, James Stuart

    12.00pm
    Developing Guidelines for LifeSim Parameter Selection to Enhance Consequence Assessments in Queensland, Hench Wang

    12.15pm
    Using Geological Modelling To Undertake A Targeted Emergency Response, Kapil Singh

12.30pm

Lunch

1.30pm

Concurrent Session #5

Proudly sponsored by Dam Safety Intelligence

  • 1.30pm
    The Potential Cascading Flood Consequences of Dam Outflow on Levee Breaches and Communities, Thomas Wallace

    1.45pm
    Validation of Fuse Plug Design and Guidance using a Simplified Physically Based Breach Model, Luke Palmen

    2.00pm
    Challenges in Breach Prediction for Small Dams: Insights from Queensland's Referable Dam Program, Rob Fowden

    2.15pm
    Cashmere Valley Dam: A Case Study in Adapting Urban Areas for Climate Change, Petra O'Bery

    2.30pm
    Latrobe Tasmania levee: lessons for successful flood mitigation, Colin Terry

    2.45pm
    Model growing with dam growing: an integrated approach to constructional safety and sustainability, Xuyan Wang

    3.00pm
    Reservoir Decommissioning. A Portfolio Owner's Experience, Dougie Armour

    3.15pm
    Las Bambas Geomembrane Faced Tailings Dam, John Cowland

  • 1.30pm
    Bridging Past and Future: Practical Lessons from Hydromechanical Projects, Dean Hassall

    1.45pm
    Dam Engineering Project Success Evaluation Tool, Pouya Amies

    2.00pm
    Flow observations at Burdekin Fall Dams during the February 2025 major flood event, Carlos Gonzalez

    2.15pm
    Quickfire Presentations

    • Staged Surveillance and Instrumentation Upgrades for Three Embankment Dams Using a Risk-Based, Failure-Mode-Focused Approach, Diego Real

    • Holding it all together – Defensive design to resist the effects of liquefaction in the foundations of a new urban Flood Detention Dam in Rotorua, New Zealand, Dominic Fletcher

    • Terzaghi and British Columbia: lessons from dam construction in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Jonathan Fannin

    • A Unique Australian Dam Through And For Generations, Sonia Fortuna

    • Lessons from two dam failures in the same portfolio in quick succession, Richard Greatrex

    • Seepage Erosion Management in HDPE-Lined Reservoirs: Design, Construction and Monitoring Solutions, Vis (Yuanzhi) Chen

    • Flood Risk Management in Dam Upgrades: A GoldSim Approach, Elizabeth Saunders

    • Case study: Developing and Implementing a Construction Water Management Plan and Spill Procedure for a Water Treatment Plant Supplying Dam, Ciaran Walshe, Judd Cox

  • 1.30pm
    An innovative approach to dam safety training, Brendan Trebilco

    1.45pm
    Developing Guidelines for LifeSim Parameter Selection to Enhance Consequence Assessments in Queensland, Hench Wang

    2.00pm
    Development of Risk-Informed Dam Safety Programs, Rachael Bisnett

    2.15pm
    Raising the Bar in Dam Emergency Planning - A Collaborative Approach Between Owners and Emergency Responders, Damien Bryan

    2.30pm
    LifeSim Validation Case Study:  ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper Consequence Assessment Update for Tinaroo Falls Dam, Cara Van Megchelen

    2.45pm
    Quickfire Presentations

    • Dam surveillance for a large dam portfolio from instrument to alarm, Alex Wylie

    • Building Resilience with a Labyrinth Weir Spillway, Benjamin Figg

    • Review of hydrological considerations for downstream incremental consequence assessments under rainy day dam break failures, Cristian Hadad Westphal

    • Internal Erosion in Tailings Dams and Engineering Judgement - Risk Assessment Considerations, Tim Newman

    • Practical Guidance for Intermediate-Level Dam Breach Modelling and Consequence Assessment, Samuel Paquier

    • Garbage In Garbage Out - The Role of Engineering Judgement in utilising Artificial Intelligence,Justin Yau

3.30pm

Afternoon tea

Proudly sponsored by Energy Surveys

4.00pm

Awards

3.45pm - 5.30pm

ANCOLD Annual General Meeting

4.20pm

Reflections / conference summary

4.30pm

Conference concludes

4.30pm - 5.15pm

Post conference farewell drinks

5.30pm - 6.00pm

Farewell drinks for those attending ANCOLD AGM 

Please note: This is a draft programme and is subject to change as we continue to finalise session details and speaker confirmations.