Evaluating the Feasibility of Robotic Crawler Deployed Ground Penetrating Radar to Assess Repairs of a Concrete Hydroelectric Dam Spillway in Alabama, USA

Dams and the water systems they support must be monitored, maintained, repaired when necessary so can continue to provide benefits communities serve. This study presents methods results from a robotic crawler-based ground penetrating radar (GPR) inspection of rehabilitated concrete hydroelectric dam spillway located in Alabama, USA. spillway, which was recently inspected repaired, showed evidence spalling indicated internal structural deterioration. Standard practice would leave these repairs uninspected or put wellbeing people at risk deploying them on for manual inspections. GPR data were recorded resurfaced areas site evaluate capability remotely controlled crawler system assure repair quality efficiently effectively. The indicate that high without need inspection. able resolve length, thickness, number reinforcements, reinforcement spacing, cover depth. encountered several difficulties, author proposes future pathways development safely inspecting critical infrastructure with steep slopes slippery, rough surfaces.