URS Corporation's Innovative Approach to Dam Structural Analysis Using IoT

URS Corporation, a leading full-service engineering, planning, design, and construction company, was tasked with performing a comprehensive structural stability evaluation of the McKelvey Lake Dam in Mahoning County, Ohio. The dam, a 77-ft.-high concrete arch structure with a crest length of approximately 350 ft., forms a water reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 4,345 acre-ft. The challenge was to ensure that repeated freeze-thaw cycles had not compromised the dam's integrity for increased flood loads. Traditionally, such an analysis would involve extensive field investigations to collect concrete and foundation rock samples for laboratory testing. However, this process was time-consuming and costly, especially for dams located in remote areas. Furthermore, the creation of numerous computer models and running a wide range of individual simulations to thoroughly analyze all interrelated variables added to the complexity and cost of the project.

URS Corporation is a premier full-service engineering, planning, design, and construction company with nearly a century of business experience. With a staff of more than 26,000 in 300 offices across 20 countries, URS is considered a leader in dam engineering, design analysis, and safety. The firm frequently performs safety inspections for municipalities, utility companies, and government agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.