Monte Cotugno Dam Monitoring by the Electrical Resistivity Tomography

This work presents an interesting case-study regarding a big dam monitoring thanks to the deployment of the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). In particular, we are concerned with the largest rock-fill dam in Europe, i.e., the dam on Sinni river in Basilicata region (Italy), which is one of the main civil strategic infrastructures in Southern Italy. The presence of fractures visible on the hanging waterproof dam has motivated the investigation about the possible water infiltration in the dam. ERT surveys were carried out to detect the inner areas characterized by lower electrical resistivity values as indicators of the undesired presence of water inside the structure. The imaging capability of the ERT investigation was the key to detect and localize the areas of the dam affected by the presence of water. On the basis of ERT results, the managing body of the dam activated other diagnostic tools in view of a proper planning of future restoration works.