This book contains the proceedings of the tenth biennial conference of the British Dam Society, held at the University of Wales in Bangor in 1998. Included are papers charting key issues on the future of dam engineering into the next century by eminent figures in the field of water engineering. Issues that are tackled include the use of risk analysis in the safety management and maintenance of dams, flood control and the management, performance and rehabilitation of ageing dams.

Dams have been used to control water for thousands of years, with the oldest known dam being a small earthen structure in present-day Jordan dating to c.4000 BCE. Since then, cultures throughout the world have practised the art of dam-building and the technology has evolved in myriad ways. The papers selected here examine the key technical issues influencing dam construction from ancient times to the early 20th century. In addition they illustrate why various human societies have built dams and how ’social’ (or seemingly ’non-technical’) factors have influenced the process of dam design. Though hydraulic engineering is the primary focus of the book, it also reveals a keen interest in questions of water resources and environmental history.

Addresses the concerns of the dam engineering community, and summarizes experiences in safety analysis and the works on both embankment and concrete dams. This book provides an analysis on the subjects in the field of reservoir engineering, and is designed for those involved in reservoir design and construction, both in the UK and overseas.