ASDSO updates bibliography, creates support database

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials has updated its Bibliography of Dam Safety Practices, originally published in 1990 with assistance from the US Committee on Large Dams. The new document lists publications addressing dam safety issues and includes 20 subject headings. The Federal Emergency Management Agency underwrote the update, which includes information about journal articles on dam safety, conference presentations, and new books and manuals. The publication also contains information about obtaining copies of the documents. The bibliography features a new section on use of geosynthetics in dam safety, compiled by Greg Hammer, of ASDSO's Technical Committee. Dam break analysis, emergency action planning, instrumentation, inspections, overtopping of dams, rehabilitation of dams, risk analysis, and seismic behavior are also included. In conjunction with the release of the updated bibliography, ASDSO is creating a computer database for its members that contains information from the bibliography. ASDSO also is in the process of adding information to the database about current research in dam safety. When the database becomes available later this year, members will be able to search for information on research in a specific subject area. Users also will be able to search for research groups, individuals, and universities to obtain an overview of who is conducting research in dam safety. Additionally, the database will allow the user to search for subject matter experts when looking for conference speakers and writers with specific specialties