Posted by admin
💧 H2H Foundation participated in an open lecture on dam engineering held at Polis University by Eng. Arjan Jovani, President of EurCOLD, and Eng. Erjon Kalaja, an international expert in dam safety and management.
👍 The lecture provided valuable insights into the development of hydraulic infrastructure in Albania and across Europe, addressing in detail different dam typologies, modern monitoring systems, structural performance assessment, and the contemporary challenges related to dam safety and sustainability.
🗯️ The lecture covered several key topics in dam engineering, including:
• earthfill and rockfill dams;
• concrete gravity dams and arch dams;
• drainage systems and seepage control;
• geotechnical monitoring and dam instrumentation;
• the impact of climate change on reservoir safety;
• sediment management and erosion control;
• emergency preparedness and risk management in cases of extreme inflows or structural failures.
🌍 Discussions also focused on the main challenges faced by dams in Albania, where the experts highlighted issues such as:
• aging infrastructure and the need for periodic rehabilitation;
• reservoir sedimentation reducing water storage capacity;
• outdated or insufficient monitoring systems;
• increased risks from intense rainfall and flooding due to climate change;
• uncontrolled interventions near hydraulic structures;
• the need to strengthen safety standards and align them with European practices.
📚 Through interactive discussions and practical presentations, students had the opportunity to benefit from the experts’ direct experience, explore real case studies from Albania and the region, and deepen their professional knowledge in dam design, monitoring, and management.
🤝 The lecture was organized by Prof. Erjon Çobani, with the special support of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Merita Toska, creating an important platform for collaboration between academia, industry professionals, and civil society organizations on issues related to water safety and sustainable development.