On March 13, 2014, the appraisal meeting of “Research and Application of Key Technology for Reservoir Dam Safety”, jointly carried out by NHRI, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research and Hohai University, was held in Beijing by the Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology of MWR. 7 experts including Academician Zhang Chuhan with Qinghua University and Mr. Zhu Erming, former chief engineer of MWR, formed the expert panel. Representatives from the project implementing institutions and main research members also attended the meeting.

Academician Zhang Jianyun, president of NHRI, made an introduction to the background, main achievements, innovative points, academic findings, engineering application and comprehensive benefits of the project. Aiming at the key technology for reservoir dam safety, relevant studies were conducted on dam defects and laws of dam breach, dam break test and simulation technology, development of dam safety assessment technology based on risk theory, key technology for dam defect mitigation and dam strengthening, non-engineering measures for dam risk control, dam safety monitoring and pre-warning technology, and dam risk standards with a series of important achievements, which were applied to dozens of large-size reservoir dams and embankments, thus providing solid technical support for further strengthening of the reservoir dam safety system in China.

The expert panel agreed unanimously that the project had achieved remarkable and innovative results in the aspects of dam breach testing and simulation, laws governing dam defects and breaches, dam risk assessment and management, and dam safety monitoring and pre-warning, hence its achievements had reached the world-front level.