U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dam and Levee Inspection

Levee inspections are necessary to ensure that systems will perform as expected, identify deficiencies or areas that need monitoring or immediate repair, identify changes in the levee system over time, collect information to help make informed decisions about future actions, and provide the public with information about the levees on which they rely.

KEG assembled a team of six engineering firms and was responsible for overall project management in all aspects of this contract. The project consisted of conducting geotechnical engineering inspections of levees along with mechanical, electrical, and structural inspections of associated appurtenant structures, including pump stations and flood walls.  This project required the preparation of pre-inspection reports, review of original design criteria, assessment of project emergency action and evacuation plans, conduct of field inspections, coordination with local sponsors and project staff, and preparation of final inspection reports.

KEG conducted levee inspections for 26 levee systems along the Mississippi, Illinois, Kaskaskia, and Big Muddy Rivers. Inspections under Task Order 1 included over 400 miles of levees, with more than 200 drainage structures, 400 closure structures, 50 pump stations, and several floodwalls. The inspections were conducted in accordance with Corps standard policies and design criteria.  All field data were collected using the Corps’ Levee Inspection System (LIS) tablets and software. The LIS software is a GIS application that allows inspectors to document issues discovered during the inspection and link data to the location using GPS technology. Observations and digital photos were linked to this geospatial location data.