November 15, 2021: NPD Explorer Beta Demo
On November 15, 2021, research staff from ORNL hosted a virtual workshop to provide an overview of the Non-Powered Dam (NPD) Explorer tool and elicit initial feedback from workshop participants. During the workshop, presenters demonstrated the content, functionality, and benefits of using the NPD Explorer tool and its built-in widget “NPDamCAT.” The tools and associated data will eventually be housed on hydrosource.gov. Tool descriptions include:
- NPD Explorer: a “sandbox” environment with open-ended exploration, with data hosted and displayed on ArcGIS Online. The “beta” version of NPD Explorer is accessible here.
- NPDamCAT (Non-Powered Dam Custom Analysis and Taxonomy): a tool which executes a uni-directional workflow to classify dams into groups and then explore information about dams within/across groups. The “beta” version of NPDamCAT is accessible here.
July 22, 2021: NPD Explorer and NPDamCAT: web tools supporting analysis of non-powered dams
On July 22, 2021, research staff from ORNL’s Environmental Sciences Division hosted a virtual workshop titled “NPD Explorer and NPDamCAT: web tools supporting analysis of non-powered dams (NPDs).” The presenters highlighted recent efforts to assemble an expansive inventory of NPD characteristics and demoed tools that can facilitate exploration of NPDs and opportunities related to NPD. These tools include:
To access the workshop slides click the button in the image below.
December 10, 2020: Challenges and Opportunities for Non-Powered Dams: Improving Classification and Data Access
On December 10, 2020, ORNL held the first in a series of virtual workshops on the topic of improving classification and data access for non-powered dams (NPDs). The workshop explored challenges and opportunities related to NPDs and brought a wide variety of NPD stakeholders together in a virtual setting to navigate and discuss ways to improve classification and data access for NPDs.
- ORNL’s ongoing NPD classification research (funded as a part of the Standard Modular Hydropower project) was presented, with the goals of (1) presenting a vision and framework for tackling NPD classification; and (2) better understanding the backgrounds, priorities, and needs of various stakeholders involved with non-powered dams.
- Future efforts toward developing classification research products and tools were also mentioned, and a 2nd workshop to review a prototype dam classification exploration tool is tentatively planned for Spring 2021.
To access the workshop slides click the button below.
Standard Modular Hydropower (SMH) Resources Webinar
The Standard Modular Hydropower Resources Webinar provides an overview and demonstration of two guidelines and tools that are publicly available.
- Exemplary Design Envelope Specification (EDES) – A framework for technology-neutral conceptual design of modular hydropower technology. The EDES specifies the objectives, requirements, constraints, and performance of exemplary modules, and identifies functional relationships that must be incorporated into facility designs to minimize disruptions of the river continuum.
- SMH Explorer – A geo-visual analytics platform that empowers user-guided, energy-water-environment-module data analysis and inquiries in support of SMH development. The tool can be used to establish scoping level insights into the type of foundation, generation, water quality, fish passage, recreation, and sediment modules that may be necessary should SMH development be pursued on a stream-reach.
