CESI, through its subsidiary ISMES SpA, successfully completed in January 2026 a new upgrade phase of the monitoring system at the Itaipu Dam, following a 24-month project and building on the implementation of the ADAS automatic monitoring system first delivered in 2008.
Awarded through an international tender, the project further confirms CESI as a global reference in the monitoring of large dams. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in dam safety, CESI combines structural and geotechnical expertise with advanced monitoring technologies to support the long-term assessment and safe operation of critical infrastructure.
The project coordination and overall management, including the supervision of an international team of specialists, were led by Andrea Zattoni, Senior Expert in Monitoring Systems at CESI Consulting, Business Unit of CESI.
The upgrade introduced several innovative solutions, including the installation of 59 MEMS IPI inclinometric sensors for automatic and continuous measurements. This represents the first application of this technology on a dam of this type in South America, marking a significant milestone for the sector.
Integrated with advanced digital platforms, the new monitoring system enables real-time visualization of data and supports increasingly precise analyses, contributing to enhanced dam safety and operational reliability.
The project also involved the installation of 25 extensometers at depths of up to 93 metres, corresponding to approximately 3,900 metres of measuring rods, as well as the construction of 25 reinforced concrete monoliths to anchor the measuring heads. These figures set a new benchmark for large-scale geotechnical monitoring projects.
This achievement is the result of close international collaboration between CESI, the Itaipu technical team, and Brazilian and Paraguayan partners. Together, they combined innovation, technical excellence, reliability, and rigorous project planning to deliver a state-of-the-art monitoring solution for one of the world’s largest hydroelectric facilities.
