Recognizing that modern technical infrastructure is the cornerstone of technology-based reservoir safety management, the province has gradually invested in upgrading its monitoring systems. Key reservoirs, including Pa Khoang, Nậm Khẩu Hu, Bồ Hóng, Hồng Sạt, Sái Lương, Bản Ban, and Huổi Trạng Tai, are now equipped with automated hydrometeorological monitoring systems.

The integrated system consists of automatic rainfall gauges, water-level sensors, gate-opening sensors, watershed rainfall monitoring stations, and a central monitoring station with emergency warning functions installed at each reservoir’s management office. Automation enables hydrological data to be collected and updated rapidly and accurately. Reservoir managers then upload the information to the online platform of the Department of Water Resources Management and Irrigation. This eliminates the need for manual measurements while enabling synchronized monitoring and comparison of water levels across reservoirs within Điện Biên province and nationwide.

Đặng Văn Khánh, Head of the Nậm Khẩu Hu Irrigation Cluster, said: “The automated monitoring system allows us to accurately track rainfall and reservoir water levels in real time without having to conduct manual measurements during storms. Uploading data to the Department’s centralized platform also enables us to monitor and assess the overall hydrological picture alongside other reservoirs. As a result, reservoir regulation and operations have become more proactive, systematic, and effective in minimizing disaster risks.”

Alongside monitoring infrastructure at reservoirs, an automated river-level monitoring network in the Nậm Rốm River basin is also being piloted. The initiative is part of the project “Multi-hazard management in the Nậm Rốm River basin for community protection, climate change adaptation, and socio-economic development in Điện Biên province”, financed through a loan from the French Development Agency (AFD).

During the pilot phase, two automated water-level monitoring stations have been installed at the Nậm Rốm River headworks dam and the Nậm Rốm River diversion weir. Each station is equipped with hydrostatic water-level sensors that continuously transmit data to a centralized monitoring software system operated by the Sub-Department of Irrigation and Disaster Prevention and Control under the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment.

To ensure reliable operation under severe weather conditions, each station is powered by four 300-watt solar panels supplying electricity to the sensors, indoor and outdoor control cabinets, and two 360-degree outdoor surveillance cameras. Backup grid power is also available to maintain uninterrupted operation during prolonged periods of heavy rainfall.

Although the pilot currently covers only several critical locations, the system has already demonstrated encouraging results through proper operation. It has improved the accuracy and continuity of real-time hydrological data for flood forecasting and reservoir regulation, while providing valuable practical experience for relevant agencies before expanding smart monitoring technologies across the province’s entire reservoir and dam network.

Phạm Hồng Hà, Deputy Head of the Planning and Technical Division at Điện Biên Irrigation Management Co., Ltd., said: “This pilot phase provides an excellent opportunity for our technical staff to familiarize themselves with advanced equipment and standardize automated data analysis procedures. The system has operated reliably even during prolonged periods of heavy rain and strong winds, significantly reducing the workload for operational personnel and laying a solid foundation for the company’s future management of a province-wide monitoring network.”

The gradual adoption of digital technologies and automated monitoring systems in reservoir management not only enhances dam safety during the rainy season but also lays a strong foundation for the digital transformation of Điện Biên’s irrigation sector. Expanding technological applications and moving toward smart water resource management will be key to strengthening the province’s resilience to climate change, protecting lives and property, and supporting sustainable socio-economic development.