Geostatistical Estimation and Simulation in Dam Hydrogeological and Geotechnical Research: A Comprehensive Review

In dam engineering, the accurate assessment of hydrogeological and geotechnical parameters, including water pressure test (WPT), leakage, permeability, transmissibility, fractures’ distribution, and rock quality designation (RQD) is fundamental for ensuring the safety, longevity, and performance of dam sites. Over the past few years, geostatistical approaches have emerged as valuable tools for estimating and simulating these significant features, offering the potential to reduce errors and minimize study costs. This research reviews the most significant, valid, and efficient research in this field and comprehensively presents the studies’ results. An overview of the hydrogeological features of the dam sites will be presented. Then, the application of geostatistical approaches in each parameter is provided. Also, the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches are studied based on the prevailing conditions of the site. This research proves that geostatistics is an appropriate and efficient tool that can increase the accuracy of studies, reduce errors, and save time and money.