ICDS 2026 Launches AI, Data Platforms to Strengthen Dam Safety

The International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS) 2026 has emerged as a premier global forum for advancing knowledge, policy and practice in dam safety and water infrastructure governance. Bringing together regulators, dam owners, engineers, researchers, policymakers and industry professionals from India and around the world, the conference is focused on addressing emerging challenges, regulatory frameworks, technological innovations and risk-informed approaches to dam safety in an era of climate uncertainty and growing developmental pressures.

ICDS 2026 serves as a vital platform for informed dialogue, capacity building and collaboration, supporting India's continued efforts to strengthen dam safety systems and improve water governance.

Major Launches at the Inaugural Session

The inaugural session witnessed the release of several key guidelines and digital platforms aimed at enhancing technical consistency, improving access to regulatory knowledge and enabling data-driven decision-making across the dam safety ecosystem.

These initiatives align with the objectives of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which has significantly strengthened India's regulatory framework for dam safety governance.

DAMCHAT: AI-Powered Dam Safety Knowledge Platform

Among the flagship launches was DAMCHAT, an AI-powered digital platform developed by the International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED), IIT Roorkee. The platform was launched by Shri D.K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka.

With the growing volume of technical literature, regulations and safety guidelines, dam owners and field engineers often face challenges in quickly accessing and interpreting complex regulatory requirements. DAMCHAT addresses this gap by enabling practitioners to query dam safety frameworks in real time and receive reliable, source-cited responses.

More than a digital tool, DAMCHAT is designed to bridge the gap between regulatory knowledge and on-ground implementation, supporting informed decision-making and improved compliance across the sector.

Jal Shakti Platform: Data Management and Decision Support

The second major launch was the Jal Shakti – Data Management and Decision Support Platform, developed by the National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) with technical support from BISAG-N. The platform was launched by Shri Raj Bhushan Choudary, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti.

The platform enables integrated visualisation and analysis of water-related datasets received from multiple national and state agencies. It provides policymakers, administrators, researchers and the public with user-friendly tools to explore critical water issues.

Currently, the platform hosts 59 use cases across major data groups including:

• Water Quantity

• Water Quality

• Water Planning

• Ecosystem & Wildlife

• Infrastructure

• Climate

• Utilities, Studies and Surveys

This marks a significant step towards open, accessible and evidence-based water governance.

New Guidelines for Design Flood Estimation in Mini and Micro Catchments

The inaugural session also saw the release of publications from the Advanced Centre for Integrated Water Resources Management (ACIWRM), Karnataka, along with new Guidelines for Design Flood Estimation for Dams with Mini and Micro Catchment Areas, developed by the Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The guidelines were released by Shri Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, periodic review of design floods, dam break analysis and flood inundation mapping is mandatory. However, prevailing practices for mini and micro catchments have largely focused only on peak flood estimation, without providing procedures for deriving a complete flood hydrograph — an essential requirement for dam break studies and downstream impact assessments.

Recognising this critical gap, the newly released guidelines provide a uniform, transparent and technically sound framework for estimating design flood hydrographs, ensuring consistent flood studies by State Governments, consultants, designers and appraisal agencies.

The guidelines are expected to significantly improve scientific rigour as well as ease of doing business in dam appraisal and safety compliance.

Strengthening Governance Through Technology and Standards

Together, the launch of DAMCHAT, the Jal Shakti platform and the new flood estimation guidelines reflect a coordinated national effort to strengthen dam safety governance, technical consistency and data-driven resilience.

Through its plenary discussions and technical sessions, ICDS 2026 is expected to facilitate knowledge exchange, capacity building and cross-sector collaboration, contributing to improved safety, sustainability and climate resilience of India's dam infrastructure.