Study on the Applicability of the Exterior Condition Assessment to Evaluate The Physical Vulnerability of Check Dams

Check dams are a typical structural approach used in watershed disaster management systems. Currently, approximately 12,000 check dams have been estimated to be constructed on mountain streams in Korea. More than 90% of these have been constructed in the last 20 years. This rapid increase over a short period of time has attracted attention to the necessity of maintenance strategies for check dams. The purpose of this study is to examine the applicability of the exterior condition assessment to evaluate the degree of deterioration in check dams. We classify the typical damage types of check dams and describe its key characteristics. Moreover, we apply a modified version of the condition assessment for large dams to meet the characteristics of check dams.