A news article published today at 6:00 a.m. by Levante-EMV, a regional newspaper from the Valencian Community in eastern Spain, highlights how climate change is forcing public authorities to reinforce dam safety against increasingly frequent flash floods. The article focuses on the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and its efforts to improve the resilience of reservoirs in the Júcar and Segura river basin districts through structural upgrades, digitalisation and new technologies such as digital twins.
For an international audience, the Valencian Community is a Mediterranean region on Spain’s eastern coast, including the provinces of Valencia, Alicante and Castellón. It is an area where water management is especially important. Long periods of drought can be followed by very intense rainfall, creating sudden floods that may put pressure on rivers, reservoirs and nearby communities.
According to the article, many dams in the region were built decades ago, when climate conditions were different from those we face today. As extreme weather events become more frequent, authorities are reviewing the capacity of these infrastructures to release water safely, resist exceptional floods and respond to emergencies. One example is the Beniarrés dam, built in 1958 on the Serpis River, where recent works have increased the discharge capacity of the spillway gates from 1,200 to around 1,800 cubic metres per second.
The article also refers to other reservoirs, including Forata, Arenós and Montesa, where different safety and adaptation measures are being studied or implemented. In Forata, seriously affected by the 2024 DANA storm, the planned intervention aims to prevent lateral overflow and improve the dam’s response capacity. These actions show that adapting infrastructure to climate change is not only a technical matter, but also a key element of public safety and territorial resilience.
One of the most innovative measures mentioned is the use of digital twins. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical system, connected to real data through sensors, simulation models and monitoring platforms. In the case of a dam, it can help engineers observe water levels, structural behaviour, rainfall scenarios and possible risks in real time. This makes it possible to anticipate incidents, test “what if” situations and make better decisions before an emergency occurs
This example is closely connected to the Digital Twin on Smart Manufacturing project. Although the project focuses on smart manufacturing, the skills it promotes are highly transferable to other sectors. Whether applied to a production line, an industrial machine or a dam, digital twins help connect the physical and digital worlds to monitor, simulate, predict and improve performance.
For vocational education and training, this is a valuable opportunity. Future technicians will need to understand sensors, data, simulation tools and predictive maintenance systems. Projects such as Digital Twin help prepare learners for this new reality, where digital technologies support safer, smarter and more sustainable industries and infrastructures.
