ID: 1810
Presenting Author: Adriana Cubides Cruz
Session: 524 - Power and Perception: Misinformation, Disinformation, and the Environmental and Social Narrative in Hydropower Development
Status: pending
Continuous technical monitoring and open data communication at Ituango HP have strengthened transparency, countered misinformation, and enhanced trust in hydropower project management.
The Ituango Hydroelectric Project (Ituango HP) is one of Colombia’s major engineering undertakings, particularly after the 2018 contingency, when the reservoir was unintentionally filled due to blockage of the tunnel that diverted the Cauca River. During its recovery and commissioning, public perception and institutional and scientific discussions, have been influenced by diverse narratives, political factors, and misinformation.
To improve transparency and reliability, the Technical Monitoring Center (CMT) was established as an innovative initiative for real-time (24/7) monitoring of surface and underground works. The CMT integrates visual inspections, geotechnical instrumentation, and advanced technologies such as interferometric radars, seismological networks, hydrometric stations, and geodetic monitoring. Combined with environmental monitoring of water, fish, vegetation, and other biotic components, it enables comprehensive, evidence-based decision-making.
Reviewed by universities and engineering firms nationally and internationally, this monitoring system supports technical oversight, public resource management, and transparent reporting. and includes preparedness and response protocols designed to safeguard downstream communities. Sharing technical data with communities, authorities, and regulatory entities has helped counter misinformation and strengthen institutional credibility. The Ituango HP experience shows that rigorous communication and open, verifiable access to data are essential to building trust and achieving sustainable hydropower management.
Adriana Cubides Cruz, Civil Engineer, MSc in Geotechnical Engineering, Project Management Specialist. Project Leader at EPM’s Ituango Hydroelectric Project with 15 years of experience.
Coauthor 1: William Giraldo Jiménez