What Comitê Brasileiro de Barragens - CBDB does

Comitê Brasileiro de Barragens (CBDB) is a Brazilian non-profit technical association founded in 1961 and headquartered at Avenida Rio Branco 124 in Rio de Janeiro, operating as the official national committee representing Brazil within ICOLD-CIGB (International Commission on Large Dams). Its core mission is to consolidate and disseminate technical knowledge on dam engineering, safety, construction and operation across the Brazilian dam sector, serving as the convening body for hydropower operators, mining companies, engineering consultancies, government regulators and academic researchers. The association runs twenty national Technical Commissions (CT-1 through CT-20), coordinates Brazilian participation in 21 ICOLD technical committees, and maintains twelve regional nuclei across Brazilian states that channel local events, workshops and knowledge exchange.

CBDB's product and service portfolio is anchored by the Cadastro Nacional de Barragens (National Dam Registry), a national database of dam characteristics, safety status and technical documentation, supplemented by the peer-reviewed Revista Brasileira de Engenharia de Barragens (RBE), a library of technical recommendations and books, a thesis and dissertation database, and a catalogue of technical training courses. Its flagship commercial and community asset is DAMSWEEK (Semana de Barragens), an annual congress held at rotating Brazilian venues that combines technical presentations, workshops, technical visits and a cultural program, with a tiered sponsorship model (Diamond R$250,000 down to Silver R$60,000) and multi-lot registration pricing.

The association's revenue model combines recurring annual membership dues (anuidades) for individual and corporate members with event registration fees and corporate sponsorship packages tied to DAMSWEEK and other events. Distribution is community-led, relying on the website (cbdb.org.br), the regional nuclei network, the annual event cycle and peer-reviewed publications to acquire and retain members. There is no venture or private-equity ownership, no stock listing and no disclosed financial statements; governance is exercised through a Board of Directors (Diretoria), Deliberative Council and Fiscal Commission in line with its status as an associação civil sem fins lucrativos.

Name

Comitê Brasileiro de Barragens - CBDB

Legal name

Comitê Brasileiro de Barragens

Website

https://cbdb.org.br

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Comitê Brasileiro de Barragens (CBDB) is the Brazilian non-profit technical association, founded in 1961 and based in Rio de Janeiro, that serves as Brazil's official ICOLD representative and the national convening body for dam engineering, dam safety standards, technical training and the Cadastro Nacional de Barragens registry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Engineering Association Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydro BOP Civil & Water Conveyance (Dams, Spillways, Penstocks, Canals) (EUAMAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE)

Keywords

• Dam engineering standards
• Professional association services
• Technical training courses
• Hydropower safety knowledge
• Membership publications events

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio de Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees (Anuidades): Individual and corporate members pay annual fees to access technical resources, publications, and participate in technical commissions. Fees vary by membership category with different benefit tiers.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from organizing and hosting events including DAMSWEEK (Dam Week), symposiums, workshops, and technical courses. Registration fees vary by participant category.
3. Sponsorship and Corporate Partnerships: Corporate members and sponsors pay for visibility at events, including tiered sponsorship packages (Diamond R$250,000, Platinum R$160,000, Gold R$100,000, Silver R$60,000, Bronze, Badge sponsorship, booth spaces, and advertising in publications).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CBDB is a non-profit professional association that delivers dam engineering knowledge dissemination, technical standards development, and professional development services to Brazil's dam sector. Its offerings center on membership tiers (individual and corporate), 20 national technical commissions, 24 ICOLD technical committees, the flagship DAMSWEEK annual event, the National Dam Registry database, technical training courses, and peer-reviewed publications including the RBE journal. The portfolio is unified by a focus on technical excellence, dam safety standards, and knowledge sharing across hydropower operators, mining companies, engineering consultancies, government agencies, water utilities, and academic institutions.

Product overview

CBDB operates as a platform of interconnected products and services for the Brazilian dam engineering community. At its core is the Cadastro Nacional de Barragens (National Dam Registry), a comprehensive national database covering all registered dams in Brazil. The organization maintains 20 national Technical Committees (CT-1 through CT-20) addressing specialized domains from dam safety and concrete dams to tailings disposal and pumped storage, while also representing Brazil in 21 ICOLD Technical Committees. CBDB organizes DAMSWEEK, the flagship annual event combining conferences, workshops, and technical courses. Supporting offerings include the Revista Brasileira de Engenharia de Barragens (RBE) journal, technical publications and recommendations, a thesis database, and specialized training programs. The portfolio is unified by its focus on technical excellence, safety standards, and knowledge dissemination in dam engineering across Brazil's regional nuclei network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Revista Brasileira de Engenharia de Barragens (RBE): The official technical journal/publication of CBDB covering dam engineering topics.
• DAMSWEEK / Semana de Barragens
• Cadastro Nacional de Barragens

Products and services

• DAMSWEEK / Semana de Barragens Annual flagship congress and exhibition organized by CBDB that brings together dam professionals for technical presentations, workshops, technical visits, networking, and knowledge exchange on dam safety, design, construction, and operation. Includes corporate sponsorship tiers (Diamond R$250,000 down to Bronze) and tiered participant registration with two pricing lots and student/professor discounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dam safety improvement through technical knowledge dissemination and standards adoption

Named customers21 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ICOLD-CIGB (International Commission on Large Dams)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBDB is the official Brazilian representative for ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams), also known as CIGB. This partnership positions CBDB as the national coordinating body for international dam engineering standards, technical committees, and knowledge exchange programs. CBDB participates in ICOLD's global technical committees covering areas such as dam safety, concrete dams, embankment dams, tailings dams, hydraulics, and environmental impact. This relationship provides Brazilian professionals access to global best practices and international recognition.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• British Dam Society: UK-based learned society and ICOLD-affiliated body for dam engineering professionals, providing conferences, technical publications, and guidance. Closely analogous to CBDB in scope and member-services model.
• USCOLD - United States Society on Large Dams: U.S. national committee of ICOLD dedicated to advancing dam engineering practice through technical committees, conferences, and publications. Highly comparable institutional model to CBDB.
• ANCOLD - Australian National Committee on Large Dams: Australian counterpart to CBDB, also a national committee of ICOLD focused on dam engineering, safety standards, and member engagement through conferences and publications. Strongly comparable in mission, structure, and revenue model.
• SPANCOLD - Comité Nacional Español de Grandes Presas: Spanish national committee of ICOLD, providing similar technical committee, publication, and event functions for the Spanish dam engineering community. Directly comparable in mandate and operations.
• INCOLD - Indian National Committee on Large Dams: Indian national committee of ICOLD engaged in dam engineering standards, technical committees, and major events. Comparable to CBDB as a large emerging-market national dam body.
• CFBR - Comité Français des Barrages et Réservoirs: French national committee of ICOLD focused on dam engineering, technical committees, and member events. Directly comparable to CBDB as a national-level technical association for dam professionals.

Broad incumbents

• International Hydropower Association (IHA): Global membership association for the hydropower sector, overlapping with CBDB's hydropower operator members on sustainability, safety, and standards. Comparable as an international association serving a related constituency.
• ICOLD - International Commission on Large Dams: Global parent organization of CBDB. ICOLD coordinates national dam committees worldwide and sets international standards in dam engineering, making it the most direct structural peer and standards-setter for CBDB's activities.

Others

• ANA - Agência Nacional de Águas e Saneamento Básico: Brazilian federal water resources regulator that interacts with CBDB on dam safety regulation and the National Dam Registry. Relevant as a key institutional counterpart shaping CBDB's regulatory engagement.

Regional players

• ABMS - Associação Brasileira de Mecânica dos Solos e Engenharia Geotécnica: Brazilian national technical association for geotechnical engineering, overlapping with CBDB on earth and rockfill dam topics and sharing a similar non-profit member-based model in Brazil.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/embed/_kN8f_Ux1H0
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbdb-nacional

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Comitê Brasileiro de Barragens - CBDB