GIS Approach for a Common Geothermal Database for East African Rift System Region (EARS)

Abstract

Research activities on GIS application for mapping geothermal energy sources in the East African rift system region (EARS) were performed. This compilation is a result of fellowship awarded by the International council for Science and High Technology and the United Nations Industrial Development organisation (ICS-UNIDO) Trieste Italy to do GIS work related to geothermal sources in the East African Rift System region, (EARS). The project covered eleven countries which include; Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Comoros, DR Congo, Zambia, Burundi and Rwanda. The whole project was to use a GIS approach to map and build a common geothermal geo-database for the EARS countries so that data could be availed for identification of gaps, project formulation for geothermal development, resource assessment, risk analysis and multicriteria decision supporting tools at regional and country levels. Both geographic spatial data and non-spatial (ancillary) data were captured. The end result was a Geo-database organised in an orderly manner with data that can be used for formulation of geothermal project proposals, multicriteria decision making tools (SDSS and DSS), assessment of resources and risk analysis at both country and regional levels. Schemas for data that has not been availed from member states are already prepared and waits for data to be filled in. The geo-database as it now can be used to provide a lot of information through queries and selections in Arc GIS. The database also contain information that may directly or indirectly affect geothermal development, for example location of geothermal potential in relation to conservation areas, major power lines other powerhouses and potential market. There is also room for improvement if we join hands with all member states and stakeholders.