Towards the Use of GIS in Geothermal Resource Management- a Case Study of Olkaria Geothermal Project

Abstract

One of the major and greatest challenges facing geologists and earth scientists is the assimilation, dissemination, and management of the ever growing quantity of digital information. In order to solve these challenging problems we must change the way information, data, and knowledge are preserved, utilized, and disseminated. The earth science community is in need of systems that not only provide digital data, but as importantly, provide tools that allow users to manipulate, query, select, and cross-reference any part of data sets with efficiency and speed. It is therefore necessary to have in place an information system that ensures that decision maker has the knowledge/ and all information required to make the decision. The work involved in identifying geothermal sites can be simplified by means of a Geographical Information System (GIS), a decision-making tool used to determine the spatial association between exploration and the actual process involved in the drilling of the wells. Geographical Information Systems (GIS), have a role to play in all geographic and spatial aspects of the development and management of the industry. It aims at analyzing and subsequent understanding of geographical phenomena involves searching for spatial patterns, followed by evaluating possible causes and effects of patterns, and predicting future patterns and has thus become a useful tool for analyzing spatial impacts of various development scenarios. This paper will investigate and discuss the importance and contribution of the Geographic Information System (GIS) to KenGen in its Geothermal development. It describes the role of GIS in handling the complex spatial data mix encountered in this industry, how it can help in better decision making processes and the way forward.