Dataset Open Access

Global Dam Tracker: A database of more than 35,000 dams with location, catchment, and attribute information

Zhang, Alice Tianbo; Gu, Vincent Xinyi

Citation

Zhang, Alice Tianbo, and Vincent Xinyi Gu. 2023. “Global Dam Tracker: A Database of More than 35,000 Dams with Location, Catchment, and Attribute Information.” Scientific Data 10 (1): 111.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-023-02008-2

 

Description

We present one of the most comprehensive geo-referenced global dam databases to date. The Global Dam Tracker (GDAT) contains 35,000 dams with cross-validated geo-coordinates, satellite-derived catchment areas, and detailed attribute information. Combining GDAT with fine-scaled satellite data spanning three decades, we demonstrate how GDAT improves upon existing databases to enable the inter-temporal analysis of the costs and benefits of dam construction on a global scale. Our findings show that over the past three decades, dams have contributed to a dramatic increase in global surface water coverage, especially in developing countries in Asia and South America. This is an important step toward a more systematic understanding of the worldwide impact of dams on local communities. By filling in the data gap, GDAT would help inform a more sustainable and equitable approach to energy access and economic development.

Files (14.3 MB)
Name Size
GDAT_data_v1.zip
md5:b16d1bc4fd88fa2d39f176b45bf4d3ed
14.3 MB Download
537
242
views
downloads
All versions This version
Views 537537
Downloads 242242
Data volume 3.5 GB3.5 GB
Unique views 468468
Unique downloads 221221

Share

Cite as