DECLARATION

I EMMANUEL CHARLES NAMKUMBE, declare that to the best of my knowledge and

belief, this project is an original piece of work which I did myself. It has not been done
anywhere else or copied from somewhere.

Date ……………………… ………….........................

Place: Arusha Technical College Student Signature

i
 CERTIFICATION

The undersigned certify that they have read and hereby recommend for acceptance by the
Arusha Technical Collage Project entitled: IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE
WATER DAM SITE.
COVERAGE AT MASASI DISTRICT USING GIS TECHNIQUES, Partial fulfillment
for the requirement of the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Irrigation
Engineering)

Mr. Juma Said

(Supervisor)

ii
 DEDICATION

This project is dedicated to My Almighty God, who guides, protects, and empowers me in
ensuring the successfulness of the project, also to my supervisor; Mr.Juma Said who
provides sufficient support and encouragement. It is my prayer that God will bless them in
abundance.

iii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Firstly, I thank God for his blessing of good health for my College, my Supervisors, Project
coordinator, my fellow student, my family and even myself, because without God’s helper,
nothing could be done.
I would like to direct my special thanks to my supervisor: Eng. Said Juma and Mr. because
every time when I need assistance, support and advice throughout the preparation of this
project, I get the good cooperation to the extent, which I do not expect.
Thanks to all Civil Staffs Department, Including Eng. Hymale, who is Project Coordinator
and Dr. Upendo Msovu, who is the Head of Civil Engineering Department and Acting
Director of Academics, because they have been very kind to me and helped me a lot to
modify and correct my project tittle several times without giving up.
Finally, yet importantly, I express my special thanks to my children: family: My father,
Mother, Brother and Sisters, for the entire period when I’m away from home not only they
pray for me but also to accept my absent from how for entire semester duration.

iv
 ABSTRACT

The people of Masasi District are the people involved in a number of activities that ensures
the use of water. Such activities include agriculture, domestic, livestock and other
economic activities. The current status of the water available is not healthy since the
existed systems gives out dirty water, as well as being provided at an insufficient quantity
considering that there is a population increase, which has led to water stress issues in this
District.

Therefore, this project aims to gather Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for topography, to
prepare hydrological maps for river networks and drainage patterns, Climate data for
precipitation and temperature patterns, to Assign weights to each layer based on their
importance in the decision-making process to define site selection design of rising main,
and to Identify the Suitable Water Dam Site using GIS Technique, The methodology to be
used includes; data collection, processing, ISO Cluster Unsupervised Classification and
Weighted Overlay Analysis.

v
Table of Contents
DECLARATION.....................................................................................................i
CERTIFICATION..................................................................................................ii
DEDICATION........................................................................................................iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.....................................................................................iv
ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................v
CHAPTER ONE.....................................................................................................1
1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................1
1.1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION..............................................................1
1.2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF STUDY AREA...........................2
1.2.1. MASASI DISTRICT...............................................................................2
1.2.2. LAND AREA...........................................................................................3
1.2.3. CLIMATE...............................................................................................3
1.3. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM.....................................................3
1.4. OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT........................................................4
1.4.1. Main objective...........................................................................................4
1.4.2. Specific objectives.....................................................................................4
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT........................................................4
1.6 Scope of the project.......................................................................................5
CHAPTER TWO....................................................................................................6
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................6
2.1. Introduction..................................................................................................6
2.2. United States Geological Survey (USGS)...................................................6
2.2.1. About USGS..............................................................................................6
2.2.2. Purpose of the USGS.................................................................................7
2.2.3. Establishment of OSGS............................................................................7

vi
 2.2.4. What does the USGS do............................................................................7
2.3. Meaning of GIS............................................................................................8
2.4. Potential of GIS............................................................................................8
2.4.1 Application of GIS.....................................................................................8
CHAPTER 3:........................................................................................................10
3.0 METHODOLOGY.........................................................................................10
3.1. Introduction................................................................................................10
3.2. Data collection............................................................................................10
3.2.1. Procedures for data downloading Landsat Image from USGS...........10
3.3. Data Processing..........................................................................................12
3.3.1. Procedures for Data Processing for Preparing Hydrological Maps for
River Networks and Drainage Patterns...............................................12
3.3.2. Procedures for Processing the Climate Data for Precipitation and
Temperature Patterns...............................Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.4. ISO Cluster Unsupervised Classification for Land Use and Land Cover
................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.4.1. Steps in ISO Cluster Unsupervised Classification...............................35
3.5. Weighted Overlay Analysis...........................Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.5.1. Steps in Weighted Overlay Analysis..........Error! Bookmark not defined.
COST ESTIMATES.............................................................................................43
REFERENCES.....................................................................................................48

vii
8
 CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Water scarcity has been significantly increasing with urban development and its associated
growing population with its ever-increasing demand because water is the basis of life and
livelihoods since it supports the health of ecosystems and is the fundamental element for
sustainable development (Guppy & Anderson 2017). Freshwater availability is likely to be one
of the major societal challenges of the twenty-first century, according to new global goals and
commitments such as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Water Mandate
(Gleick 2014). Due to unplanned urbanization, limited water resources, and ineffective
regulations for managing water supply and distribution, developing countries are more
vulnerable to water scarcity than developed countries. To address the scarcity of water resources,
it is necessary to regulate runoff by building a dam and reservoir (Yuan & Su 1988).

Dams are built to store and safely retain large amounts of water, which is then released for a
variety of purposes including irrigation, hydropower, recreation, water supply, flood protection,
inland navigation, and so on (Yasser et al. 2013). Irrigation, hydropower, recreation, water
supply, and other projects all require the selection of a dam site (Li 2019). The proper selection
of dam sites is beneficial to ensuring project safety, reducing construction time, and lowering
construction costs. As a result, early in the construction process, selecting and evaluating various
suitable dam sites are critical (Pan & Zhang 2021).

1
1.2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF STUDY AREA

1.2.1. MASASI DISTRICT

The District Council was first established in March 1958 and it ceased to exist in July 1972 when
the Government of Tanzania opted for regional decentralization programme. The current District
Council was re-established in the 1st January 1984 mandated by the Local Government (District
Authorities) Act Number 7 of 1982. The Masasi District Council is one of the 9 Councils in
Mtwara Region. Other councils in the region are Mtwara Municipality, Mtwara District Council,
Nanyamba Town Council, Newala District Council, Newala TC, Nanyumbu District Council,
Tandahimba District Council and Masasi Town Council. Nanyumbu District Council and Masasi
Town Council were once part of Masasi District Council.

MASASI
DISTRICT

Figure 1. The location of Masasi District

2
1.2.2. LAND AREA

The district has an area of 4,429.9 km², which is 23 percent of the total regional area. In addition,
the district has two administrative authorities namely the Masasi District Council and Masasi
Town Council.

1.2.3. CLIMATE

The district has two major climatic seasons namely dry (May to November) and rainy (December
to April). It receives the average annual rainfall of 900 to 1,000 mm. The average annual
temperature in the district is between 25 and 32 degrees Centigrade. The altitude above sea level
is 470 metres.

1.3. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Water scarcity is a significant issue that affects numerous regions around the world, including
Masasi District. Shortage of water may affect economic activities as people may spend a lot of
time searching for water thus reducing productivity, also affects the performances in schools as
students spend a lot of time searching for it. Some key points regarding water scarcity in Masasi
District are; Dependence on Rainfall, Insufficient Water Infrastructure, Population Growth and
Pressure, and Climate Change.

3
1.4. OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

1.4.1. Main objective

The main objective of this project is to Identify the Suitable Water Dam Site using GIS
Technique

1.4.2. Specific objectives

1.4.2.1. To gather Data such as Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for topography from USGS,
Landsat imagery from USGS and Precipitation Data from Crude data.
1.4.2.2. To prepare Topographical maps for contour lines, Hydrological maps for river networks
and drainage patterns, Rainfall Map for precipitation patterns.
1.4.2.3. Land use and land cover analysis for classifications.
1.4.2.4. Assign weights to each layer based on their importance in the decision-making process
to define site selection.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

1.5.1. To make available excess water for p resent use and future generation
1.5.2. To provide a proposed water dam which can store enough amount of freshwater for
domestic, industrial and Irrigation use.
1.5.3. To increasing the quality of life and overall standard of living of people through
agriculture and livestock sectors, due to the availability of proper use of fresh water.
1.5.4. Flood Control and Disaster Mitigation: Suitable dam locations identified through GIS
analysis can contribute to flood control and disaster mitigation efforts. Dams can store excess
water during heavy rainfall events, reducing the risk of downstream flooding.

4
1.6 Scope of the project

The project will cover up the identification of Suitable Water Dam Site using GIS Technique at
Masasi district found in Mtwara region. Hence, it will be limited to the preparation of
hydrological maps for river networks and drainage patterns, Climate data for precipitation and
temperature patterns Land use and land cover analysis and Assigning weights to each layer based
on their importance in the decision-making process to define site selection

5
 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Introduction

The identification of suitable locations for water dam construction is a crucial step in ensuring
the efficiency and sustainability of water resource management. Geographic Information System
(GIS) techniques have become indispensable tools in this process, allowing for the integration of
various spatial data layers to analyze and identify optimal dam sites.
GIS offers a wide range of tools and functionalities that aid in the selection of suitable water dam
locations. By overlaying different spatial datasets such as topography, hydrology, geology, land
use, and environmental factors, GIS can help identify areas that meet the necessary criteria for
constructing a water dam.
Several key factors are typically considered when identifying suitable water dam locations using
GIS techniques. These factors may include topographic features like elevation and slope,
hydrological characteristics such as river flow and drainage patterns, geological stability,
proximity to infrastructure, environmental impacts, and social considerations.
Numerous studies have utilized GIS techniques for identifying suitable water dam locations
worldwide. These case studies often involve the development of decision support systems that
integrate various spatial datasets to assess the feasibility and suitability of potential dam sites.
Examples include the use of GIS in dam site selection in regions such as Africa, Asia, Europe,
and the Americas.

2.2. United States Geological Survey (USGS)

2.2.1. About USGS

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States
government. The agency is a part of the United States Department of the Interior. The scientists
of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural
hazards that threaten it.

6
2.2.2. Purpose of the USGS

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a government–run agency that provides decision
makers with reliable scientific data about Earth systems, natural disasters, and natural resources.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is an agency of the United States Department of
the Interior; it is a scientific agency that researches Earth systems. Its mission is to make
scientific data available to help people understand Earth, prepare for natural disasters, and
manage the nation’s natural resources. The agency also provides data to lawmakers and
community leaders to assist in decision-making.

2.2.3. Establishment of OSGS

The USGS was established in 1879. Originally, its mission was to study the nation’s land,
including natural resources and geological structures. This research was to be used to classify
public lands and make decisions about land use. Since its formation, the USGS has evolved to
meet the changing needs of the nation. Over time, its activities have ranged from surveying oil
and natural gas resources to mapping the landscape to assisting in conservation efforts.

2.2.4. What does the USGS do

Today the USGS is involved in a variety of areas of scientific research. These “Mission Areas”
include Core Science Systems, Ecosystems, Energy and Minerals, Land Resources, Water
Resources, Environmental Health, and Natural Hazards. Another Mission Area, Core Science
Systems, is tasked with “characterizing and understanding complex Earth and biological systems
through research, modeling, mapping, and the production of high-quality data.”
Through its Natural Hazards Mission Area, the USGS plays an important role in protecting
people and property. It monitors natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes.
The data collected by the agency help communities predict and prepare for natural disasters.

7
2.3. Meaning of GIS

GIS Stand for Geographical Information System. It is ‘A system for Capturing, storing,
checking, integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data, which are spatially
referenced to the Earth. This is normally considered to involve a spatially referenced computer
database and appropriate applications software’.

2.4. Potential of GIS.

2.4.1 Application of GIS

2.4.1.1. Aerial photography and satellite imagery

GIS help to use aerial photography and satellite imagery to assess water resources. Satellite
imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The
term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure.
Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer,
triggered remotely or triggered automatically. Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-
wing aircraft, helicopters, balloons, blimps and dirigibles, rockets, kites, poles and parachutes.

2.4.1.2. For watershed management

A watershed is an area of land that drains or “sheds” water into a specific waterbody. Every body
of water has a watershed. GIS technology have played a critical role in all aspects of watershed
management. Watershed studies conducted using a GIS platform have demonstrated that the
spatial analysis capabilities of GIS hold the key to improved watershed modeling techniques.
Automated GIS tools also enable engineers to spend more time on the analysis and refinement of
computer models and less on the laborious task of watershed parameterization for model setups.

8
2.4.1.3. Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a representation of the bare ground (bare earth) topographic
surface of the Earth excluding trees, buildings, and any other surface objects. GIS-based
watershed modeling process begins with a digital representation of the ground surface
topography, or a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). By using GIS to analyze DEMs, an engineer
can produce draft watershed delineation and drainage patterns with limited manipulation. DEM
can be used to represent the physical parameters of the watershed in terms of the flow direction,
drainage network, and drainage slopes.

2.4.1.4. Water dam location identification

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a crucial role in identifying suitable locations for
water dam construction. GIS technology allows for the integration of various spatial data layers,
such as topography, hydrology, geology, land use, and environmental factors, to analyze and
identify optimal sites for building dams.

9
 CHAPTER 3:

3.0 METHODOLOGY

3.1. Introduction

Identifying suitable locations for water dam construction is a crucial task that requires careful
consideration of various factors such as topography, hydrology, geology, and environmental
impact. Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques play a vital role in this process by
providing powerful tools for spatial analysis and decision-making.

3.2. Data collection

The method of Data collection for the project involves downloading GIS data (Digital Elevation
Model - DEM) from USGS website, downloading Landsat Image from USGS and collecting
climate data which involves gathering information from meteorological stations, remote sensing
platforms, and climate databases.

10
 CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Gathering Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for topography from USGS

4.2.1. Procedures for data downloading Digital Elevation Model (DEM) from USGS

The following are the Procedures on how to download Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with
USGS Earth Explorer

4.2.1.1. Visiting USGS earth explorer Website:

http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/

11
4.2.1.2. Creating an Earth Explorer Account
First time users, you must create an account in order to be able to login and download imagery. To
create an account, click on register tab, then fill blank space that provided as seen below.

4.2.1.3. Searching for Landsat Images

Once you have created an account and logged in, you can search for Digital Elevation Model
(DEM) by specifying the area of interest, date range, and other search criteria. Then create a
polygon to select your area of interest.

12
4.2.1.4. Selecting and Adding Image

After selecting your area, click on datasets, then click Digital Elevation, select SRTM and tick on
the SRTM 1 Arc-Second Global. Then click on the results to see the results.

13
4.2.1.5. Downloading Image

Review the results to select images that your area of interest and download them. On the
download options select image with GeoTIFF format as shown below.

14
4.3. Creation of hydrological map

4.3.1. Procedures Preparing Hydrological Maps for River Networks and Drainage
Patterns.

 Open Arc GIS software

 Start ArcMap by clicking Start > All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcMap 10.5

 Add Tz Admin shapefile

 Click on the Add Data button on the ArcMap toolbar
 Browse to the folder
 Open tz.admin.shp folder
 Select tz_admin.shp
 Click Add

15
 Add Data to Arc GIS software Interface
 Click on the Add Data button on the ArcMap toolbar
 Browse to the data you want to add
 Select Digital Elevation Model
 Click add

16
 Make querry to the District
 Activate (Tick) the tz_admin shapefile
 Right click tz_admin shapefile
 Click properties
 Then click on the Definition Query
 Click on the Query Builder
 Double click “DISTRICT” then click “=”
 Click on the Get Unique Value, then double click the region “Masasi” then
click Ok

17
 Extract the image
 Open ArcTool box
 Select spatial analyst tool
 Select Extraction
 Double click on the Extraction by mask
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok

18
19
 Mosaic to New Raster the extracted files to merge them.

20
 creating the “Aspect” of Masasi District area
 Open ArcTool box
 Select spatial analyst tool
 Select Surface
 Double Click on the Aspect
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok

21
1. Creating “Contours or elevations” of the Masasi District area.
 Open ArcTool box
 Select spatial analyst tool
 Select Surface
 Double Click on the Contour
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok

22
2. Creating “slope” of the Tanga region area
 Open ArcTool box
 Select spatial analyst tool
 Select Surface
 Double Click on the Slope
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok

23
3. Add fill
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Hydrology Tool
 Double click on the fill
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok.

24
4. Add Flow Direction
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Hydrology Tool
 Double click on the Flow Direction
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok.

25
5. Add Flow Accumulation
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Hydrology Tool
 Double click on the Flow Accumulation
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok

26
 Add raster calculator
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Map Algebra
 Double click on the raster calculator
 Double click Cond, then Flow Acc and type ˃20000,1
 Click Ok

27
 Add Stream link
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Hydrology Tool
 Double click on the Stream link
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok

28
 Adding rivers to Tanga Region area.
 Add Tz rivers shape file.

29
 Clip waterways feature from tz_admin.

30
 Freeze waterways

 Conditional
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Hydrology Tool
 Double click on the Conditional
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok

31
32
 Add Stream order
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Hydrology Tool
 Double click on the Stream order
 Fill the dialogue box, then click Ok

33
 Stream to feature tool

 Symbology

34
35
6. Add outlets point and create Watershed Map

36
 7. Add Basin
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Hydrology Tool
 Double click on the Basin
 Fill the dialogue box
 Then click Ok

3.3.2.1. PREPARATION OF RAINFALL MAP

8. Download precipitation data from the internet
 Connect your laptop to the internet and open the browser
 Search crudata and download precipitation Data

37
9. Open Arc GIS software
 Start ArcMap by clicking Start > All Programs > ArcGIS > ArcMap 10.5
 Through the user interface in ArcGIS comprises the different toolbars and dialog
boxes that are used to access functionality throughout the different publications

38
10. Add Precipitation Data
 Open ArcTool box
 Select multidimension Tools and Double click on the Make NetCDF Raster Layer
 Dialogue box will appear and fill it as follows
 Input netCDF File-Add precipitation Data
 Band dimension-select time
 Click Ok

 It will appear like this

39
  Right click the file in the layers and select Zoom to Layer

11. Add Tz Admin shapefile

 Click on the Add Data button on the ArcMap toolbar
 Browse to folder and open it
40
 Open adm_shapefile folder
 Open tz.admin.shp folder
 Select tz_admin.shp
 Click Add

 Tanzania map will display on the interface as shown below

41
12. Make querry to the District
 Activate (Tick) the tz_admin shapefile
 Right click tz_admin shapefile
 Click properties
 Then click on the Definition Query
 Click on the Query Builder
 Double click “DISTRICT” then click “=”
 Click on the Get Unique Value, then double click the region “Masasi” then
click Ok

42
 Click Apply then Ok
 It will appear like this

43
13. Extract the image
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Extraction
 Double click on the Extraction by mask
 Fill the dialogue box
 Click Ok

44
 The interface will appear like this

45
14. Add raster Data
 Open ArcTool box
 Select Spatial Analyst Tool
 Select Local
 Click on the Cell Statistics
 Select SUM on overlay statistics box
 Add rasters in ascending order (i.e R1, R2,……..)

 The interface will appear like this

46
 Freeze other files and remain with the added rasters
 The interface will appear like this

47
15. Change rasters to points
 Open ArcTool box
 Select conversion Tools
 Select from raster
 Double click raster to point
 Fill the dialogue box
 Click Ok

 The interface will appear like this

48
  Freeze other files and remain with the added rasters
 The interface will appear like this

16. Interpolate the Rainfall Data

 Open ArcTool Box

49
 Select Spatial Analyst Tools
 Select Interpolation
 Double click on the IDW
 Fill the dialogue box
 Click Ok

 The interface will appear like this

50
 Freeze other files and remain with the IDW rasters
 The interface will appear like this

51
17. Open attribute table to see grid codes of rainfall points

18. Make output

 Create layout view and import layout features
 Add grids
 Add Legend, scale, North direction and Title using insert on the main tool bar

52
 COST ESTIMATES

The cost of this project will be TSH 220.000/=, as shown in table below

53
S/N TASK COST ESTIMATES
1 Communication and Internet 70,000/=
2 Literature review and Data Acquisition 50,000/=
3 Printing and Binding 50,000/=
4 Extras 50,000/=
TOTAL 220,000/=

REFERENCES
1. Arsalan Ahmed Othman and others, GIS-Based Modeling for
Selection of Dam Sites in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, International
Journal of Geo-Information, 2020; 9(4).

54
2. Eiman Eisa Ahmed Elhaj, and Nagi Zomrawi Mohammed
Assessment of Pharmaceutical Service Distribution Using GIS (A
Case Study of Khartoum Locality), International Research Journal
of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), 2020; 7(6).
3. Erica DeNicola and others, Climate Change and Water Scarcity:
The Case of Saudi Arabia, Annals of Global Health, 2015; 81(3).
4. Erica DeNicola, Omar S. Aburizaiza, Azhar Siddique, Haider
Khwaja, David O. Carpenter, Climate Change and Water Scarcity:
The Case of Saudi Arabia, Annals of Global, Health, 2015; 81(3).
5. Esri, Arc GIS 10.8 manual, 2019.
6. Muhammad Ateeq Qureshi Dam / Reservoir Sites Selection
Using Remote Sensing & GIS Techniques, 2015.
7. Rami Al-Ruzouq and others, Dam Site Suitability Mapping and
Analysis Using an Integrated GIS and Machine Learning
Approach, Water, 2019; 11: 1880.
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Bahah_Province.
9. https://www.engineeringarticles.org.
10. https://www.mewa.gov.sa/en/Ministry/AboutMinistry/Pages/
MinistryVision.aspx.
11. https://www.stats.gov.sa.

55