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

ABSTRACT: 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

SUBMITTER: Zhang AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9950439 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature