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Title
APPLICATION OF FREE SOFTWARE GIS TO GUARANTEE A SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN CO-OPERATION PROJECTS – IBO ISLAND (MOZAMBIQUE)
Abstract
GIS is a powerful tool to integrate spatial information from different sources and it is widely use to environmental planning and as a decision making tool in developed countries. In this context, in developing countries, where environmental data availability is limited and are nowadays facing planning tasks to assure a sustainable development, the implementation of a GIS becomes essential. This paper shows the development of a GIS to integrate and to analyze all water resources of Ibo Island (Mozambique) in the framework of the project “Hydrogeological study and evaluation of water resources availability in the Ibo island. A proposal for a rational groundwater exploitation and sustainable management”. This project is leaded by Cabo Delgado provincial authorities and funded by Spanish Co-operation to Development Agency and it is framed inside of Urbanization Plan which takes into account the existent and potential environmental and historical heritage.
The Ibo Island is one of biggest islands of the Quirimbas Arquipelago. Its surface is about 15Km2 including the coral reefs surfaces and mangroves extensions. As a result, it is facing important construction plans as a potential touristic destination. The study has been carried out integrating the information in the free GIS GvSIG. Its low cost, the Portuguese availability (official language), and the simplicity of management and quick edition makes this tool suitable for the objective of the study. The information integrated using GvSIG includes aquifer locations, groundwater well locations, geologic data, land use and hydrochemical information. Using the analysis tools of GvSIG potentiometric maps have been developed as well as hydrochemical maps for different hidrologic conditions, sea water intrusion maps and groundwater vulnerability cartography. Besides, the integration of all this information will be used to develop a groundwater model and management resources decisions will be taken.
KW: Free GIS, hydrogeology, co-operation to development projects.
Authors
Patricia Casanova - Amphos 21 Consulting S.L.
Ester Vilanova - Amphos 21 Consulting S.L.
Jorge Molinero - Amphos 21 Consulting S.L.
