A Comprehensive Database of Indonesian Dams and Its Spatial Distribution

Abstract

Dams are infrastructural projects with multiple uses that include hydropower, irrigation, water storage, flood management, and recreation. Most research on dams in Southeast Asia focuses on the Mekong River Basin and there is limited research on dams in Indonesia. Here, we developed a comprehensive database of dams in Indonesia derived from global and local datasets. We also used Google Earth Pro to locate additional dams and to validate the presence of all the dams. Our database had a total of 1506 dams (from large to mini dams and run-of river dams) in operation or under construction, and this was three times the number of dams reported in Indonesia’s national database for dams. There were another 250 planned dams, of which, only 30 had known locations. Our database also includes information such as the geographical coordinates of each dam, their physical characteristics, and what each dam is used for. Ultimately, we hope that our work will help researchers, non-government organizations, and government agencies with hydrological and socio-ecological research in Indonesia.