Article Published In Vol.6 (Sept-Oct-2018)

Rainwater Resources Development using Open Space data and Software Sources

Author : Gar Al-nabi Ibrahim Mohamed and Faisal Althobiani

Humans and animals drinking water availability is a chronic problem in under-developed countries in general and their rural areas in particular. A rainwater resources development effort was reported in this paper using a case study area in the Sudan. A rainwater harvesting method was developed using open space technology data and open application programs. The method was applied in a 12,100 square kilometers area and twenty-two potential rainwater harvesting sites were located with draining capacities ranging between 19.10 and 532.50 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) with a total average rainfall rate draining capacity of 2.105 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM). However, although it is quite possible to acquire this huge amount of water in the area, but unfortunately, local people are still facing a chronic problem of drinking water shortage, animals walk tens of kilometers to drink water and farmers transport water from the Blue Nile river tens of kilometers away from the farms to harvest their crops. An appreciated effort was made by local governments and non-government organizations related to drinking water world wide in general and in underdeveloped countries in particular using traditional methods. However, it is high time to devote this effort to the application of open space technology data and open application programs for water harvesting in these areas. This would facilitate the water supply throughout the year and avoid the drinking water shortage in the dry season. It can be applied to cover the whole area with a network of water harvesting facilities to achieve nomad’s and pastoralists settlement, avoid their conflicts with farmers in the area.

Keywords: Hafeer, rainwater resource, potential rainwater harvesting site, open space data source, open application programs source, Water harvesting facility, rate of rainfall