University of Dar es
SalamTanzania
University of Dar es
Salam
Department in Focus:
The Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA) formerly Bureau of Resource Assessment and Land Use Planning (BRALUP) was established in July 1982 when the Government agreed on a proposal to elevate
BRALUP to an Institute of the University of Dar es Salaam. Its main activities were to conduct research of applied nature and officer consultancy services in the fields of population resources and human settlement; agricultural systems, with an emphasis on food production; distribution of social services, particularly health and education; and transportation. The Institute is both a multidisciplinary and an interdisciplinary research organisation within the University of Dar es Salaam.
Major Research Area:
The Institute’s main areas of research have been redefines. As of to-sate the Institute concerns itself keenly with research work in the following fields: -
1. Agriculture systems
2. Population and Human Settlement
3. Water Resources
4. Natural Resources and Environment
Remote sensing and GIS are important sub-area that services all the research activities.
Services Offered by IRA
The Institute of Resource Assessment is essentially an academic institution conducting independent research but it also provides consultancy services to the government ministries, parastatal organisation private organisations, individuals and international organisations. In an effort to disseminate the institute’s research findings, a publication section has been established to deal with the sales and distribution of publications inside and outside Tanzania. The Institute’s publications are in a form of research reports, research papers, service papers and monographs. These are available in university library, the national library and are also available for sale at the Institute. Some of these are distributed freely to special clients e.g. government ministries and parastatal organisations etc. The Institute also conducts workshops, conferences and seminars as means of disseminating its research findings. It also acts as the focal point of the application of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in Resource Assessment, Management and Environment Monitoring.
The Institute is also fully involves in issues related to environmental conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. IRA is one of the few Institutes in the country that has an experienced staff in EIA practice and training. In this regard, IRA has been in the forefront in shaping the process of environmental Impact Assessment in the country together with other national and international organisations. Several Environmental Impact Statements are stored at the Institute and used as references. IRA also runs short term training courses on EIA to different stakeholders. The Institute houses the Tanzania Natural Resources Information Centre (TANRIC) that holds natural resources and environmental data. TANRIC has also been running short term training courses to different stakeholders on the Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Land Resources Assessment and Environmental Monitoring. Spatial information is manipulated using standard GIS package ARC/ INFO and ARC View. TANRIC staffs are also involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate studies in GIS at the Department of Geography, University of Dar es Salaam. Students from Geography Department also use the GIS Laboratory for GIS practical.
Facilities:
Substantial investment has been made in the Institute in order to raise its research capacity. The Institute jas a remote sensing laboratory, which includes a fairly good collection of air photos, satellite images, and equipment for visual interpretation, an image processor and photographic equipment. The Institute also posses a GIS laboratory with four digitising tables, one DesignJet Plotter and two pen plotters. There are 14 desktop computers and 12 laptops ranging in capacity from 8MB RAM and 200MB hard disk to 64MB RAM and 4.5 GB hard disk capacity. Computer facilities are used in statistical analysis and word processing. There is also a small printing section that handles the entire Institute’s printing work plus contractual work from outside IRA. Cartographic, audio visual aids and copying equipment have also been installed. There are two seminars and two large classrooms, which can accommodate about 35 people each.
Some of the GIS and Remote Sensing related work the Institute has been engaged in:
1. Coverage for the entire country: -
Agro-ecological zones of Tanzania, Soils Map of Tanzania, Drainage network, Forest Reserve, National Parks, Game Reserves, Mean Annual Rainfall map of Tanzania
Soil Map of Lake Haubi catchment.
2. Resources Mapping for Ngorongoro conservation Area with the following coverage: -
Land cover types, Wet season distribution of Wildebeest in the Ngorongoro conservation area, Geology and Hydrogeological Features in the Ngorongoro conservation area, Isohytes of Mean Annual Rainfall in the Ngorongoro conservation area, Livestock distribution and movement in the Ngorongoro conservation area.
Land cover types in 1953 (based on areal photos), land cover types in 1987 (based on SPOT Imagery), changes between 1953 and 1987.
Relief map of Kilosa District, Location of villages and road network, Land cover map, Population density map, Land use map, Burnt-up areas during July 1994, Status of Land Use and road Network.
Land cover types, road network and drainage pattern.
Land cover type and various types of wetlands.
Drainage pattern, Road network and Villages.
Relief, soil, vegetation, Population, Geology, Drainage, Population density, Villages and road Network.
Data generated from GIS activities undertaken by TANRIC is available for sale either in hard copies or digital format