Leveraging open-source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis: Zambia case study
This report presents a comprehensive approach to drought risk assessment in Zambia using open-source geospatial tools and freely available satellite and climate datasets. Drought—one of the most damaging slow-onset hazards—affects agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods across Zambia, making r...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Informe técnico |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
International Water Management Institute
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179676 |
| _version_ | 1855513516473057280 |
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| author | Alahacoon, Niranga Sahana, V. Amarnath, Giriraj |
| author_browse | Alahacoon, Niranga Amarnath, Giriraj Sahana, V. |
| author_facet | Alahacoon, Niranga Sahana, V. Amarnath, Giriraj |
| author_sort | Alahacoon, Niranga |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | This report presents a comprehensive approach to drought risk assessment in Zambia using open-source geospatial tools and freely available satellite and climate datasets. Drought—one of the most damaging slow-onset hazards—affects agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods across Zambia, making rigorous, data-driven analysis essential for early warning and climate-resilient planning. Building on global drought classification frameworks and modern risk assessment methods, the study integrates hazard, exposure, and vulnerability components to generate national and sub-national drought risk profiles. Using QGIS as the core GIS tool, the study demonstrates how meteorological (SPI, SPEI), agricultural (NDVI, VHI), and hydrological indicators can be combined with exposure datasets such as crop area and population distribution. Vulnerability indicators related to sensitivity and adaptive capacity further refine the analysis. Together, these layers produce detailed drought hazard maps, vulnerability indices, and a final drought risk matrix identifying high-risk districts across Zambia. The case study illustrates the value of open-source data and tools supported by Python scripting, cloud-based data, and Earth Observation tools. The findings underscore the importance of integrated drought monitoring, targeted interventions, and anticipatory action. By adopting these methods, Zambia can strengthen climate resilience, enhance early warning systems, and support evidence-based drought risk management. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace179676 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | International Water Management Institute |
| publisherStr | International Water Management Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1796762026-01-13T02:00:27Z Leveraging open-source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis: Zambia case study Alahacoon, Niranga Sahana, V. Amarnath, Giriraj drought risk analysis spatial data vulnerability case studies This report presents a comprehensive approach to drought risk assessment in Zambia using open-source geospatial tools and freely available satellite and climate datasets. Drought—one of the most damaging slow-onset hazards—affects agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods across Zambia, making rigorous, data-driven analysis essential for early warning and climate-resilient planning. Building on global drought classification frameworks and modern risk assessment methods, the study integrates hazard, exposure, and vulnerability components to generate national and sub-national drought risk profiles. Using QGIS as the core GIS tool, the study demonstrates how meteorological (SPI, SPEI), agricultural (NDVI, VHI), and hydrological indicators can be combined with exposure datasets such as crop area and population distribution. Vulnerability indicators related to sensitivity and adaptive capacity further refine the analysis. Together, these layers produce detailed drought hazard maps, vulnerability indices, and a final drought risk matrix identifying high-risk districts across Zambia. The case study illustrates the value of open-source data and tools supported by Python scripting, cloud-based data, and Earth Observation tools. The findings underscore the importance of integrated drought monitoring, targeted interventions, and anticipatory action. By adopting these methods, Zambia can strengthen climate resilience, enhance early warning systems, and support evidence-based drought risk management. 2025-12-22 2026-01-12T12:48:35Z 2026-01-12T12:48:35Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179676 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute CGIAR Climate Action Program Alahacoon, N.; Sahana, V.; Amarnath, G. 2025. Leveraging open-source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis: Zambia case study. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Climate Action Program. 38p. |
| spellingShingle | drought risk analysis spatial data vulnerability case studies Alahacoon, Niranga Sahana, V. Amarnath, Giriraj Leveraging open-source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis: Zambia case study |
| title | Leveraging open-source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis: Zambia case study |
| title_full | Leveraging open-source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis: Zambia case study |
| title_fullStr | Leveraging open-source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis: Zambia case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leveraging open-source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis: Zambia case study |
| title_short | Leveraging open-source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis: Zambia case study |
| title_sort | leveraging open source geospatial tools for drought risk analysis zambia case study |
| topic | drought risk analysis spatial data vulnerability case studies |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179676 |
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