Electronic water atlas to be created in Azerbaijan

An electronic water atlas based on geographic information systems (GIS) is planned to be created in Azerbaijan in 2025-2027, according to the "National Strategy on Efficient Use of Water Resources" approved by the order of President Ilham Aliyev, Report informs.

The strategy says that the initial results will consist of building the GIS model, digitizing existing maps, and web mapping; intermediate results will include integrating information about water and water management facilities, including infrastructure, into GIS; and final results will involve developing a comprehensive information-based interface and creating an electronic water atlas.

One of the targets in the Action Plan for the implementation of the "National Strategy for Efficient Use of Water Resources" in 2024-2027 is to determine the operational reserves of underground and surface waters. Within this activity, it is planned to conduct complex hydrogeological, hydrological, and geophysical research (precise exploration), increase the number of hydrological, hydrogeological, and meteorological monitoring stations, and integrate data into the Electronic Water Management Information System.

There are more than 140 water reservoirs in Azerbaijan. The largest of these are Mingachevir (volume 15.7 billion cubic meters) and Shamkir (2.7 billion cubic meters) on the Kura River, Khudaferin (1.6 billion cubic meters) and Araz (1.3 billion cubic meters) on the Araz River, as well as Sarsang (0.56 billion cubic meters) on the Tartar River. The total volume of water reservoirs is close to 24 billion cubic meters.