A Comprehensive Database of Indonesian Dams and Its Spatial Distribution

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This authors developed a database of dams in Indonesia based on previous published data by verifying it with satellite images. The main work includes two parts, one is collecting previous data, and another is verification. The dataset is expected to be helpful for hydrologist and related studies. My major comments include:

1.      Since the developed dataset is based on previous data, what difference exist between the new dataset and the previous data? Such information may be also important when people using the data in Table 1.

2.      More information on the data compilation and data validation as shown in Figure 1 is needed to better understand the work made by this study.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors developed a database of dams in Indonesia using multi-sources of databases as well as remote sensing images. I can imagine that this is a time-consuming task that requires patience and meticulousness. This work is of interest in that it covers three times the number of dams in Indonesia’s national database. My only suggestion is that the authors might consider adding some references to dam-related research using remote sensing, such as:

Stark, T.D.; Oommen, T.; Ning, Z. Remote Sensing for Monitoring Embankments, Dams, and Slopes Recent Advances; American Society of Civil Engineers, 2021.

 

Xiao, R.; Jiang, M.; Li, Z.; He, X. New Insights into the 2020 Sardoba Dam Failure in Uzbekistan from Earth Observation. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 2022, 107, 102705, doi:10.1016/j.jag.2022.102705.

 

Rajendran, S.; Nasir, S.; Jabri, K.A. Mapping and Accuracy Assessment of Siltation of Recharge Dams Using Remote Sensing Technique. Sci Rep 2020, 10, 10364, doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67137-9.

I recommend it for publication in Remote Sensing as a paper with the type of Data Descriptor.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The goal of this manuscript is to produce a comprehensive database of dams in Indonesia.  Their final database includes 1506 dams.

The manuscript is written well.  The authors claim their database contains three times the number of dams reported in the Indonesian 'national database'.  Can you offer some explanations why this is?

Much of their database came from other existing databases.  Unfortunately, we are not told about the rules used by analysts for creating the other databases.  For example, where only large dams inventoried by one data source versus others?  Moreover, if the authors combined data sources and a dam parameter (e.g. use, size, etc.) was different from each source how were the differences resolved?

Purpose of Dam.  Dams often are created and justified for multiple purposes.  It is very common for larger dams to include flood control and power generation as two purposes.   Almost all reservoirs will also include recreation as a purpose.

The figure 1 indicate the purpose of the dam was determined by examining the neighboring land use/cover.  This does not seem like a very good approach.  How do you determine flood control, power generation, recreation, etc. from neighboring land use?  Maybe you can determine irrigation (i.e. agricultural) from ditches or piping from the reservoir.

Construction Type.  From a maintenance and hazard perspective the construction type is critical.  Rolled earthen dams are often high risk impoundments while concrete structure are considerably less.  Why was this parameter not included?

Location of Dam.  Can you be a bit more explicit on what the 'location' of a dam represents?  Do you mean the approximate center of the concrete/earthen wall?  ... other?

Pool Area/Volume.   How was this determined for dams not already in the national database?  Would be difficult to determine the volume using a DEM with an existing reservoir.

The descriptive statistics of dams on pages 8 and following are somewhat interesting but elementary for a research article.  Can you offer explanations of why the given frequencies or percentages occur?  For example, why do Jaa and Bali Nusra have a high density of dams for irrigation and water supply compared to other islands?

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

The revised manuscript is much improved.  Commendable modifications.

A few items are left:

Figures that list the purpose of the dam (e.g. irrigation, flood control, etc.) do not indicate the multi-purposes.  For example, in Figure 5 is the purpose of the dam the 'primary' purpose?  Does this mean dams that are both used for irrigation and flood control would only show the 'primary' purpose?   The wording both in the figure captions and text should be clear on this issue.

In the interpretation of the distribution of dams and purposes between countries there is no mention of country-specific regulations.  The interpretation by the reader is only the social need and geography influence the distribution of dams.  Does each country have the same requirements for dam construction and maintenance?  If not, could this explain the observed distributions?

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf