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Geospatial Data and Technology Center (GDTC)

The Geospatial Data and Technology Center (GDTC) at Bahir Dar University (BDU) is a prominent center dedicated to advancing geospatial sciences and technologies. It serves as a hub for research, education, and practical applications in fields such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, surveying, and land administration.

GDTC

GDTC has been conducting demand-driven and problem-solving researches, delivering research-based community services, and providing capacity building trainings for different sectors. Hierarchical organizational structure is one of the most common types of organizational structure where the chain of command goes from the top to down and each employee has a supervisor. In this type of structure, top decision-makers occupy the higher levels of the structure, while employees with the least decision-making responsibility are at the lower levels.

Vision

By 2030, the center aspires to build a regional hub and internationally recognized center of excellence in geospatial science and technology through impactful and innovative interdisciplinary research, education, community services and partnership.

Mission

The mission of the center is to understand the ever-changing world and provide geospatial services for informed decision making, first rate technical trainings, foster technology development and transfer to the widest possible audience, and to develop an institutional center of expertise and knowledge for the nation.

Values

Pursuit of wisdom
Professionalism
Integrity
Excellence
Quality
Social responsibility
Diversity
Internationalization
Accountability
Equity

Objectives of the Center

Train the next generation of leaders in all fields with geospatial science and technology skills.
Provide public access to geospatial data.
To be recognized by stakeholders as delivering authentic, reliable and intelligent solutions addressing real world challenges.
To design and carryout research and apply geospatial insights.
To contribute in establishing BDU as a national geospatial hub etc.

Objectives of the Structure

Location technology has moved from being a “useful” tool to an “indispensable” solution. Therefore, this document is intended to re-establish departments which will function as a separate unit based on their specializations and structures in Geospatial Data & Technology Center (GDTC).

GDTC Departments

GDTC has four departments namely

GIS
Remote Sensing
Data Sciences & Big Data Analytics and
Surveying & Geodesy department.

Core Activities and Initiatives

1. Training and Capacity Building

The GDTC regularly conducts specialized training programs to enhance the skills of professionals in geospatial technologies. Topics covered included GIS basics with ArcGIS, geodatabase design, programing, ground surveying, and remote sensing.

2. Research and Development

The GDTC is actively involved in research across various thematic areas, including climate change, land degradation, disaster risk, land law, policy and rights, land conflict resolution, innovative land information systems, and geospatial science and technology for land administration.

3. Data Sharing and Technology Transfer

To promote evidence-based decision-making, GDTC curates and shares high-quality geospatial datasets. All datasets are documented, regularly updated, and available in formats compatible with major GIS software, supporting academic research and government planning.

4. Consultancy Services

GDTC provides expert consultancy to support geospatial project implementation across sectors. Using spatial analysis, flood risk mapping, and hydrological modeling, GDTC delivered actionable recommendations for infrastructure planning and disaster risk reduction and so on.