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Biography
Dr. Olipa Simon Mwakimi is a highly accomplished scientist with a distinguished career in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing. She is the Principal GIS Laboratory Scientist at the Institute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Dr. Olipa boasts an impressive academic background. She recently earned her PhD in Natural Resources Assessment and Management from the University of Dar es Salaam. Previously, she obtained a Master of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Science in Land Surveying (Geomatics), both with First Class Honors, from the same institution.
Dr. Olipa’s expertise extends beyond academia. She has over 21 years of experience at the University of Dar es Salaam, demonstrating her dedication to advancing GIS and Remote Sensing in Tanzania. As principal GIS Laboratory Scientist, she is pivotal in providing theoretical and practical training for postgraduate students, developing specialized short courses tailored to specific needs, and offering consultancy services in GIS and Remote Sensing applications.
Dr. Olipa has a proven track record of success in high-profile projects. These include serving as a National Consultant (FAO) for the Forest Area Change Project, being appointed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism as an expert team member for the assessment of Tanzania's National Forest Resources, and contributing as a GIS/Remote Sensing Expert to the development of National Forest Reference Emission Levels and National Land Cover Mapping. Currently, she actively contributes as a member of the task force preparing Tanzania's 4th National State of the Environment Report.
Dr. Olipa is a published researcher with five lead articles in peer-reviewed international journals. Her research focuses on the impact of urbanization on land surface temperature, land use and cover changes, and the socioeconomic factors influencing these dynamics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Her publications are on Google Scholar under Olipa Simon and Olipa Mwakimi. She also maintains active profiles on ORCID, Academia, and ResearchGate using the same names.
Dr. Olipa is a recognized leader in her field and is actively involved in several international organizations, including the African Association of Remote Sensing for Environment (AARSE), Women in Geosciences and Engineering (WIGE), and the East Africa Geospatial Forum.
Dr. Olipai's 21-year career at the University of Dar es Salaam exemplifies her dedication to advancing GIS and Remote Sensing for natural resource management in Tanzania. Her journey began as a GIS Laboratory Scientist in 2003, culminating in her current leadership position. Previously, she gained valuable experience as a Geographic Information Systems Administrator at Geita Gold Mining Ltd (2001).
Research Interest
Land Use and Land Cover Change (LULCC) Mapping and Analysis
Geospatial Analysis for Climate Change and Environmental Management
Geospatial Modeling and Predictive Analysis
Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Natural Resource Management
Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect analysis
Contacts
Email:
Projects
Analysis of drivers of land use change and implications on conservation and livelihoods in southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania (SOKNOT) transboundary landscape, WWF Tanzania, 2024
Opportunities Assessment for Urban Greening, Sustainable Urban Drainage and Erosion Control in
Infrastructure Planning and Design in Dar es Salaam, ARUP East Africa Limited, 2023
Investment case study for Block Farm Sunflower Production in Chamwino and Bahi districts, Dodoma region. Develop suitability maps for the production of sunflower using multi criterial evaluation based on FAO standards for block farms in Dodoma region, Tanzania Agricultural - 2023
Development of the management plan for Masito Ugalla Forest reserve. Land cover mapping and Geospatial analysis for the creation of forest management zones using the multi-criteria decision analysis tool, Jane Goodall Institute, 2021
Mapping Land Use/Land Covers and Deforestation for Tanzania Mainland for the year 2019. Mapping Land Use/Land Covers and Deforestation for Tanzania Mainland for the year 2019 Using Sentinel 2A images., National Carbon Monitoring Center, National Carbon Monitoring Center,-2020
Landscape Restoration Opportunity Assessment for Tanzania Mainland. Using various indicators to map the areas for opportunity for land restoration, WWF and IUCN-2020
LVB Project. Land Cover Mapping for The Preparation of an Integrated Water Resource Management and Development Plan for the Lake Victoria Basin using Sentinel 2A images for all lake Victoria basin and sub basins, BICO-2020
TEEB AgriFood project. Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Tanzania: The Case of Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Map land cover and model land cover prediction in the next 30 years for the selected catchments in the Southern highlands of Tanzania, UNEP-2020
FREL 2013-2018. Developing activity data for National Forest Reference Emission Level (Forest and Deforestation) using cloud-based geospatial processing platform –Google Earth Engine for the 2013 and 2018. National Carbon Monitoring Center,-2019
National Forest Reference Emission Levels (FREL) 2013-2017. National land cover change for the years 2013-2017 using high-resolution images and Google Earth engine. National Carbon Monitoring Center,-2018
Member of the national task force to assess the Ecological Status and Potential of forest Resources in Tanzania. Elected by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism as a team member to assess all forests in Tanzania and advise the government on the management and changing status of forests based on water catchment and biodiversity value. Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism - 2019
Land Degradation Neutrality target setting program – LDN. Mapping status of land degradation severity in Tanzania under Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme. Creation of the Land degradation map for Tanzania using three indicators; land productivity, soil organic carbon, and land cover change.Vice President’s Office-2018
Publications
Simon, Olipa, James Lyimo, and Nestory Yamungu. 2024. “Exploring the Impact of SocioeconomicFactors on Land Use and Cover Changes in Dar Es Salaam , Tanzania : A Remote Sensing and GIS Approach.” Arabian Journal of Geosciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-024-11908-5.
Simon, O. et al. (2024) ‘Unveiling the Transforming Landscape: Exploring Patterns and Drivers of Land Use/Land Cover Change in Dar es Salaam Metropolitan City, Tanzania’, African Geographical Review. doi: 10.1080/19376812.2024.2309405
Simon, O., Lyimo, J., & Yamungu, N. (2023). Land use and cover change in Dar es Salaam metropolitan city: satellite data and CA-Markov chain analysis. GeoJournal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-023-10960-0
Simon, O., Yamungu, N., & Lyimo, J. (2022). Simulating land surface temperature using biophysical variables related to building density and height in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Geocarto International, 88(5), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10106049.2022.2142971
Simon, O., Yamungu, N., & Lyimo, J. (2023). Influence of Urban Land Use Land Cover Changes on Land Surface Temperature in Dar es Salaam Metropolitan City , Tanzania : The Use of Geospatial Approach. 49(2), 356–368.
Simon, O., Gwambene, B., Magige, F. J., & John, J. R. (2025). Conservation challenges and land dynamics in a threatened coastal forest biodiversity hotspot , Tanzania : insights from 1995 – 2022. International Forestry Review, 27(2), 248–261.
Simon, O., & Ngereja, Z. (2025). Spatial determinants of informal settlement expansion in Dar es Salaam Metropolitan City , Tanzania : a geographically weighted regression approach. GeoJournal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-025-11352-2
Simon, O., & Ngereja, Z. (2025). Drivers of Informal Settlement Growth and Land Use Change in Dar es Salaam: Insights from Remote Sensing and GIS (1995-2024). Journal of the Geographical Association of Tanzania, 45(1), 23-43.
Simon, O., & Ngereja, Z. (2026). Dynamics of Urban Sprawl in Dar es Salaam: A Three-Decade Analysis Using Remote Sensing and Landscape Metrics. South African Journal of Geomatics, 15(1).
Njana, M.A. and Simon, O. (2025) “Protected area management effectiveness is pivotal in nature-based solutions for carbon neutrality: A tale from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania,” Ecological Indicators, 180(October), p. 114306. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114306.