SAM BUNNEY

RDM Suitability Index

Lotus Project — Rural Development & Renewable Energy

This project was completed for the Lotus Project in Vietnam in 2026. In 2020, the Lotus Project developed the Rural Development Model (RDM) Index to guide decision-makers on where best to invest in rural development. However, the original index measured only the need for development, not its potential. To increase its practicality, new metrics were introduced to capture the potential for economic development, namely agricultural and tourism potential. These were added alongside new metrics offering a clearer understanding of current social and environmental conditions. Finally, the results are presented as an interactive map to improve accessibility.

RDM Suitability Index

This map brings together data on agriculture, tourism, clean energy, and social and economic conditions across Vietnam to help identify where rural development and renewable energy projects are most likely to succeed. The RDM Index combines all of these into a single composite score for every region.

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Browse layers Pick a category in the sidebar and click a layer to display it. Use the opacity slider to see the boundaries beneath.
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Compare crop conditions For agriculture layers, switch yield level and water source to see how suitability rankings shift by crop.
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Click any region See stats at province, district and commune level for the active layer, or search for a place by name.
Lotus Project
Lotus ProjectRural Development & Renewable Energy
RDM Suitability Index
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