FloodGuard: Integrating Rainfall Time Series and GIS Data for Flood Prediction and Waterbody Forecasting in Bangladesh

Local Chapter Bangladesh Chapter

Coordinated byBangladesh ,

Status: Upcoming

Project Duration: 13 Oct 2023 - 15 Dec 2023

Project background.

Bangladesh is highly susceptible to flooding due to its unique geography and monsoon climate. Flooding leads to significant socio-economic and environmental consequences, causing the loss of lives, displacing communities, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting livelihoods. According to historical data from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and the Department of Disaster Management, flooding occurs annually during the monsoon season, affecting millions of people and causing substantial economic losses.

Current Year Statistics:

In the most recent year, the Department of Disaster Management and the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) reported alarming flood statistics that underscore the urgency of proactive flood management strategies. The monsoon season, which occurs annually, has once again brought a wave of floods that have profoundly impacted the nation:

Flood-Affected Population: During this year’s monsoon season, millions of residents have been affected by flooding, often being forced to evacuate their homes and seek temporary shelter. The flooding has disrupted the lives of families and communities across Bangladesh’s vast landscape.

Economic Losses: The economic toll of these floods is staggering. Essential infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and agricultural fields, has been inundated, resulting in significant damage and disruption. Preliminary estimates indicate substantial economic losses, further straining an already challenged economy.

Humanitarian Consequences: The floods have tragically led to the loss of lives, emphasizing the immediate need for accurate and timely flood prediction systems. Additionally, health and sanitation conditions have deteriorated in flood-affected areas, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases and other health-related challenges.

The recurring nature of these flood events underscores the necessity for innovative and data-driven solutions that can enhance flood prediction accuracy, mitigate risks, and support disaster response efforts. This project seeks to harness the power of timeseries rainfall data and Geographic Information System (GIS) insights to develop a robust flood prediction and waterbody forecasting model, enabling proactive measures to safeguard lives, protect assets, and bolster the nation’s resilience in the face of this ongoing challenge.

The problem.

The aftermath of flooding in Bangladesh results in immediate and long-term challenges, including loss of lives, destruction of crops, damage to infrastructure, and displacement of communities. Timely and accurate flood prediction and waterbody forecasting are crucial for reducing the impact of floods, enabling better disaster preparedness, and facilitating effective resource allocation.

Project goals.

The goal of this project is to leverage time series rainfall data and Geographic Information System (GIS) data to develop a predictive model that can forecast flood occurrences and waterbody behavior across Bangladesh. The project will involve collecting open-source rainfall data and GIS data, performing exploratory data analysis (EDA), training predictive models, and developing an application to provide alerts and forecasts to residents in proximity to waterbodies.

Project plan.

  • Week 1

    Data Collection:

    Collect historical rainfall data from meteorological agencies and open-source repositories.
    Gather GIS data, including topography, hydrography, land use, and waterbody locations.
    Integrate and preprocess the collected data for analysis.

  • Week 3

    EDA: Analyze the distribution and patterns of rainfall over time. Explore the relationship between rainfall patterns and waterbody behavior. Visualize spatial and temporal trends using GIS data.

  • Week 4

    Same as week 3.

  • Week 5

    Evaluate the performance of the developed models using appropriate metrics. Build a user-friendly web or mobile application for displaying flood alerts and waterbody forecasts. Integrate real-time data updates to ensure timely and accurate information.

  • Week 6

    Same as week 5

  • Week 7

    Same as week 6

  • Week 8

    Deployment: Deploy the developed application on a suitable platform. Ensure the scalability and reliability of the application infrastructure. Provide access to users across Bangladesh to receive flood alerts and waterbody forecasts.

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