Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, BWDB, Bangladesh

At a Glance

• Established as a permanent entity at 8th floor WAPDA Building, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000, in 1972.
• Additional Director General (Planning), Chief Engineer, Hydrology and Superintending Engineer, Processing & Flood Forecasting Circle as controlling and supervising office.
• Total approved number of professional: 22 nos.
• Received UNDP/WMO assistance during 1981 to 1986 and 1989 to 1992.
• Danida (Denmark) technical & financial assistance during 1995 to 1997 and 2000 to 2005.
• Currently implementing 5 years duration “Strengthening FFWCs’ Early Warning Capacity” during 2010 to 2014 under CDMP-II, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, supported by the UNDP.
• On-going research activity during 2012 to 2017 entitled “Enhancing Early Warning System for Community Based Response in Bangladesh”, technical partner RIMES, supported by USAID through CARE-Bangladesh under Shouhardo-II Programme.
• On-going research activity during December 2012 to December 2014 entitled “Applying Remote Sensing Technology in River Basin Management”, technical partner JAXA and IWM, supported by ADB, TAPP:TA8074 (grant).
• Operates "Flood information Centre" as National Focal Point in connection with Flood Disaster Management.

Functions:

A.     Data Collection

• Mobile telephone.
• Voice data (HF Wireless network).
• Satellite Imagery (GMS, NOAA, IMD).
• Online data from Bangladesh Meteorological Department(BMD, IMD, RIMES), including satellite and rainfall radar data.
• Received upper catchment water level data on limited stations from CWC, India.

B.      Satellite Imagery

• Monitoring of cloud & depression movements, precipitation estimation from cloud temperature analysis
• Cyclone monitoring

C.      Real Time Data Management

• GIS based map display showing water level and rainfall status (Flood Watch)
• Data entry & processing
• Automatic data exchange to and from forecasting model
• Display of forecast water levels
• Generation of flood forecast bulletins
• Generation of flood status at local administrative unit (Upazila) level
• Flood statistics generation

D.     Flood Forecast Model

Basis:

One dimensional fully hydrodynamic model (MIKE 11 HD) incorporating all major rivers and floodplains. This is linked to a lumped conceptual rainfall-runoff model (MIKE 11 RR) which generates inflows from catchments within the country.

Details:

• Catchment Area = 82,000 sq-km.
• Total length of modelled rivers = 7270 km.
• No. of catchments =216
• Total number of water level observed stations=85
• Total number of forecast stations = 54
• Total number of rainfall observed stations=56
• Flood maps generated from model results via GIS link to model (MIKE 11 GIS)

Output:

• Daily monsoon bulletin & river situation report
• Water Level monitoring at 84 locations
• Rainfall monitoring at 59 locations
• River Water Level deterministic forecasts for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours at 54 locations
• Probabilistic 10-daily water level forecast (limited places and experimental basis) at 38 locations
• Structure based forecast at 4 locations
• Warning messages
• Special flood situation report
• Flood forecast maps
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR) through mobile (mobile no 10941)
• Lobby display in Bangla
• Monthly flood report
• Dry season bulletin (weekly)
• Annual Flood Report

Dissemination Through:

• Web-site
• E-mail
• Fax, Telephone
• Media; News paper, Radio & Television
• Lobby display
• IVR ( Dial Number: 10941)

Distribution:

• President's Office
• Prime Minister's Office
• Ministry of Water Resources
• Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief
• Ministry of Agriculture
• Department of Agricultural Extension
• Department of Disaster Management
• Army Headquarters
• Arm Forces Division, PMO office
• Public Information Department
• Government Departments
• Disaster Management Information Centre (DMIC) and NDRCC
• District Disaster Management Committees (DDMC) and a limited number of Upazila DMC
• News Agencies - Radio & TV
• NGO's & International Organizations (WFP, UNDP, Red Crescent etc.)
• Foreign embassies and consulates in Dhaka
• Development Partners
• Research Organizations
• Field Wireless Stations
• And other agencies and organizations on request