Survey of Bangladesh (SOB) has started making 1:25,000 scale topographic map for entire Bangladesh and 1:5,000 scale topographic map for divisional cities by digital mapping system. Under the Improvement of Digital Mapping System of Survey of Bangladesh (IDMS) project technically assisted by JICA, Bangladesh digital topographic maps and digital geospatial data will be disseminated to the users in order to help them undertaking various development works.

Objectives of Improvement of Digital Mapping System (IDMS) Project

The following mapping and surveying activities will be accomplished:

• To Produce 1:5000 scale digital topographic map covering all Divisional cities and its digital database (approximately 160 sheets).
• To produce 1:25000 scale digital topographic map covering whole country and its digital database (approximately 960 sheets).
• To provide multiple products likes DEM, Orthophoto, maps etc. to the users for utilization in various socio-economic development activities and management of natural disaster.
• To strengthen the capability of production of digital topographic maps of Survey of Bangladesh.
• To establish a Digital Mapping Centre for Survey of Bangladesh (SOB) at Dhamalkote, Dhaka.

Digital Products (Hard Copy)

• 1:25,000 scale Topographic maps covering whole Bangladesh. (approx. 988 sheets)
• 1:5,000 scale Topographic maps covering Divisional cities (approx. 263 sheets)
• Coordinates and location of Geodetic Control Points for socio-economic development works.

Digital Products (Soft Copy)

                                       DEM        

• DEM (Digital Elevation Model) Covering whole country.
• Digital Orthophoto with ground resolution of 50 cm covering whole country and Divisional cities with ground resolution of 25 cm.
• GIS Database/ Geo database: This database will have seamless digital map data covering the whole country.
• Contains all features of 1:25,000 topographic maps ready to use with major GIS software.
• Accurate Geoid model of Bangladesh to convert GPS measured heights (WGS-84 Ellipsoidal height) into Orthometric heights (Height above MSL).
• Online service: Survey of Bangladesh has a plan to provide soft copy map & various data to the users through Online service in the near future.

• Contents: International & Administrative boundary, Road & Railway, Transmission line, Pipe line, Public building, Built-up area, Village, Hydrography, Land Use Contour Line, Spot height, GPS point, Benchmark etc.
• Datum: WGS-84
• Projection: Transverse Mercator
• Precision: Principal contour intervals is 10 m, aimed accuracy of point height is 1m.

ADVANTAGE

• Authorized international and administrative boundaries.
• Features described in uniform scale, projection, acquisition, etc. all over the country.
• Precise position and height coordinates.
• up-to-date information.

CITY PLANNING

• City planning is a big task for City Corporation and Bangladesh Government.
• It requires necessary data relating to land and environment, Infrastructure development, settlement, utility services all should be considered while making City planning.
• Topographic maps in 1:25,000 scale and Urban Maps in 1:5,000 scale can help the City planner to a great extent.DEM is very much useful for water Modeling and Disaster Management Process.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT

• The impact of Climate change is seriously hindering the overall development of the country.
• Systematically and holistically Bangladesh should try to mitigate this complex and cross cutting concern.
• Climate impacts will affect everyone. Climate change threatens the basic elements of life for people around the world.
• Melting glaciers will increase the flood risk during monsoon and this has bad effect on environment.
• A warming of 3 to 4 degree Celsius in weather change will rise the sea level and as a result millions of people are likely to be affected by flood every year.
• World largest mangrove forest Sundarbans is threatened due to encroachment of saline water.

Digital Geo-spatial data like DEM, Orthophoto, thematic maps and Tidal observatory data can help to assess the impacts of climate on our environment and ecosystem.

• Natural disaster frequently occurs in our country.
• In recent years this has become more prominent and severe to the people living in the coastal zone flood prone and water logged area.
• In case of disaster management government and non-government agencies can respond quickly if they are in possession of right information and geo-data sets of the affected area. Disaster Maps, Rescue & Recover Maps can help the rescuer and aid worker instantly. More over, /Orthophoto, Digital Topographic Maps can play a significant role in Disaster Management.

AGRICULTURE

• Satellite or Aerial Photography Technology has been and will always be a very important factor in the improvement of the present system of acquiring and generating agricultural and resource data.
• Satellite imagery and Aerial photographs at different spatial, spectral and temporal resolution can be successfully used for agriculture and crop assessment, crop health, change detection, environmental analysis and yield determination.

By analysing geo-referenced and ortho-rectified images in different time line, the agriculture scientists can estimate the crop yield.

• Redified digital images can be effectively used for marine habitat mapping, water quality

monitoring, oil spill detection, emergencies, environmental impacts and mapping of reclamation activities.
The researchers and scientists can use this geospatial data for assessment and analysis of water temperature, salinity, hydrology, shoreline changes, soil moisture and potential threats to our coast.

Human health, critical wetland and eco-systems, and economic development of the coastal zone very much depends on the proper utilization of the geospatial data.

The products of IDMS project will be very much useful for Defence Mapping and critical decision making process.

Geographical Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geodesy experts of Survey of Bangladesh are capable of producing necessary geospatial data for defence and intelligence requirements.

Orthophoto and DEM of any particular area can be useful for quick assessment of any significant construction of engineering projects like-airstrips, bridge, dam, water, power plant, coal mining, sewer line and industrial zone.

The first phase of site selection and evaluation for any major engineering projects largely depends on geospatial data.

BENEFICIARIES
There will be many beneficiaries from the products of digital maps. Only few are mentioned below:
Local Government Engineering Department (LGED): Digital Topographical Base Maps and Database can be effectively used for the planning and construction of road infrastructure throughout the country. DEM and contours can be used in a side range of applications.

Department of Land Records and Survey: Topographical maps along with contours and geodetic control network can be very useful for preparation of International Boundary Strip maps for border demarcation.

Roads and Highways Deparment (RHD): Topographical maps along with DEM can effectively be used by RHD for Road Network planning and infrastructure development. Topographical maps will be used for basic information for land acquisition. DEM can be successfully used road alignment and CUT and FILL assessment.

Department of Environment (DOE): Thematic maps on conservation of natural resources and Land use can be produced by DOE by using IDMS products. Deforestation, contamination of surface water, natural calamities, intrusion of salinity, unplanned urbanization, discharge of untreated sewage and industrial wastes, etc. can be better addressed by using digital topographic maps and database.
Water Development Board (WDB): Digital topographic Map and Database can be used for water modeling and flood control activities. DEM and contours will play an important role in water resource management system.

Department of Forest: Thematic maps on Forest and vegetation along with satellite imageries can be effectively used for natural environmental development through forestation program. Orthophotos of Sundarban, Chittagong Hill Tracts and other forest areas will help better management of forest resources of Bangladesh and in the field of biodiversity conservation.

Department of Meteorology: Digital base will help making weather forecast chart. Precise data from permanent GPS stations can be used for monitoring the plate tectonic movement of earth. More over, GPS data processed by Bernese software can be used for assessing the inospheric condition and quality of air. Tide observation data will help in assessing the global warming also.

Department of Relief and Rehabilitation: DEM of disaster prone areas will help in assessing the damage of catastrophe. Use of topographical maps and DEM will ease the selection of relief distribution points, mobilization of relief and rehabilitation of effected people more efficierilly.

BTTB & Mobile Companies: Topographical maps and DEM will be useful for planning of installation for radio relay stations throughout the country. Topographical maps can be effectively used for tower locations and determination of coverage zone.

Armed Forces: Can plan and demonstrate operations/war games using digital maps. DEM would be very useful for planning of radio relay stations. Bangladesh Air Force can use digital map for flight simulation. Digital topographic maps and databases are useful tools for terrain analysis and decision making process. Digital BAF charts would be very helpful for flight plan.

Bangladesh Police & RAB: Digital maps for vehicle navigation system of crime prone zones are very effective tools for criminal tracking. Road network map along with DEM would be useful for finding criminal and subjects.

IDMS TIME SCHEDULE

• Aerial Photography planned in 2010-2011
• Provision of DEM and Orthophoto images starts in 2012
• Publication of printed maps starts by 2012
• Construction Digital Mapping Centre by 2012

Bangladesh Digital Mapping Assistance Project
Introduction

• Record of Discussions signed by JICA and SOB in November, 2008.
• Project period: August, 2009 to September, 2013
• Overall Goal:

SOB accomplishes IDMS project, and acquires sufficient technologies to maintain the mapping process.

• Main Activities:
• Training of SOB staff in the field of digital photogrammetry, digital cartopraphy, GIS and Reproduction.

To know more about the technically assisted projects of JICA, Bangladesh for SOB press here.