Geographic Information System

The Geographic Information System (GIS) Division is a part of the resource and information base in BCAS. It contains a wide range of images, photographs, digital databases, videos, books and journals. Experts and personnel working in this division have been trained at home and abroad. The purpose of the GIS division is to provide support and training to BCAS as well as other development partners. In the last 20 years the GIS Division has conducted data analysis on resource management, land administration, pollution levels and natural resources.  This information is widely used by academicians, planners, experts and consultants, locally and on an international level. The division is equipped with sophisticated equipments to support GIS activities.

Objectives

·    To provide GIS services to NGO’s, government, private sector, donors and other clients
·    To develop a GIS and Remote Sensing (RS) resource centre in the private sector
·    To provide training to professionals from government and non-government organizations on GIS and RS application in their relevant fields.
·    To build a GIS database at national and regional levels
·    To collaborate with international organizations, universities in research and exchange programmes.

The following equipments, hardware and software are used at the BCAS GIS Division:
   
Drawing and Survey Equipment

·    Planimete
·    Pollution Monitoring Equipment (High Volume Air Samplers to measure air pollution, Hach kits to measure water pollution)
·    Steadler Pen Sets
·    Lino Set
·    Plane Table Survey Equipment
·    Range Poles
·    Chain & Tapes
·    Lan (All PC)
·    Stereoscopes
·    Pollution Monitoring Equipment (High Volume Air Samplers)



GIS Software:

·    PC ArcInfo,
·    ArcView GIS,
·    ArcView Spatial Analyst,
·    ArcView Image Analysis,
·    ArcView 3D Analyst,
·    ArcView Network Analyst,
·    Arc GIS
·    Atlas GIS
·    IDRISI


Hardware of GIS Division
·    Server (Pentium-lV)
·    Personal Computer (Pentium-lll)
·    Digitizer (A0)
·    Plotter
·    Color Printer (HP DeskJet – 9650)
·    Scanner
·    Lan (All PC)
·    GPS (MAGELLAN ProMARK X CM, Garmin )

The following databases are available at the BCAS GIS Division:

 Spatial and Non-spatial Database
·    Thana level information on population and spatial coverage
·    Land type coverage (MPO) for 1990, and two projection years – 2020-2075
·    Land use coverage for  years 2004 & 1996
·    Detail map for three major cities - Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna
·    Drought Information on Rabi and Kharif seasons
·    Cyclone Prone Areas of Bangladesh
·    Flash flood prone areas of Bangladesh
·    Saline front coverage on surface water and soil
·    River network of Bangladesh and wetland information for all hydrological stations
·    Selected Mauza coverage

The following services are offered at the BCAS GIS Division

·    Mapping and surveying in the field for land use, fisheries, forestry,  environmental mapping and analysis.
·    Databases on soft and hard copy
·    Analysis of databases to client’s requirements
·    Digitizing data for maps
·    Analyzing digitized data
·    Preparing specific digitized and mapped data according to client’s specifications
·    Socio-economic survey and mapping including RRA & PRA
·    Thematic coverage of selected areas
·    Baseline studies and mapping for project feasibility study and project design, monitoring and evaluation.
·    Training on Cartography,
·    Thematic mapping for NGO’s for resource management and planning at local level and for environmental education and awareness

Key Personnel:  Mirza Arifah Ahmad, Senior Research Officer
                            Ismot Ara, GIS Analyst


For further information please contact: arifah.ahmed@bcas.net