Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Urbanization of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the Implications

Richardson Ballroom – DiGiorgio Campus Center

Dhaka, Bangladesh, has seen immense amounts of rural-to-urban migration in recent decades. Citizens seeking job opportunities and more stable lifestyles are finding that Dhaka is ill-equipped to handle the sudden influx. The growing population causes environmental and social problems that are exacerbated by a lack of policy. Furthermore, the growing threat of climate change poses an enormous hazard to the city in the form of erratic rainfall, flooding, and heat stress. Using geographic information systems to generate models of land cover over time helps to illustrate exactly how much vegetation has been lost and the amount of urbanization that has taken place. Through remote sensing and geospatial analysis, the correlation between a large, impoverished population and increased adverse climate change impacts can be better quantified to help mitigate the coming catastrophes in Dhaka.