Desher Kaj
Waterlogging survey, Dhaka
Where water stands in the rains, with photos and locations, for the municipality.
Area
Dhaka
People
4 people
Time
About 4 hours
Difficulty
Easy
About this task
After heavy rain many Dhaka roads stay under water for hours. Walking the area after rain to find every place water stands, and listing each with a photo, an address, how deep and how long it stays; then handing the list to the municipality or union council.
Why it matters
The authority often does not know which lane floods. A list with photos and locations makes it easy to decide which drains to fix first.
What changes after
A list of at least ten spots with photos; the authority’s received copy; the list kept to see next monsoon how many were fixed.
Who can join
Anyone with a smartphone. From abroad you can help put the list together.
Step by step
- 1Done
Divide the area30 min
Each volunteer takes a few streets on a map.
- 2Done
Walk and photograph after rain180 min
The day after heavy rain: photo, location pin and depth for each spot.
- 3Done
Hand in the list30 min
One spreadsheet; a printed copy handed in with a received stamp.
When it counts as done
- A list of at least ten spots with photos
Proof required: Document, Photo
⚠ Safety
Do not walk through standing water: there may be open manholes or live wires. Photograph from dry ground.
What it costs
| Mobile data | 4 people | ৳50–100 |
| Colour print of the report with photos | 3 copies | ৳100–300 |
| Measuring tape or marked stick | 1 | ৳80–200 |
| File or folder | 1 | ৳30–60 |
| Total (about) | ৳600–1,600 | |
Getting ready, step by step
7 days before
Take a map of the area; split it into 4 and give each person some streets.
Make one shared sheet: no., place, pin link, depth, how long it stays, photo, note.
3 days before
Watch the forecast; be ready for the heavy-rain day.
Have everyone practise dropping a pin and filling the sheet.
Rain day
After the rain stops, walk your share; photograph from dry ground.
Enter each spot in the sheet on the spot.
The day after
Revisit the same spots: has the water gone?
Tidy the list and print it.
The week after
Hand it in; get a stamp and date on the received copy.
Add a photo of the received copy to the proof.
Who does what
- Coordinator (1): Splits the area, checks the sheet, makes and hands in the report. — ____________
- Surveyors (2): Walk their share in pairs: photo, pin, depth. — ____________
- Sheet and checking (1): Walks one share, then matches photos and pins in the sheet and removes duplicates. — ____________
The day, hour by hour
- 07:00Group message: the rain has stopped, time to go.
- 07:30Everyone starts their share.
- 09:00Midway, report the count of spots found.
- 10:30Walking done; check every spot is in the sheet.
- 11:00Coordinator checks photos and pins, removes duplicates.
- 16:00Revisit some spots to see how far the water has fallen.
What can go wrong, and what to do
- Open manholes or holes under water → Never walk in standing water; photograph from dry ground.
- A live wire in the water → Stay away, keep others back, call 999 or the power office.
- Rain and lightning return → Leave open ground and shelter in a solid building.
- Someone asks why you are taking photos → Explain politely: a waterlogging list for the municipality.
Useful numbers
- 999National emergency: police, fire, ambulance (free)
- 333Government information, services and complaints
Questions people ask
- How do we give the location?
- Drop a pin in your phone’s map and copy the link, with the name of a nearby shop or mosque.
- Can I join if I cannot stay the whole time?
- Yes. Say in your request which step or which hours you can do. The lead will give that step to you.