3D camp models for site planning in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Escalating violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in the summer of 2017 caused hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to seek refuge across the border into Bangladesh. Many settled in formal camps, spontaneous and makeshift settlements in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

DTM has been conducting flights of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over the Kutupalong refugee camp, which holds over 500,000 inhabitants living in 40,000 shelters and covers an area of 10km2. Based on all the pictures taken during UAV flights covering 15km2, DTM created 3D models and topographic maps of the camp and extracted key data, such as elevation.

The project serves four purposes: providing regular image updates to monitor the growth of the camp and develop a timeline of the camp’s evolution; assisting in site management by elaborating a booklet atlas to allow camp managers to orient themselves (in progress); assisting in site planning, including planning for shelter, water supply and infrastructure; and enhancing hazard prevention and risk reduction, notably by helping in the identification of flood-prone zones and inaccessible areas.  Scroll down for the link to explore the 3D model.