Experts stress Digital Twin technology and advanced forecasting to strengthen flood resilience

Engineers, researchers and policymakers have emphasized the need to expand the use of Digital Twin technology and advanced flood forecasting systems to better manage flash floods and extreme flooding. They said accurate data, real-time monitoring and effective early warning systems can significantly reduce damage to lives, agriculture and infrastructure.

The observations were made at a seminar titled "Flood Resilience Through a Digital Twin Framework", organized by the Civil Engineering Division of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) on Monday at the Shaheed Engineer Bhaban in Dhaka.

Speaking as the chief guest, IEB President and RAJUK Chairman Engineer Mohammad Riazul Islam (Riju) said flash floods frequently cause severe losses to farmers in Sylhet and Sunamganj, particularly during the harvesting season.

He noted that timely and reliable flood forecasts would allow farmers to take preventive measures in advance, significantly reducing crop losses. He stressed expanding ICT-based flood forecasting and early warning systems to build a more resilient agricultural sector.

Riazul Islam added that IEB has been playing an important role in enhancing engineers' professional capacity, promoting technological innovation and contributing to national development. He said the organization would continue supporting disaster management, agricultural modernization and sustainable development.

As the guest of honour, BUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Ekramul Haque said Bangladesh experiences floods every year due to its riverine geography. However, the frequency and impact of flash floods have increased in recent years, making modern technology and effective forecasting systems more essential than ever.

Special guest Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, said while people in riverine areas are accustomed to seasonal flooding, sudden flash floods create significant uncertainty by damaging homes, crops, livestock and infrastructure.

Presenting the technical perspective, Professor Dr. Engineer Md. Sabbir Mostafa Khan, Head of the Department of Water Resources Engineering at BUET and Honorary Secretary General of IEB, said conventional manual water-level gauges often delay data collection and analysis.

He explained that many countries now use sensor-based technologies to automatically measure river water levels. These sensors continuously transmit real-time data to central databases, enabling rapid analysis of water levels, flow patterns and potential flood risks.

He added that the Bangladesh Water Development Board has also started providing real-time water-level data from monitoring stations, supporting more effective flood forecasting and helping researchers, engineers and policymakers make informed decisions.

The keynote paper was presented by Professor Dr. Jasim Imran of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Carolina, who highlighted the potential of Digital Twin technology, real-time data analytics and technology-driven decision-making in flood risk management.

The seminar was chaired by Engineer Muhammad Shafiqul Islam (Khoka), Chairman of the IEB Civil Engineering Division, while Engineer Md. Aynul Kabir, Vice-Chairman of the division, delivered the welcome speech. The session was moderated by Engineer Nesar Uddin, Secretary of the division.

The programme was attended by senior IEB leaders, engineers, academics, researchers and representatives from various engineering organizations across the country.

//DBTech/SF/EK//