Assessing the reliability of open-source data used for spatial characterisation of urban sanitation infrastructure—a field study in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Date published

2025

Free to read from

2025-03-20

Supervisor/s

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer

Department

Type

Article

ISSN

0944-1344

Format

Citation

Sultana MS, Waine T, Bari N, Tyrrel S. (2025) Assessing the reliability of open-source data used for spatial characterisation of urban sanitation infrastructure—a field study in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Available online 10 March 2025

Abstract

Urban sanitation in rapidly growing secondary cities remains a critical challenge, particularly in unsewered areas. This study evaluates the effectiveness of open-source data for modelling the sources and movement of faecal matter in such contexts, with a specific focus on Rajshahi, an unsewered secondary city in Bangladesh. By triangulating data from direct observations, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs), we assess the reliability of using open-source data to map faecal matter flow. The findings demonstrate an 80% alignment between the model’s simulated flow directions and actual field observations, highlighting the potential of using open-source data in urban sanitation management. Furthermore, the study reveals that 80% of buildings are connected to storm drains with many allowing faecal matter to overflow from septic tanks, thus posing a health risk. Despite efforts by the City Corporation to manage the drainage system through reactive measures like drain scraping and unblocking, blocked and overflowing drains remain prevalent, particularly during the rainy season. KIIs and (FGDs) highlight a lack of proactive maintenance and widespread unawareness of sanitation management systems. This integration of field-based insights with open-source data supports for a more proactive, data-driven approach to urban sanitation management in secondary cities, ultimately aiming to enhance public health and quality of life.

Description

Software Description

Software Language

Github

Keywords

Faecal matter, Fieldwork, Open-source data, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Sanitation infrastructure, Urban sanitation, Environmental Sciences

DOI

Rights

Attribution 4.0 International

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Relationships

Resources

Funder/s

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
This research was funded by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), under the auspices of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Water and Waste Infrastructure and Services Engineered for Resilience (Water-WISER), providing a doctoral scholarship to the principal author (M.S. S.) [EPSRC Grant No. EP/S022066/1].