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Detecting climate adaptation with mobile network data in Bangladesh: anomalies in communication, mobility and consumption patterns during cyclone Mahasen

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Lu

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Flowminder Foundation
    National University of Defense Technology)

  • David J. Wrathall

    (Oregon State University)

  • Pål Roe Sundsøy

    (Telenor Research)

  • Md. Nadiruzzaman

    (University of Exeter
    International Centre for Climate Change and Development)

  • Erik Wetter

    (Flowminder Foundation
    Stockholm School of Economics)

  • Asif Iqbal

    (Telenor Research)

  • Taimur Qureshi

    (Telenor Research)

  • Andrew J. Tatem

    (Flowminder Foundation
    University of Southampton)

  • Geoffrey S. Canright

    (Telenor Research)

  • Kenth Engø-Monsen

    (Telenor Research)

  • Linus Bengtsson

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Flowminder Foundation)

Abstract

Large-scale data from digital infrastructure, like mobile phone networks, provides rich information on the behavior of millions of people in areas affected by climate stress. Using anonymized data on mobility and calling behavior from 5.1 million Grameenphone users in Barisal Division and Chittagong District, Bangladesh, we investigate the effect of Cyclone Mahasen, which struck Barisal and Chittagong in May 2013. We characterize spatiotemporal patterns and anomalies in calling frequency, mobile recharges, and population movements before, during and after the cyclone. While it was originally anticipated that the analysis might detect mass evacuations and displacement from coastal areas in the weeks following the storm, no evidence was found to suggest any permanent changes in population distributions. We detect anomalous patterns of mobility both around the time of early warning messages and the storm’s landfall, showing where and when mobility occurred as well as its characteristics. We find that anomalous patterns of mobility and calling frequency correlate with rainfall intensity (r = .75, p

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Lu & David J. Wrathall & Pål Roe Sundsøy & Md. Nadiruzzaman & Erik Wetter & Asif Iqbal & Taimur Qureshi & Andrew J. Tatem & Geoffrey S. Canright & Kenth Engø-Monsen & Linus Bengtsson, 2016. "Detecting climate adaptation with mobile network data in Bangladesh: anomalies in communication, mobility and consumption patterns during cyclone Mahasen," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 138(3), pages 505-519, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:138:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s10584-016-1753-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-016-1753-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Henry, Elise & Furno, Angelo & Faouzi, Nour-Eddin El & Rey, David, 2022. "Locating park-and-ride facilities for resilient on-demand urban mobility," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    3. Francis Rathinam & Sayak Khatua & Zeba Siddiqui & Manya Malik & Pallavi Duggal & Samantha Watson & Xavier Vollenweider, 2021. "Using big data for evaluating development outcomes: A systematic map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(3), September.
    4. Sorrentino, Marco & Bruno, Marco & Trifirò, Alena & Rizzo, Gianfranco, 2019. "An innovative energy efficiency metric for data analytics and diagnostics in telecommunication applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1539-1548.
    5. Tapendra Kumar Srivastava & Pushpa Singh & Ram Ratan Verma, 2022. "Weather variability trends in Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh, India: influence on cropping systems and adaptation strategies," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 3588-3618, March.
    6. Sébastien Dujardin & Damien Jacques & Jessica Steele & Catherine Linard, 2020. "Mobile Phone Data for Urban Climate Change Adaptation: Reviewing Applications, Opportunities and Key Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Brian Beckage & Katherine Lacasse & Jonathan M. Winter & Louis J. Gross & Nina Fefferman & Forrest M. Hoffman & Sara S. Metcalf & Travis Franck & Eric Carr & Asim Zia & Ann Kinzig, 2020. "The Earth has humans, so why don’t our climate models?," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 181-188, November.

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