Project Overview

Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited (BGDCL), under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, is one of Bangladesh’s leading natural gas distribution companies. The organization supplies natural gas across major districts including Brahmanbaria, Ashuganj, Gauripur, Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, and Chandpur through a pipeline network spanning approximately 3,857.85 kilometers.

To strengthen infrastructure management and support digital transformation, BGDCL initiated the adoption of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in 2023. Building on this initiative, a large-scale pipeline mapping project was undertaken across Cumilla, Chandpur, Feni, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur.

Project Duration

April 22 – June 14, 2024

The project was completed within 53 days, including holidays, achieving an average mapping progress of approximately 3 kilometers per day.

Objectives

The project aimed to:

• Accurately map gas transmission and distribution pipelines.
• Develop a comprehensive GIS database for pipeline infrastructure.
• Improve asset management and operational monitoring.
• Support data-driven decision-making for future network expansion and maintenance.

Methodology

The mapping activities combined multiple geospatial technologies and field survey techniques, including:

• Pipe Locator Survey
• GNSS-RTK Survey
• KoBo Toolbox Digital Data Collection
• Satellite Imagery Verification
• GIS Data Processing and Analysis

Dual-frequency GNSS receivers were used to capture highly accurate pipeline locations and depth information at regular intervals. Prior to field deployment, survey teams received specialized training and conducted pilot surveys to ensure data quality and operational efficiency.

Challenges and Solutions

Several field and data-related challenges were encountered during implementation, including:

• Missing or inaccessible Tracing Points (TPs) and Anchor Points (APs)
• Disconnected pipeline segments within existing GIS layers
• Discrepancies between documented and surveyed pipeline lengths

These challenges were successfully resolved through close coordination with BGDCL officials, field verification, satellite imagery interpretation, Google Earth georeferencing, and sketch map validation.

Key Achievements

The project exceeded its original target and delivered a comprehensive GIS-ready pipeline database.

Project Impact

The finalized GIS database and shapefiles have been successfully integrated into BGDCL’s GIS system. The project has significantly strengthened BGDCL’s capacity to manage and monitor pipeline infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, enhance service reliability, and support long-term resilience within Bangladesh’s energy sector.