BUET:URP Website

Dr. Neelopal Adri

Associate Professor
Specialization

Climate Change and Disaster Management

Academic Biography

Neelopal Adri has specialization in conducting research in the areas of social dimension of climate change, disaster management, migration, transportation, and gender. Dr. Adri holds a PhD in Human Geography from Royal Holloway, University of London, UK, a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and a Bachelor’s in Urban and Regional Planning from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. She has been awarded many national and international awards for conducting research such as IIED grant (2014), London University Grant (2013), IFS (International Foundation for Sciences) Grant (2012), and CDKN Grant (2012). She has experience of working with number of donors and national and international development organizations such as the World Bank, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Centre for Global Change (CGC), etc. She has published her works in reputed national and international journals. Dr. Adri has also contributed to chapters in edited books published in Bangladesh and abroad. Currently she is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

Contact

Email: neelopal@urp.buet.ac.bd

Educational Information

Ph.D., Royal Holloway, University of London, 2015
Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, 2009
Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (BURP), Jahangirnagar University, 2006

Consultancies

Senior Consultant in a project named ‘Land Value Capture (LVC) in Bangladesh’ funded by GIZ India. 2021
National Consultant for the study ‘Situation Analysis of Urban Planning in Bangladesh’ under Climate Resilience Inclusive Smart Cities (CRISC) Project, funded by Public One GmbH. 2021
Short-Term Consultant (STC) of Urban Study at World Bank, Dhaka Office. The study was mainly based on the access of educational services to the urban poor in Bangladesh. 2016

Research Interests

Disaster Management
Climate Change
Urbanization
Migration
Housing
Local Level Planning

All Publications
T Zaman, Md. Musleh Uddin Hasan, Neelopal Adri, Nawshin Tabassum *Use of Technology in the Rural Households of Bangladesh having Migrant Members* -, 13th World Congress of the RSAI, Virtual Conference, Moroccan Section of the Regional Science Association International., 2021 Publication Type: Conference Paper View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link
Niaz Mahmud Zafri, Atikul Islam Rony, Md. Hamidur Rahman, Neelopal Adri *Comparative risk assessment of pedestrian groups and their road-crossing behaviours at intersections in Dhaka, Bangladesh* Taylor & Francis, International Journal of Crashworthiness, 2020 Publication Type: Journal Article View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users and their risky behaviours make the situation worse. This study aimed to assess the crash risk associated with various pedestrian groups and their road crossing behaviours at intersections in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A two-stage, multi-criteria decision-making approach—analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)—was used for risk assessment. In the first stage, five risk assessment criteria: nearest vehicle speed, nearest vehicle type, vehicle flow, interrupted by vehicle, and minimum gap were identified from the literature, and these criteria were weighted by the AHP. In the second stage, risk associated with various pedestrian groups and their road-crossing behaviours were quantified and ranked by the TOPSIS. The results indicate that male and young pedestrians had higher risk among pedestrian groups. Furthermore, an oblique crossing type, a running crossing pattern, mobile phone usage while crossing, carrying medium-weight baggage, a rolling gap crossing type, high crossing speed, and cross by using conflict zone were found as the riskiest behaviours. Besides, using crosswalk while crossing, single-stage and two-stage crossing types, perpendicular crossing type, and group crossing were found to be the safest behaviours.
Niaz Mahmud Zafri, Atikul Islam Rony , Neelopal Adri *Study on Pedestrian Compliance Behavior at Vehicular Traffic Signals and Traffic-Police-Controlled Intersections* Springer, International Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems Research, 2019 Publication Type: Journal Article View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link The compliance behavior of pedestrians at controlled intersections is an important determinant of the number of crashes involving pedestrians at those intersections. The objective of this study was to explore compliance behavior of the pedestrians at vehicular traffic signals and traffic-police-controlled intersections in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Two types of compliance behavior were examined: compliance with vehicular traffic signals and traffic police direction, and compliance with crosswalk. First, factors influencing each compliance behavior of pedestrians were identified from the existing literature and correlation test results. With those identified factors, two discrete choice models were developed: a multinomial logistic (MNL) model for explaining the compliance behavior with vehicular traffic signals and traffic police direction, and a binary (BLR) model for exploring the compliance behavior with crosswalk. The results of the MNL model showed that compliance behavior was significantly associated with intersection control type, gender, crossing group, baggage handling by pedestrian, and vehicle flow. Whereas, the BLR model showed that compliance with crosswalk was significantly influenced by age of the pedestrians, compliance with intersection control direction by pedestrians, and vehicle flow. These findings would help the policy-makers to take countermeasures to alleviate traffic safety related problems.
Niaz Mahmud Zafri, Atikul Islam Rony, Neelopal Adri *Analysis of Pedestrian Crossing Speed and Waiting Time at Intersections in Dhaka* MDPI, Infrastructures, 2019 Publication Type: Journal Article View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link Pedestrian crossing speed and waiting time are critical parameters for designing traffic signals and ensuring pedestrian safety. This study aimed to carry out microscopic level research on pedestrian crossing speed and waiting time at intersections in Dhaka. To fulfill this aim, crossing-related data of 560 pedestrians were collected from three intersections in Dhaka using a videography survey method. Descriptive and statistical analyses were carried out, and then two multiple linear regression (MLR) models were developed for these two parameters by using the collected data. From the results, 1.15 m/s was found to be the design pedestrian crossing speed. Results also show that the crossing speed of pedestrians was associated with intersection control type, gender, age, crossing type, crossing group size, compliance behavior with control direction, and crossing location. In case of waiting time, findings show that pedestrians did not want to wait more than 20–30 s to cross the road. Furthermore, the waiting time of the pedestrians varied with intersection control type, gender, age, minimum gap, waiting location, and vehicle flow. Findings of this study will help to alleviate traffic safety problems by designing an effective intersection control system.
Neelopal Adri *Rickshaw of Bangladesh* ABC-CLIO, USA, Minicars, Maglevs, and Mopeds: Modern Modes of Transportation Around the World, 2016 Publication Type: Book / Book Chapter View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link
Neelopal Adri, David Simon *A tale of two groups: focusing on the differential vulnerability of “climate-induced” and “non-climate-induced” migrants in Dhaka City* Taylor & Francis, Climate and Development, 2015 Publication Type: Journal Article View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world under the context of climate change. Each year thousands of migrants arrive in Dhaka City, the capital of the country, mainly forced by events such as floods, cyclone and riverbank erosion. Such group of migrants has been termed as “climate-induced” migrants in this research. The city also received other types of migrants who are not driven by climatic factors; rather their reasons for migration are purely opportunistic. This group has been termed as non-climate-induced migrants. The paper deals with the climate-induced and non-climate-induced migrants in Korail slum of Bangladesh who had arrived in Dhaka after 2006. This research attempted to analyse whether there are any differences in the characteristics, experiences and future aspiration between these two groups in spite of living in the same slum located in the capital of Bangladesh. Questionnaire survey, focus groups and key informant interview were the methods of data collection. Independent sample t-test and Chi-square test have been conducted to analyse data. Results revealed significant differences between the two groups in terms of income and savings, educational level, access to credit, contacts in the city, family structure, pattern of migration and relationship with the place of origin. The study revealed that if not properly planned, migration cannot be a suitable adaptation option.
Neelopal Adri, Ishrat Islam *Vulnerability and Coping Strategies in Waterlogged Area: A Case Study from Keshabpur, Bangladesh* PSD-Nepal, International Journal of Environment, 2011 Publication Type: Journal Article View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link
Neelopal Adri, Ishrat Islam *Water Logging in Keshabpur: A Focus to the Coping Strategies of the People* N/A, Proc. of International Conference on Environmental Aspects of Bangladesh (ICEAB10), Japan, Sept. 2010, 2010 Publication Type: Journal Article View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link Water logging has been disrupting livelihoods of about one million people in Bangladesh during past two decades. South-west Bangladesh is prone to water logging due to the vulnerable geographical setting and climate change. The worst hydro-geophysical vulnerability has been found in Keshabpur Thana of Jessore District where most of the land is waterlogged for over seven years. The researchers tried to identify people’s unique coping strategies under such adverse environmental condition. Necessary data were collected through questionnaire survey, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Participatory Vulnerability Assessment (PVA) tools. About 270 households of the study area were surveyed. Major findings revealed the constraints towards reducing people’s vulnerability such as climate change, poor coordination among stakeholders, limited institutional initiative of coping etc. Accordingly researchers tried to put some necessary recommendation such as promoting agricultural and institutional coping immediately in the study area.
Neelopal Adri, Selima Sultana *Grameen Bank’s Housing Program for Rural Poor in Bangladesh: A Case Study* N/A, Papers and Proceedings of the Applied Geography Conference, USA, 2004 Publication Type: Journal Article View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link Even though access to affordable housing is a basic requirement for human well-being, the majority of people in most developing nations occupy the most rudimentary forms of shelter. As a developing nation, Bangladesh is no exception to this rule. The differences in the quality of housing between developed and developing nations are tremendous; in terms of floor area per person, the city average for Dhaka was 40 sq. ft in 1990 compared with over 650 sq. ft. in Washington, DC (Pacione, 2001). The failure of government housing programs to provide affordable housing has forced the majority of the poor population to live in unsanitary conditions. However, the initiative of the Grameen Bank's housing program (GBHP) is legendary and has been helping to alleviate these living conditions. The GBHP has proved that even without collateral, a bank can still build up good relations with the poorest of die poor and grant them credit, and this is a cost-effective way to build decent housing. The success story of micro-lending project of Grameen Bank is well-known worldwide, but little is known about GBHP. Hence, it is essential for urban geographers, especially for practitioners who are working towards providing affordable housing for the poor, to learn about GBHP. The purpose of this paper is thus to examine the rate of success of GBHP in Bangladesh and what impact it has had in providing affordable housing for people who live under the poverty level.
Neelopal Adri, S Sultana *Minicars, Maglevs, and Mopeds: Modern Modes of Transportation Around the World,* N/A, Papers and Proceedings of the Applied Geography Conference, USA, 2004 Publication Type: Conference Paper View Summary/Abstract , Publication Link