A geospatial approach of downscaling urban energy consumption density in mega-city Dhaka, Bangladesh

Lack of energy consumption data limits resource optimized urban structure and energy planning in developing countries like Bangladesh. Focusing on mega-city Dhaka as a case, this study applies a geospatial approach of using multi-source national and regional datasets and visual analytics to downscale and estimate energy consumption at a local scale (such as ward and gridcell). The energy consumption density (ECD), as a measure of end energy use in a unit area, was estimated and mapped by linking building floorspace data with residents' energy use indicators such as per capita energy consumption, household energy expenditure, and mobility (transportation) pattern. This study also evaluated the ECD modelling outputs, and their sensitivity to distance from central business district (CBD) and total building floorspace. Results found a positive correlation between the residential building floorspace and estimated ECD. Regression and sensitivity analysis also identified and mapped significant spatial clusters and outliers in estimated ECD pattern of Dhaka city. This approach and methodology could help similar cities in other developing countries adopt and implement energy focused urban development.