Multi-Hazard Shelter Design Addresses Cyclones and Heat Simultaneously

Civil engineers and climate scientists are collaborating on infrastructure that protects vulnerable populations from multiple climate threats. The first pilot project transforms existing cyclone shelters in Bangladesh to provide cooling refuge during extreme heat events.

The Jameel Observatory–Climate Resilience Early Warning System Network began construction of its first Adaptation Fortress in Satkhira district, southwest Bangladesh. The structure represents the first climate-resilient shelter designed for dual protection in the country.

Professor Elfatih Eltahir, lead principal investigator of the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet, described the innovation. “Bangladesh built a vast network of cyclone shelters that have been effective in protecting vulnerable population,” he said. “For the first time the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet is introducing the concept of shelter from heatwaves as well as cyclones in southwest Bangladesh.”

The pilot fortress features solar power generation and battery backup systems ensuring operation during extreme heat conditions when grid power may fail. Rainwater harvesting capacity addresses water security during emergencies, while excess energy generated when air conditioning isn’t needed becomes available for community use.

Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel co-founded the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet through Community Jameel following a 2019 visit to Bangladesh. The initiative represents one of MIT’s five Climate Grand Challenges flagship projects.

Engineering for Compound Climate Threats

The Adaptation Fortress addresses a fundamental challenge in climate adaptation infrastructure: communities face multiple hazards requiring different protective measures. Traditional infrastructure often addresses single threats, creating incomplete protection.

Southwest Bangladesh exemplifies compound climate risks. Over 30 million people live in a region vulnerable to cyclones, storm surge, flooding, saltwater intrusion and extreme heat. Between 2019 and 2021, multiple cyclones devastated the region, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee.

Heatwaves compound these challenges. In 2024, extreme heat caused nationwide school closures in Bangladesh for two weeks. Some districts experienced six to eight weeks of closures due to combined impacts of heatwaves and flooding.

The engineering approach integrates multiple systems within single structure. The building serves as school throughout the year, converts to cyclone shelter during government-declared emergencies and provides cooling refuge during heat events.

This multi-purpose design maximizes infrastructure utilization while addressing varied threats. Single-purpose structures sit idle except during specific emergencies, representing inefficient resource allocation in communities with limited capital.

The pilot site at Baradal Aftab Uddin collegiate school in Baradal union, Assasuni sub-district, operates as central community hub. Located within walking distance to the local market, health clinic and union parishad building, it serves as natural gathering point.

Site selection criteria included existing cyclone shelter status, community accessibility, structural condition supporting upgrades and community willingness to participate in the pilot program.

Technical Systems and Performance Metrics

Solar photovoltaic arrays provide primary power generation, with battery storage ensuring operation when solar generation cannot meet demand. System sizing accounts for air conditioning loads during extreme heat while providing excess capacity for other community uses.

The energy management system prioritizes cooling during heat emergencies, switching to community power sharing when emergency needs are met. This dual-use approach provides year-round value rather than infrastructure sitting idle between emergencies.

Rainwater harvesting systems capture precipitation from roof surfaces, storing water for emergency use and potentially for routine community needs during dry periods. Water storage capacity must balance emergency requirements against structural and spatial constraints.

Air conditioning capacity must cool interior spaces to safe temperatures when outside conditions create heat stress risks. Design calculations account for building envelope characteristics, occupancy loads and ambient temperature conditions during extreme heat events.

Performance evaluation will incorporate community surveys during heat season, operational feedback from the school committee, energy generation and air conditioning usage meters, and hyper-local weather data. These multiple metrics assess both technical function and actual community benefit.

Dr. Deborah Campbell, executive director of the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet, emphasized the necessity. “Bangladesh is getting hotter and will experience more frequent and severe heatwaves, leaving many people very vulnerable to heat stress and lacking the resources to adapt,” she said.

The climate projections informing design decisions draw on sophisticated modeling examining how regional climate will change through mid-century. Temperature increases, precipitation pattern shifts and extreme event frequency changes all influence infrastructure requirements.

Scaling Considerations and Policy Integration

If the pilot demonstrates effectiveness, the initiative could scale to 1,250 Adaptation Fortresses providing heatwave relief to half a million residents. Scaling would require substantial additional funding, government partnerships and manufacturing capacity for components.

A second pilot location at Satbaria high school in Satbaria union, Keshabpur sub-district, Jashore district enables comparison across different community contexts and building types. Multiple pilots inform design optimization before larger-scale deployment.

Dr. Md Liakath Ali, principal investigator at BRAC, emphasized policy engagement. “Alongside the pilot, we are committed to engaging policy makers so that future heat and climate risks are integrated into national planning processes,” he said.

Policy integration proves essential for sustainable climate adaptation. Individual projects help specific communities but systemic change requires government planning, building codes, infrastructure standards and resource allocation reflecting climate projections.

The Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet’s forecasting capabilities provide data supporting policy decisions. Climate models project temperature increases, precipitation changes and extreme event frequencies decades into the future, enabling infrastructure planning accounting for future conditions.

Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel emphasized the proactive approach. “The Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet’s construction of this first pilot Adaptation Fortress marks a milestone for Bangladesh and the region,” he said. “It lays the foundation for a proactive response to cyclones and heat stress—emergencies that the team has projected will become frequent events, threatening the lives of millions in Bangladesh.”

The engineering challenges extend beyond technical systems to community engagement and operational protocols. Clear procedures must define when the facility activates for heat emergencies, who can access it, how long people can stay and what services are provided.

Community participation in pilot design and implementation builds local ownership and understanding. Residents provided input on facility location, design features and operational procedures, ensuring solutions address actual needs rather than imposing external assumptions.

The infrastructure represents climate adaptation rather than mitigation. Mitigation efforts reduce greenhouse gas emissions preventing future climate change, while adaptation helps communities cope with climate impacts already occurring or projected to occur.

Both approaches prove necessary. Mitigation reduces long-term climate risks, but adaptation addresses near-term impacts unavoidable due to past emissions and climate system inertia. Infrastructure investments require long planning horizons as buildings often serve communities for decades.

The Adaptation Fortress model demonstrates how existing infrastructure can be reimagined to address emerging climate threats. Rather than building entirely new structures, the approach upgrades existing cyclone shelters with relatively modest additions enabling heat protection.

This retrofit strategy potentially accelerates deployment compared to new construction while leveraging existing community familiarity with cyclone shelter locations and protocols. Communities already know where shelters are located and understand their protective function.

The Bangladesh project complements other Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet work in Sudan addressing different climate challenges. The observatory develops integrated systems for forecasting climate impacts and guiding interventions adapted to local contexts.

At COP28 in Dubai, the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet was selected as an innovation package by the Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale. This recognition could facilitate partnerships and funding enabling expansion beyond pilot phases.

Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel founded Community Jameel, which co-founded the observatory with MIT. The partnership model enables sustained research investment in areas requiring long development timelines before achieving implementation at scale.