Race cars and hydromet systems: What do they have in common?

Professional race cars and hydromet (weather, water, and climate forecasting) systems may seem worlds apart, but they have more in common than we realize. Both perform at high levels, requiring purpose-built designs and constant technological advancement, and for both, there are no off-the-shelf solutions. Every part needs to be acquired with overall compatibility and connectivity in mind, carefully assembled, and tested before going operational. Success in both fields depends on skilled operators, well-trained teams, and a culture of continuous improvement, as demonstrated in Bangladesh’s weather and climate services modernization process.

In Bangladesh, the low-lying delta topography makes the country highly prone to floods, riverbank erosion, sea-level rise, and saline intrusion. Most recently the severe floods in 2024 affected 5.8 million people, displaced over half a million and caused total damages of USD 1.2 billion. Given the vulnerabilities, the Bangladesh Weather and Climate Services Project played a significant role in improving government’s ability to deliver weather, water, and climate information services to priority sectors and communities, including agriculture and farming communities.

Between 2016 and 2024, weather forecasting outlook in Bangladesh was extended from one to three days, with detailed information provided to specific areas. The flood forecasting coverage was also expanded from half to the entire country. Farmers are now provided with tailored forecasts and actionable messages to optimize planting, pesticide use, fertilization, and harvesting, thereby boosting production and reducing losses. Additionally, enhanced modeling capabilities can inform development planning and policies on drought, salinization, water extraction, and water use. 

Meteorologist analyzes multi-panel weather forecasts for Bangladesh; Photo@S M Al Mahmud

Modernizing weather and water value chains: Lessons learnt 

Modernizing weather, water and climate services, however, is not for the faint of heart due to technical complexities and institutional changes. Yet, such efforts are fundamental to unlocking the full development potential. Socioeconomic analyses globally show that the benefits of weather, water and climate service modernizations far outweigh the costs, with ratios ranging from 2:1 to 14:1 or even higher.  Here are a few lessons learnt from the Bangladesh project:

• No off-the-shelf solution. Like professional race cars, weather, water and climate systems must be tailored to specific needs.  In Bangladesh, components were upgraded, in line with an overall masterplan, then connected and operationalized. This involved installing automated weather, surface water and groundwater stations, and state-of-the-art meteorological information technology systems with data security, backup, and 24/7 monitoring.
• Sustainability is not an afterthought. Just like race cars, stations measuring weather, water and climate parameters require regular maintenance and upgrades to ensure optimal performance. In the Bangladesh project, maintenance tracking software is used to automate issue reporting, monitor vendor performance, and enforce timely repairs. Installations involved hands-on participation and training of field officials, while post-installation, time was allocated for system testing and troubleshooting.
• Strong technical experience and expertise make the difference: In sophisticated systems such as race cars and weather, water and climate services, highly technical and experienced crew members are key to success. The project was built on lessons learnt from the region and brought in globally renowned experts to support tailored design and effective implementation of the systems modernization process. This was possible through financial support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office through the World Bank’s Resilient Asia Program, as well as from the European Union through the EU-South Asia Capacity Building for Disaster Risk Management Program managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.
• Collaboration is key. In race car driving, engineers, pit crew, and drivers must work together seamlessly. For weather and water systems, collaboration between the meteorological and hydrological service providers, and the users, is critical for timely delivery of relevant information, effective troubleshooting, and continuous improvements based on users’ feedback.
• The end users matter greatly. A great car needs the driver to win the race. Likewise, upgraded weather, water and climate systems only create value if people are able to make better informed decisions. In Bangladesh, the project didn’t stop at modernizing forecasting; it also included tailoring the information to the users, in this case, farmers. The Department of Agricultural Extension provides forecasts and advisories through a new web portal  which garnered 9.5 million views between March 2019 and April 2025. Additionally, 30,000 lead farmers from 15,000 farmers’ groups now receive agromet information via SMS, media, community radio stations, and digital display boards at extension offices. These efforts ensure that farmers receive location-specific information, with sufficient lead time to take action.

Hydromet service provision, much like car racing, is highly dynamic and relies on quickly evolving technology. Bangladesh has made significant strides in strengthening foundational systems for forecasting and analysis that serve both specialists and the public at large. Ongoing modernization efforts will require continuous collaboration, innovation, and investment as well as the adaptation of information and services.  Determining next steps, anticipating challenges, setting clear goals, and measuring results will drive sustainable progress all the way to the finish line. 

Source : World Bank