Category: Uncategorized

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Soil erosion in disturbed forests and agricultural plantations in tropical undulating terrain: in situ measurement using a laser erosion bridge method

N. A. Mohamad;
A. Nainar;
K. V. Annammala;
D. Sugumaran;
M. H. Jamal;
Z. Yusop
Journal of Water and Climate Change jwc2019063.
https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2019.063
The rapid growth of agricultural plantations and climatic extremes has raised concerns pertaining to enhanced soil erosion. Soil erosion studies are still relatively limited in Malaysia. In this study, soil erosion in four sites such as high conservation value forests (HCVFs), logged forest (LF), mature oil palm (MOP), and mature rubber (MR) within the Kelantan River Basin was measured. A total of 3,207 measurements were conducted via the Modified Laser Erosion Bridge in all sites over 1 year. Results of soil erosion are 87.63, 25.45, 8.44, and 5.90 t ha−1 yr−1 for the HCVF, LF, MOP and MR, respectively – classified as very severe (HCVF), very high (LF), moderate (MP) and slight (MR) according to the Indian condition classification. Steep slope gradient (significant positive correlation to erosion) and logging are the main factors attributed to the high erosion rates. This is to be further explored in the future and more detailed studies should be conducted on the HCVF and LF areas, respectively. Mitigation measures and sustainable agricultural practices should be planned to control and reduce soil erosion.
Keywords: agricultural plantation, erosion, forest, land use, logged forest, slope gradient
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Community responses on effective flood dissemination warnings—A case study of the December 2014 Kelantan Flood, Malaysia

Our new Paper Published in : Journal of Flood Risk Management ( Volume 12, Issue 2, June 2019)

The link to the article : https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12552

Those whom can’t access, pls drop me an email or comment. I will share the article’s content.

Abstract:

Early flood warnings are important to allow sufficient time for evacuation. Although warning systems are now in place, key questions remain as to their effec- tiveness in sending information to the public, which may in part depend on the media used. This paper assesses the effectiveness of warnings disseminated to the public for the December 2014 Kelantan Flood, Malaysia. The flood was the worst in decades making it an appropriate case study with which to assess public aware- ness and perceptions associated with flood warnings and their dissemination. The effectiveness of warnings issued via different media was assessed by questionnaire. Results show that 56% of respondents received warnings prior to the flood, a majority of them through television and information shared among the public. While the preferred medium of warning is not dependent on age, assessment of peoples’ response to warnings shows that with increasing age responsiveness to orders and readiness to evacuate decreases. To increase the number of people receiving the warnings, short message service (SMS) communications sent from the authorities to a wider audience may be considered, as information shared among the public is observed to be most effective in reaching the greatest number of people.

KEYWORDS

community response, disaster management, effective flood warning, flood disaster

 

 

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CALL FOR PAPERS / PARTICIPANT

International Conference on

Environmental Sustainability & Resource Security (IC-ENSURES) 2019

5 – 6 November 2019 | Royal Widad Residence, UTMKL

CALL FOR PAPERS / PARTICIPANT

 

We are pleased to announce that Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia is organizing the International Conference on Environmental Sustainability & Resource Security (IC-ENSURES) 2019, which will be held from 5 – 6 November 2019 at the Royal Widad Residence, UTMKL, Malaysia.

IC-ENSURES 2019 is aimed at establishing scientific linkages between the industries and professionals in environmental sustainability and resource security at international level, in order to highlight the latest scientific issues, to share and disseminate the state of the art technology and to set the direction for future work. The theme/ focus of the IC-ENSURES 2019 will be as follows:

  • Energy efficiency
  • Green/ sustainable chemistry
  • Green/ sustainable building construction
  • Green/ sustainable engineering
  • Improved material handling
  • Toxic substances reduction and elimination
  • Waste elimination
  • Environmental nexus
  • Water management
  • Pollution reduction
  • Renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro, geothermal)
  • Biomass, biofuels and biogas
  • Greening the fossil fuels
  • Emerging and advanced green energy
  • Sustainable development and sustainability
  • Hydrology
  • Carbon capture and storage
  • Biofuels
  • Integrated ecosystems management
  • Environmental restoration and ecological engineering
  • Ground water remediation
  • Soil decontamination
  • Eco-technology
  • Bio-engineering
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Resource management
  • Life cycle analysis
  • Environmental systems approach
  • Water resources and river basin management
  • Regulatory practice, water quality objectives standard setting, water quality classification
  • Environmental modelling
  • Big Data for environmental monitoring

All participants planning to present papers in the conference should register online through the conference web page. For further detail, please visit our website www.ic-ensures.com or call us at +607-5531578 (Att.: Dr. Yong Ee Ling/ Dr. Kogila Vani Annammala/ Dr. Nor Zaiha Arman). Please find enclosed the brochure for your attention.

 

Download the conference brochure: Call for Papers_Participants

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Conference on Flood Catastrophes in a Changing Environment 2018 (CFCCE’18)

Conference on Flood Catastrophes in a Changing Environment 2018 (CFCCE’18)

Conference on Flood Catastrophes in a Changing Environment 2018 (CFCCE’18)

 Conference on Flood Catastrophes in a Changing Environment 2018 (CFCCE’18) was hosted by Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, co-organized by Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA) Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Asian Network on Climate Science and Technology International Steering Committee (ANCST), Southeast Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative (SEADPRI) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (WSGS) and Poyang Lake Aquatic and Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, CAS.

About 9 invited speakers with 71participants from 16 universities or centres met in Nanjing, China, from 15th to 18th November 2018 to exchange ideas or philosophies and excellent practices, build then strengthen collaborations, and converse the research topics regarding CFCCE’18. The papers presented during the conference are being invited to submit for Special Issue on Hydrology Research.

Rapid development of urbanization affects the green space for rainwater retention is greatly reduced those initiating flood catastrophes all over the world. Consequently, flood risk reduction and sustainable water resources growth are significant to be focused globally. The conference comprises multidisciplinary researches that conventionally assisting studies and activities related to disaster risk reduction and management, besides climate change variation and modification through analysis and other services. The subsequent conference is provided keynote speeches by professional researchers, exchange of research findings (research presentations) including scientific field trip.

Following the CFCCE 2018 in Nanjing, the Chair of the Conference has organized a Special Issue of “Flood Catastrophes in a Changing Environment” on Hydrology Research.This Special Issue of Hydrology Research will present the latest research outcomes on floods, and provide a forum for researchers and managers to share the latest research outcomes on floods in typical areas around the world.

On the following topics:

  • Climate change and floods
  • Human activities and floods
  • Prediction of flood events
  • Flood mitigation in urban areas
  • Watershed flood management
  • Transboundary effects and issues on floods

INTERNATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE

Chairman: Professor Qi Zhang, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGLAS) (http://wsgs.niglas.cas.cn/english/Staff/Professors/201601/t20160115_323131.html)

Co-chairman: Professor Zulkifli Yusop, University Teknologi Malaysia (http://www.utm.my/ipasa2017/professor-dr-zulkifli-yusop/)

Members include:

  • ProfessorLu Zhang, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • ProfessorQing Zhu, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • Associate ProfessorXiaolong Wang, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • Associate ProfessorXianghu Li, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • Associate ProfessorYunliang Li, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • Kogila Vani Annammala, Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, University Teknologi Malaysia
  • Nor Eliza Alias, Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, University Teknologi Malaysia
  • Zhiqiang Tan, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • Sanyuan Jiang, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • Jing Yao, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • Dan Zhang, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • Hui Xie, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS
  • Yongwei Liu, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS

 

Picture of the Event organisers: Prof Zulkifli Yusof, Prof Qi Zhang and my self.

Picture above: Professor Zulkifli Yusop , The co-chairman of CFCCE’2018, Dean of Resource Sustainability Research Alliance Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and a member of  Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA).

Picture above: Application of environmental forensic approach for flood mitigation–Case studies in Malaysia by Dr. Kogila Vani Annammala (IPASA-UTM)

Picture above: Oral presentation by Dr.Nor Eliza Alias from IPASA-UTM entitled Considering a Trans-boundary Regional Extreme Rainfall Homogenous Region for Climate Change Analysis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Immediate Vacancy: Masters by Research (MPhil) in UTM

“thank you to all those whom applied and responded. Glad to inform that this position is now been filled”

Immediate Vacancy: Masters by Research (MPhil) -( Water and Environmental Engineering)

Project: Environmental Forensic Approach for Assessing the Effects of Landscape Modification on Sedimentation and Water Quality in Moyog River Catchment,Sabah

we are in midst of looking for researchers whom are keen to continue their postgraduate research for Mphil in UTM under field of Water and Environmental Engineering.

Pls drop me an email for more details.

Immediate vacancy available. Allowance available for local candidates.

Research Keywords: SEDIMENTATION, WATER QUALITY, SEDIMENT FINGEPRINTING, NON POINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS

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Call for Papers 2018

1st Announcement

CONFERENCE ON FLOOD CATASTROPHES IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT 2018 (CFCCE’18)

  • Theme: Floods in Urbanized Area
  • Venue: Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
  • Date: 15-18th NOV 2018    

Call for Papers (CFCCE’18)

Flooding is one of the natural disasters that causes severe losses and damage across the world. Recent studies indicated that the occurrence frequency of flooding might increase under future climate conditions. In addition, strong human activities, e.g. rapid urbanization and construction of hydraulic engineering, significantly modified drainage networks and further promoted floods risk. This is particularly true in many large rivers and lakes in the world, including Yangtze River and the connected lakes. Damages arisen from flooding attract serious attention of the government and local communities.

This conference is the 2nd one following the first one held in 2016 in Malaysia. It will provide a forum for researchers and managers to share the latest research outcomes on floods in typical areas. It is anticipated an improved understanding of the driving mechanism of flood events be achieved, and approaches of possible mitigation be suggested. Practice on flooding management from different regions will be shared in this conference.

Selected papers will be published in a special issue of international journal “Hydrology Research” (Scopus Indexed IF: 1.81)

Organized by:

Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGLAS)

Co-organized by:

  • Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, (UTM), Skudai-Johor. Malaysia.
  • Asian Network on Climate Science and Technology International Steering Committee (ANCST)
  • Sate Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (WSGS)
  • Poyang Lake Aquatic and Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, CAS

REGISTRATION FEES:

Standard: US$300 (RMB¥2000)

Students: US$150 (RMB¥1000)

  • Important Deadlines
  • Submission of Abstract: 15th October 2018
  • Acceptance Notification : 31th October 2018

Abstract Submission:  YYNIU@niglas.ac.cn  or     CFCCE16@gmail.com

Topics:

  1. Climate change and floods
  2. Human activities and floods
  3. Prediction of flood events
  4. Flood mitigation
  5. Watershed floods management
  6. Paleoflood Hydrology
  7. Transboundary effect, issues on flood

General Inquiry:  Miss Lei TAN.         E-mail: LTAN@niglas.ac.cn

Organizing Committee:

Prof. Ji Shen (Director, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS)

Prof. Xuejun Duan (Vice-director, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS)

Prof. Guishan Yang (President, Nanjing Branch of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Prof. Qi Zhang (Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS)

Prof. Zulkifli Yusop (Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM))

Prof. Joy Jacqueline Pereira (Southeast Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative, Unversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (SEADPRI-UKM))

Prof. Yuanbo Liu (Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, CAS)

Emeritus Prof. Lord Julian Hunt (Cambridge & UCL)

Prof. Johnny Chan (City University Hong Kong)

Prof. Youpeng Xu (Nanjing University, China)

Prof. Zhijia Li (Hohai University, China)

Prof. Dato’ Azizan Hj Abu Samah (Universiti of Malaya (UM))

Prof. Talib Latif (UKM)

Dr. Kogila Vani Annammala (IPASA-UTM)

Dr. Nor Eliza Alias (IPASA-UTM)

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Friends of Melana River (FoMR) program

At the very early stage of establishing a team and planning in adopting River Melana, Skudai. Project initiated and lead by IWK and iPASA. Preliminary site survey of familiarisation of the site, Engagement with the local community any the way to move forward with FoMR..

Volunteers are most welcomed!For ideas and literally physical help during clean up and field activities..