Monthly Archives: July 2026

A Major Milestone Achieved: Officially Handing Over the WtCE Geodatabase to Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC)

The culmination of rigorous research, database architecture design, and collaborative stakeholder validation has officially led to this monumental moment! We are thrilled for the formal handover of the WtCE (Wildlife Tourism and Conservation Ecosystems) Geospatial Database and Final Report to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).

The handover ceremony was a resounding success, marking a seamless transition of this powerful geodata platform into the hands of the custodians of Sarawak’s incredible wildlife and natural heritage.

We were deeply honored by the presence of key leaders and representatives from both institutions:

SFC Delegation: Led by Mr Abang Arabi bin Abang Aimran (General Manager of SFC), alongside Mr Mohamad Faraddy Bin Maseri and their technical team.

UTM Delegation: Represented by our Project Leader, Dr. Noordyana Hassan, Dr. Zakri Tarmidi, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noorsidi Aizuddin, and Ms Ashleza.

Beyond the Handover: Looking to the Future

While this marks the triumphant completion of our current grant framework, both UTM and SFC reached a mutual consensus on how this database will be optimized moving forward.

More excitingly, the ceremony opened up vital discussions regarding future collaborations. We explored strategic pathways to scale this project further—focusing on capturing even more granular, high-detail datasets and expanding the geodatabase infrastructure to encompass other critical ecological zones across Sarawak that were beyond the scope of this initial study.

A heartfelt thank you to SFC for their unwavering trust, support, and synergy throughout this journey. Here’s to a data-driven, sustainable future for wildlife tourism and conservation in Sarawak! 🗺️✨

#Geospatial #WildlifeConservation #SarawakForestryCorporation #UTM #DataHandover #WtCE #EcoTourism #FutureCollaboration #GIS #Sarawak #SmartGovernance #DataEcosystem

Off to Teluk Gorek – Visiting GIS Training Camp!

Just completed a site visit to the GIS Training Camp (KLGIS) at Teluk Gorek, Mersing!

The KLGIS (GIS Training Camp) program is a crucial field platform for students to translate theoretical knowledge into practical reality. Throughout this camp, they have the opportunity to strengthen their technical skills and gain hands-on experience in various fieldwork processes, including:

🔹 Traverse Surveying 🔹 Detailing 🔹 Airborne Mapping 🔹 LiDAR Technology Applications

Aside from overseeing the smooth execution of the program, the main purpose of my visit was to provide moral support and a boost of encouragement. A massive kudos and congratulations to the dedicated camp facilitators and the resilient students who are braving the challenges of fieldwork out there.

Fieldwork experiences like these are what build the endurance and technical competencies highly sought after by the industry. Keep up the excellent work, and may the knowledge gained at Teluk Gorek leave a lasting impact on your future careers! 🚀🌍

#KLGIS #Geospatial #GIS #Surveying #LiDAR #AirborneMapping #TelukGorek #Mersing #AcademicLife #FutureProfessionals

Empowering Sarawak’s Geospatial Future with the WtCE ToT Session!

Following our successful database validation milestone in Kuching, we have officially moved into the next critical phase: capacity building. We recently successfully conducted an intensive Training of Trainers (ToT) session for the WtCE (Wildlife Tourism and Conservation Ecosystems) Geodatabase!

The core purpose of this ToT was to transition the project from a conceptual framework into a living, breathing ecosystem capable of empowering our strategic partners on the ground.

🔍 Deep-Dives & Architecture Discussions

We kicked off the session by mapping out the strategic landscape of the system—candidly evaluating its strengths and limitations to prepare users for real-world scenarios. We also unpacked the newly refined Class Diagrams and structured the operational guidelines for the database.

To ensure long-term sustainability and robust governance, the WtCE Geodatabase is expected to be securely hosted by Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS), featuring a secure architecture accessible exclusively to registered and authorized users.

💻 Practical, Hands-On ArcGIS Pro Mastery

Theoretical knowledge is only as good as its execution. To bridge this gap, the trainers underwent a comprehensive, hands-on technical workshop utilizing ArcGIS Pro. The modules covered essential day-to-day operations, including:

  • Project Management: Effectively opening and configuring ArcGIS Pro workspace environments.
  • Data Navigation: Seamlessly retrieving centralized spatial layers.
  • Data Entry & Editing: Executing precise data entry and modification for both spatial (geographic charts/maps) and non-spatial (attribute data) datasets.

💡 The Ultimate Goal: Maximizing Data Synergy

With this training successfully completed, the ultimate hope is for the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) to fully capitalize on this highly optimized geodatabase structure.

By migrating and populating the system with their rich repository of existing field data, SFC will unlock unprecedented clarity in managing and protecting Sarawak’s wildlife tourism and conservation data.

A massive thank you to all the brilliant participants who brought their dedication and sharp minds to this ToT session. One step closer to a digitally resilient, spatially enabled Sarawak! 🌿💪

#Geospatial #TrainingOfTrainers #ArcGISPro #DataGovernance #SAINS #SFC #WildlifeConservation #Sarawak #Geodatabase #CapacityBuilding #TechForGood

Bridging Research and Reality: Validating the WtCE Geospatial Database in Sarawak

In research, ensuring stakeholder acceptance and real-world applicability is just as critical as the data collection itself. Research must not exist in a vacuum; it needs to be grounded and practical to create a true impact.

As the research grant project titled “Database Development on Socio-economic Management for Wildlife Tourism and Conservation” reaches its final phases, we hit a major milestone: the validation of our newly developed geospatial database design, known as WtCE (Wildlife Tourism and Conservation Ecosystems).

To ensure this database meets actual industry and governance needs, we conducted a comprehensive day-long Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in Kuching, Sarawak, with our key strategic stakeholders: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), Land and Survey Department Sarawak (JTS), Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS), and Resident’s Office Kuching.

Thanks to the invaluable, hands-on feedback during the FGD, we successfully refined the database architecture—adding crucial data classes and optimizing attributes. These enhancements directly increase the value, scalability, and usability of WtCE for the Sarawak Government in the near future.

What’s Next? 🚀 Our next step is conducting specialized training sessions for these stakeholders. This will empower them to fully utilize the WtCE database, ultimately transforming and streamlining the way geospatial data is managed and shared across agencies in Sarawak.

#Geospatial #DataManagement #WildlifeConservation #EcoTourism #Sarawak #ResearchImpact #DatabaseDesign #FGD #GIS #DataSharing #SmartGovernance

Back to Work in UTM!

I’ve been chosen to joined CEO@Fac program, untuk HIgher Learning Department of Malaysia, since 1st January 2026, until 30th June 2026.

And today, 1st July, I’m back at UTM, back as an academician, and back to “usual” work with increased responsibility moving forward.

It’s been a roller coaster journey these 6 months, with trying to understand something that is outside my comfort zone, outside of usual things, and some knowledge on business itself. It’s hard to fully immerse in businesses, administration and management at the same time. And the hard truth behind decision that businesses try to take

Hope this experience help in improving myself, my managing style, and helping UTM and communities in the future!