Author Archives: zakritarmidi

A Proud Supervisor Moment! 🌟 Celebrating ‘Pasukan Five Hundred’ at the ASEAN Geospatial Challenge 2026

I am incredibly honored and proud to share that my students—representing Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)—have been awarded the prestigious Certificate of Merit at the recent ASEAN Geospatial Challenge 2026!

It has been an absolute privilege to help this dedicated team, Pasukan Five Hundred. Guiding them through the intensive preparation process, watching them brainstorm, refine their technical concepts, and push their limits to innovate sustainable geospatial solutions has been a truly inspiring journey for me.

Join me in congratulating these brilliant minds:

  • Nur Farihan binti Abd Rahim (PhD in Geoinformatics)
  • Mohd Nizar bin Hashim (PhD in Geoinformatics)
  • Muhammad Hanis bin Rashidan (PhD in Geoinformatics)
  • Nurul Asyiqin binti Mohd Salleh (Master in Geoinformatics)

Your hard work, perseverance, and teamwork have truly paid off. This ASEAN-level recognition is just the beginning of your bright futures in the geospatial industry. The Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying (FABU) and I are beyond proud of your achievement!

Let’s keep innovating and driving impactful solutions for a better tomorrow. 🗺️💡

#UTM #Geoinformatics #ASEANGeospatialChallenge #ProudSupervisor #Geospatial #InnovatingSustainableSolutions #TeamSuccess #AcademicJourney #FABU #Malaysia

Sustaining Excellence in National Standards: Progressing the NSC 07/TC 2 Agenda

Continuity is vital in the complex world of standardization. I recently attended the latest session of the Technical Committee on Geographic Information/Geomatics (NSC 07/TC 2), continuing my role as a representative for Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

This meeting was a significant step forward in our ongoing mission to refine Malaysia’s geospatial framework. We are currently in the final stages of reviewing two critical documents:

1. MS 1759 (Amendment): Geographic information/geomatics – Feature and attribute codes.

2. MS 2039 (Amendment): Addresses – Standard Format – Requirements.

By consistently revisiting and enhancing these standards, we ensure that our national data infrastructure remains synchronized with technological advancements and industry demands.

Our work doesn’t stop at the national level. As part of our committee’s ongoing commitment to international excellence, we also finalized preparations for Malaysia’s active participation in the global ISO technical meetings. This May 2026, our journey continues in Ottawa, Canada, where we will represent Malaysia’s interests and stay aligned with global geospatial trends.

Being part of this long-term process is a rewarding experience. It’s about ensuring that the foundation we build today supports the digital and geospatial innovations of tomorrow.

#Geospatial #Geomatics #UTM #ISOStandards #NationalStandards #MS1759 #MS2039 #Standardization #Ottawa2026 #GlobalCollaboration #ContinuousImprovement #TechnicalCommittee

The Journey Continues: Advancing the Multi-Lingual Glossary of Terms (MLGT) for Geospatial Standards

Continuity is the key to precision. I recently resumed my role as Chairperson for the Multi-Lingual Glossary of Terms (MLGT) Working Group under NSC7/TC2, continuing our vital mission to bridge the gap between global ISO standards and our national language.

Our task remains steadfast: translating complex English technical terms from ISO documents into Bahasa Melayu, ensuring every definition carries the exact technical weight required for the geospatial and geographic communities.

Progress Report: Staying the Course

In our latest session, we focused on “pemutihan” (refinement) and alignment, ensuring our work is perfectly synchronized with the ISO Geolexica portal and ready for integration into the PRPM by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).

  • Current Milestone: 329 terms have now been successfully translated.
  • Latest Refinement: 19 terms underwent a rigorous review to ensure absolute alignment with international standards.
  • Efficiency in Selection: 224 terms were deprecated to ensure our glossary remains concise and relevant.
  • The Road Ahead: With approximately 900 terms still on the horizon, the process continues.

Standardizing a technical language is a marathon, not a sprint. By persisting in this work, we are ensuring that our local professionals have the clarity they need to implement global best practices with confidence.

Proud of the steady progress we are making, one term at a time.

#Geospatial #ISOStandards #MLGT #Standardization #NationalMapping #DBP #Geolexica #GeographicInformation #ProfessionalLeadership #BahasaMelayu #TechnicalTranslation

New Publication Alert!: Bridging Spatial Data Sharing and Smart City Innovation

I am excited to share that my latest research chapter, “Spatial Data Sharing in Smart Cities Implementation: A Systematic Literature Review,” has been published by Springer Nature!

As cities worldwide transition into “Smart Cities,” the ability to share, integrate, and visualize spatial data—from GIS and remote sensing to drone technology—becomes the backbone of urban sustainability and citizen well-being.

Key Insights from the Chapter:

~ Global Trends: Our systematic review (using the PSALSAR technique) highlights that the Asian region, particularly China, is leading the discourse in this field.
~ Core Challenges: We scrutinized five critical areas—Technology, Data Quality, Social impact, Environmental factors, and Governance.
~ Future Roadmaps: The study outlines four strategic directions, including empowering community collaboration in Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and transforming governance toward “Spatial Enablement.”

In an era where “Location Intelligence” drives decision-making, understanding the hurdles of data compatibility, security, and accessibility is crucial for researchers and urban planners alike.

🔗 Read the full chapter here: https://lnkd.in/gnXVKftG

A big thank you to the editorial team for bringing this comprehensive review to life. I hope this work serves as a valuable resource for those shaping the future of our urban ecosystems.

#SmartCities#SpatialData#GIS#SpringerNature#ResearchPublication#UrbanPlanning#DigitalTransformation#SDI#LocationIntelligence#AcademicWriting

World Autism Awareness Day!

Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day!

Autism is a beautiful part of the broad human spectrum. It influences how an individual perceives, communicates, and interacts with the world around them. It isn’t a condition to be “fixed,” but a different way of thinking to be embraced.

Three key things to remember today:

  • The Spectrum is Vast: Every autistic individual is unique. As the saying goes: “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”
  • Empathy Over Sympathy: They don’t need pity; they need understanding, patience, and equal opportunities to thrive.
  • Why Today Matters: It serves as a vital reminder to break down barriers and build a more inclusive environment—in our communities and our workplaces.

Let’s make today a starting point to learn more, judge less, and celebrate the diversity of the human mind.

#WorldAutismAwarenessDay #WAAD2026 #Neurodiversity #InclusionMatters #AutismAcceptance

Strengthening Data Collaboration for Wildlife Sustainability at JTS, Kuching

Despite the heavy rain in Kuching since early morning, our spirits remained high as we gathered at the Land and Survey Department (JTS) for a strategic discussion regarding the research grant led by Dr. Noordyana.

Our focus was centered on the project: “Database Development on Socio-economic Management for Wildlife Tourism and Conservation.” This session was crucial as it involved coordinating the integration and management of databases developed through this grant for the benefit of all relevant agencies.

A heartfelt thank you to our strategic partners for their invaluable insights during our session at JTS including JTS, SFC, SAINS and other participants from Land Office and Resident’s Office.

The synergy between academia and government agencies is the cornerstone of ensuring that socio-economic management in wildlife tourism and conservation is driven by accurate, centralized data.

I am hopeful that the outcomes of today’s discussion will yield long-term positive impacts for all stakeholders and for the natural heritage of Sarawak.

#WildlifeConservation #DataManagement #Sarawak #ResearchGrant #Sustainability #SocioEconomic #EcoTourism #ConservationData #JTS #Kuching

Advancing National Data Ecosystems: AI & Geospatial Integration in BUDI95

I am deeply honored to be featured in Bernama alongside Dr. Mohamad Shukor Talib, discussing the future of national data management.

Our feature highlights how BUDI95 (an integrated database system) is not just a repository, but a potential cornerstone for a National Data Management Ecosystem. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Geospatial Technologies, we can transform raw data into actionable insights for more precise and impactful decision-making.

A huge thank you to Bernama for providing a platform to share these academic perspectives. We believe that the synergy between advanced technology and robust data frameworks is the key to a more digitally resilient Malaysia.

🔗 Read the full feature here: BERNAMA – BUDI95 Berpotensi Jadi Ekosistem Pengurusan Data Nasional

#Bernama #BUDI95 #DataScience #AI #Geospatial #NationalDataEcosystem #AcademicInsight #DigitalMalaysia #TechForGood

Memperkenalkan Research-Led Teaching dalam Kursus Pengajaran

Pengajaran dan pembelajaran di peringkat tertier (universiti) perlu sentiasa berkembang dan ditambahbaik, seiring dengan penemuan dan kajian terkini yang telah didapati.

Akan tetapi, kebanyakan kaedah pengajaran dan pembelajaran masih kekal statik, dengan kaedah penyampaian kuliah dan amali sahaja. UTM dengan beberapa inisiatif di bawah New Academia Learning Innovation telah memperkenalkan dan meningkatkan kaedah pembelajaran yang lebih aktif dan berkesan sesuai dengan zaman yang semakin mencabar. 

Salah satu kaedah pembelajaran dan pengajaran yang dapat mengaitkan pelajar dengan kajian dan penemuan terkini adalah dengan satu kaedah dikenali sebagai Research-Led Teaching. 

*Sumber: Nota Prof Ir. Ts. Dr. Sharifah Rafidah binti Wan Alwi

Research-Led Teaching bertujuan untuk mengintegrasikan pengajaran berasaskan aktiviti berasaskan kajian. Ianya menambah pengalaman melaksanakan kajian dalam kelas pengajaran kursus. 

Terdapat empat kaedah pelaksanaan Research-Led Teaching ini, iaitu: Research-based, Research-Oriented, Research-driven, dan Research-tutored. Boleh baca secara mendalam di laman web UTMCDeX: https://utmcdex.utm.my/research-led-teaching/ 

Bagi menambahbaik pelaksanaan kursus Spatial Data Management, kaedah Research-Tutored telah diimplementasikan dalam kelas. Ianya memberikan pelajar yang mengambil kursus ini untuk melaksanakan sebahagian cara melaksanakan kajian. 

Pelajar diberikan tajuk khusus, dan diminta mencari rujukan dalam laman sesawang jurnal, seperti WOS dan Scopus. Pelajar juga didedahkan kaedah menggunakan perisian Mendeley bagi mempercepatkan proses membuat rujukan kelak. Pelajar diminta untuk mencari sekurang-kurangnya 5 artikel jurnal dalam laman sesawang yang dinyatakan. 

Selepas mendapat artikel jurnal ini, pelajar kemudiannya dikehendaki membaca, dan mengenalpasti beberapa perkara utama, antaranya apa tujuan kajian, apa permasalahan, kaedah yang digunakan dalam kajian itu, serta data yang digunakan dalam kajian tersebut. Pelajar kemudiannya diminta untuk mengkelaskan kajian-kajian yang didapati. Kemudian dibentangkan dalam kelas. 

Sesi soal-jawab antara rakan sekelas seterusnya dibuat, untuk melihat, adakah betul hasil kerja dilaksanakan oleh kumpulan tersebut, dan seterusnya persoalan kritikal akan dilontarkan bagi meningkatkan kefahaman pelajar.

Kaedah Research-Led Teaching (Pembelajaran Terpandu-Kajian) ini sangat diperlukan bagi menambahbaik pekerjaan semasa. Lebih-lebih lagi kerajaan menetapkan Malaysia mencapai Negara Berpendapatan Tinggi, yang sangat memerlukan kepada inovasi dalam pelbagai bidang. Dan salah satu kaedahnya, adalah dengan mengkaji kajian terdahulu, serta mengkaji bagaimana penambahbaikan rekabentuk, produk, atau model itu boleh dilaksanakan.