Tag Archives: geospatial

New Chapter Unlocked: Shaping the Future of Malaysia’s National Atlas

As an intense September filled with academic deadlines, back-to-back programs, and strategic meetings finally began to wind down, an exciting new assignment came my way. Representing my Head of Department, I had the privilege of attending the Mesyuarat Teknikal Penerbitan Atlas Kebangsaan at Wisma JUPEM, Kuala Lumpur. Spearheaded by JUPEM’s Bahagian Kartografi dan GIS, this technical meeting marked a crucial first step toward a landmark national project.

Bringing together around 25 key representatives from various federal government ministries, Sabah and Sarawak state agencies, and higher education institutions, the session served as the official kickoff for the design and development of Malaysia’s new National Atlas. The existing atlas was last published in 2016—with minor amendments in 2022—making it a decade old. In an era of rapid physical, environmental, and socio-economic transformation, updating this master publication is vital to accurately reflect our nation’s evolving spatial landscape.

Developing a comprehensive National Atlas is a massive collaborative undertaking. It relies heavily on inter-agency synergy, as each organization holds specialized, up-to-date datasets that must be integrated, refined, and standardized before publication. It is a privilege for academia to play a active role in this strategic initiative, and I look forward to contributing toward a modern, authoritative National Atlas that will serve decision-makers, researchers, and the public for years to come.

#NationalAtlas #JUPEM #Cartography #GIS #Geospatial #UTM #FABU #HigherEducation #SpatialData #MappingMalaysia #AcademicLife

Throwback & Academic Service: Reflecting on My Appointment as Proceedings Chapter Editor for IGRSM 2026

Looking back at key milestones earlier this year, I was honored to receive my official appointment back in June as a Proceedings Chapter Editor for the 13th IGRSM International Conference and Exhibition on Geospatial & Remote Sensing (IGRSM 2026).

Maintaining rigorous scholarly standards and high-quality peer review is a continuous, behind-the-scenes responsibility in academia. Working alongside Chief Editor Assoc. Prof. Gs. Dr. Norizah Kamarudin and the editorial team to curate, review, and refine the conference proceedings—published under Penerbit UPM—has been a deeply fulfilling experience.

My sincere gratitude once again to Conference Chairperson Prof. Gs. Dr. Abdul Rashid Mohammed Shariff and the IGRSM 2026 Organising Committee for their trust. IGRSM continues to serve as a premier flagship platform connecting researchers, academics, and industry leaders to drive the future of remote sensing and location intelligence across the region.

#Throwback #IGRSM2026 #RemoteSensing #Geospatial #ProceedingsEditor #PenerbitUPM #UTM #AcademicExcellence #ResearchPublishing #GIS

Venturing into New Horizons: Bridging Geospatial Science with Smart Agriculture

For years, my research journey has been deeply rooted in the technical and collaborative dimensions of spatial data sharing—focusing on location intelligence for sustainable housing and biodiversity conservation.

While those domains remain near to my heart, it is time to expand into a new horizon: Smart Farming & Agricultural Sustainability.

Tackling this new frontier means applying proven spatial analytics and data-sharing frameworks to agricultural ecosystems; Precision Planting: Utilizing spatial data to optimize crop placement, soil health monitoring, and resource allocation. Smart Farming Solutions: Integrating data analytics to help growers streamline operations and maximize yield efficiency. Agricultural Sustainability: Driving data-backed strategies to strengthen food security and promote sustainable land management.

Stepping into an unfamiliar domain brings fresh challenges, but applying geospatial tools to real-world agritech is deeply exciting. Looking forward to learning, collaborating with industry partners, and shaping impactful solutions for the future of farming!

#NewHorizons #SmartFarming #Agritech #Geospatial #SpatialDataSharing #PrecisionAgriculture #Sustainability #ResearchImpact #UTM

Stepping Into New Frontiers: Mobilizing Action for World Antarctica Day

Stepping outside my core domain to embrace new challenges, I am excited to share that I have intived to join the organizing committee for one of the program in World Antarctica Day!

Antarctica may seem distant, but its accelerating climate changes directly impact global weather patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems. Currently in the early planning stages, our initiative aims to:

  • Raise Awareness: Unpack the reality and urgency of accelerating climate change.
  • Drive Action: Highlight practical, everyday steps individuals and communities can take to mitigate environmental impact.

Tackling new fields keeps us growing, especially when it centers on protecting our shared planet. Looking forward to shaping this impactful initiative as our plans unfold! This small program will focus on Secondary School Students, in one of the school nearby UTM.

#WorldAntarcticaDay #ClimateAction #Sustainability #NewFrontiers #ContinuousLearning #EnvironmentalAwareness #UTM

Stepping Up: Thrilled to Join the Technical Program Committee for AGERS 2026!

Having served as a reviewer for various academic conferences over the years, I am excited to step into a new role on the organizer side! I have officially accepted the invitation to serve as a Technical Program Committee (TPC) Member for the 2026 IEEE Asia-Pacific Conference on Geoscience, Electronics and Remote Sensing Technology (AGERS 2026).

Moving from reviewing individual papers to helping shape the technical agenda, review framework, and scientific quality of a major regional conference is a thrill and a meaningful milestone in my academic journey.

What AGERS 2026 is all about:

  • Cutting-Edge Research: Bringing together leading experts in geoscience, electronics, and remote sensing technology across the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Fostering Innovation: Evaluating groundbreaking work that leverages Earth observation, spatial analytics, and sensor technology for real-world impact.
  • Global Collaboration: Building stronger academic and technical networks within the IEEE community.

I look forward to reviewing inspiring submissions and working alongside the AGERS 2026 committee to deliver an impactful conference program!

#IEEE #AGERS2026 #TPCMember #RemoteSensing #Geoscience #Geospatial #AcademicMilestone #ResearchLeadership #UTM

Advancing National Security: Integrating GeoAI into Modern Crime Investigation with PDRM 👮‍♂️🌐

Honored to be invited as a speaker at the Seminar Aplikasi AI dalam Siasatan Jenayah Moden dan Keselamatan Negara, organized by Maktab PDRM at Dewan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Maktab PDRM Cheras.

My presentation focused on “Integrasi Kecerdasan Buatan (AI) & GeoAI dalam Siasatan Jenayah & Keselamatan Awam,” exploring how geospatial data paired with artificial intelligence can transform law enforcement and public safety operations.

Key Highlights from the Session:

  • Foundations of GeoAI: Unpacking the synergy between spatial analytics, location intelligence, and artificial intelligence.
  • Why Location Intelligence Matters: Demonstrating how spatial context (“where”) unlocks critical insights beyond traditional data during crime analysis.
  • Real-World Applications: Sharing practical use cases of GeoAI in crime hot-spot mapping, predictive spatial modeling, and resource optimization for public safety.
  • Future Horizons: Outlining strategic directions for adopting next-generation GeoAI tools to bolster national security.

It was an incredible experience engaging with the officers at Maktab PDRM. Sincere thanks to the organizers and leadership for the warm welcome and fruitful discussions. Bridging academic innovation with frontline policing is essential to building a safer, digitally resilient Malaysia.

#GeoAI #AI #NationalSecurity #PDRM #MaktabPDRM #CrimeInvestigation #PublicSafety #Geospatial #LocationIntelligence #SpatialDataScience #UTM

Bridging Technical Precision & Natural Wonders: Chairing the KKMLGT Meeting at Gombak Geopark!

It was a true privilege to chair the KKMLGT (Multi-Lingual Glossary of Terms) Meeting No. 2/2026. This time, we stepped out of the conventional boardroom and gathered in a truly unique setting—Gua Lepak, Gombak!


Standardizing Terminology for the Geospatial Community
Our core mission during this session was continuing the vital work of standardizing technical terms. We translated complex terminology and definitions from international English standards (such as ISO) into Bahasa Melayu. This ongoing effort ensures that our local geospatial and technical community has access to accurate, standardized, and culturally aligned language definitions.

Immersive Field Visit: Gua Lepak & Gua Damai
Holding the meeting at a geopark site allowed us to combine rigorous technical deliberation with a hands-on geological immersion. Following the meeting, we conducted a working visit to two iconic caves within the Gombak Geopark managed by the Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG): Gua Lepak and Gua Damai.

During the tour, our team received an enriching geological briefing detailing:
– Limestone Cave Formation: The fascinating origin stories and chemical processes that shaped these ancient cave systems over millions of years.
– Speleothems: How majestic stalactites and stalagmites slowly form drop by drop.
– Tectonic Evolution: The deep geological history behind the uplift and formation of the main backbone of Peninsular Malaysia, the Titiwangsa Range (Banjaran Titiwangsa).

Connecting Words with Earth
There is something deeply grounding about discussing geospatial standardization surrounded by millions of years of Earth’s history. Connecting technical language development with real-world geological landscapes reminds us why preserving, understanding, and accurately describing our spatial environment is so crucial.


A big thank you to all committee members and JMG officers for a highly productive meeting and an enlightening field experience!

hashtag#Geospatial hashtag#LanguageStandardization hashtag#KKMLGT hashtag#GombakGeopark hashtag#GuaLepak hashtag#GuaDamai hashtag#JMG hashtag#Geology hashtag#ISO hashtag#Malaysia

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

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

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