Assesment of wetlands in Kuala Terengganu district using LandsatTM

Wetland cover mapping is very important in identifying its areal extent and the rate of change over time. This study aims to map the areal extent and its rate of change in Kuala Terengganu district which covers approximately 4,690.65 hectares. Three LandsatTM images, which dated on 15th October 1998, 14th July 2002 and 15th August 2005 were used in digital image processing by using a RGB band combination of 4, 5, and 2. The overall classification accuracies for the 1998, 2002 and 2005 images were 74.55, 82.42 and 90.91 percent, respectively. The United State Geology Survey(USGS) Classification Scheme was used to determine the wetland and the images were independently classified and total areas of wetland cover were compared between different dates of imageries. Surprisingly, there was an unexpected significant increase (from 102.35 to 381.35 ha) in the areal extent of wetlands in a seven year period of 1998 to 2005 with a rate of change of 0.84% increase per year. This study implies that the integration of remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) may provide a useful tool for temporal studies in wetland cover and its rate of change in Kuala Trengganu district

Sustainable Development Planning of Wetlands in Kuala Terengganu District Using Satellite Imagery

Wetland cover mapping is very important in the sustainable planning, identifying its areal extent and the rate of change over time. This study aims to map the areal extent and its rate of change in Kuala Terengganu district for its future sustainable develoment. Three LandsatTM images, which dated on 15th October 1998, 14th July 2002 and 15th August 2005 were used in digital image processing by using a RGB band combination of 4, 5, and 2. The overall classification accuracies for the 1998, 2002 and 2005 images were 74.55, 82.42 and 90.91 percent, respectively. The United State Geology Survey (USGS) Classification Scheme was used to determine the wetland and the images were independently classified and total areas of wetland cover were compared between different dates of imageries. Surprisingly, there was an unexpected significant increase (from 102.35 to 381.35 ha) in the areal extent of wetlands in a seven year period of 1998 to 2005 with a rate of change of 0.84% increase per year. This study implies that the integration of remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) may provide a useful tool for temporal studies in wetland cover and its rate of change in Kuala Trengganu district

Biological Diversity Assessment of Tok Bali Mangrove Forest, Kelantan, Malaysia

This paper attempts to give information about the structure of mangrove distribution at Tok Bali, Kelantan in order to initiate for management and rehabilitation program. A study was conducted in July to November 2006 to determine the species composition, diversity index and above-ground biomass in 15.8 ha Mixed Mangrove Forest. A transects forest profile length of 30 meter and 20 plots were established, a Diameter Breast Height (DBH) and height were measured and recorded, and also diversity index and above-ground biomass were determined. A total of 10 species consisting of nine exclusive and one non-exclusive mangrove were recorded. The common species found were Sonneratia alba (1,170 trees/ha, 330 saplings/ha and 22,680 seedlings/ha) followed by Ceriops decandra, Excoecaria agallocha, Avicennia alba, Bruguiera cylindrica, B. sexangula, Rhizophora apiculata, Aegiceras corniculatum, Nypa fruticans and Derris trifoliata. From the results an average of 595 trees/ha, 598 saplings/ha and 646 seedlings/ha represented a moderate good condition and regeneration potential. Total above-ground biomass was 2664.57 kg/ha and S. alba also recorded the highest because the of wide range of diameter and height. Mangrove trees showed total average of species richness (S) was 8.0, eveness (E) was 0.793 and diversity (H’) was 1.603

Imaging Spectrometry on Mangrove Species Identification and Mapping in Malaysia

This study was conducted in Tok Bali, Kelantan and Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia with the objectives to determine the spectral properties and to identify the significant wavelength in discriminating five mangrove species at different locations. The five mangrove species selected were Rhizophora apiculata, Brugiuera cylindrica, Avicennia alba), Heritiera littoralis) and Hibiscus tiliaceus.. In the Near Infra Red (NIR) region, the mean spectral reflectance of five mangrove species at Tok Bali showed that the highest reflectance was recorded by R. apiculata with 84% and the lowest was recorded by A. alba with 69% spectral reflectance, respectively. Meanwhile at Setiu, the highest reflectance was represented by H. littoralis with 81% and the lowest was B. cylindrica with 73%. Spectral reflectance of five selected mangrove species were statistically tested using canonical stepwise discriminant analysis of SPSS program. Fifteen wavelengths were produced in discriminating among five selected mangrove species at both locations. Student t-test showed that there were no significant differences between spectral reflectance of mangrove species at Tok Bali and Setiu (P=0.345, P=0.778, P=0.753 and P= 0.513 greater than 0.05). These spectral signatures were also influenced by several factors such as cloud cover changes, atmospheric condition, leaf internal structure and chlorophyll content. This study therefore implies that individual mangrove species have a unique spectral reflectance and can be easily identified and mapped with a narrow contiguous wavelength bands in the NIR region

Coastal change detection using GIS in Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu, Malaysia.

The Peninsular Malaysia coastline, which is covered about 4,800 km in length, is rich by coastal resources and has an abundance of natural biodiversity. The development which occurred along the coastal lines have led to the host of problems such as increased erosion, siltation, and loss of coastal resources and the destruction of the fragile marine habitat. In order to conserve the depleting coastal resources, the changes due to development and associated activities must be monitored. This paper was intended to detect changes of coastal area in Setiu Lagoon, Terengganu and to provide future database in coastal management studies. Analysis was carried out using GIS platform and the results of coastal change were disseminated in digital format which can be used for conducting further geographic analysis. The results showed that from 1980 to 2004, the movement of sand spit was about 7.0 m/yr for shoreline length and 0.8 m/yr for the small islands. This study emphasized that the critical areas were found around the estuary and islands were eroded slowly due to the waves, current and dominant winds actions during monsoon loaded. The other factor was due to depletion of the mangrove forest areas. It is therefore necessary to monitor coastal zone changes because the importance of environmental parameter, storm impact prevention and human disturbance

Analysis of spectral vegetation indices related to soil-Line for mapping mangrove forests using satellite imagery.

The study investigates the variation of spectral vegetation indices related to soil-line typically found in mangrove forest. This study carried out in the Kelantan Delta, Peninsular Malaysia by using soil-line based vegetation indices such as Perpendicular Vegetation Index (PVI), Soil-adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), Optimized Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (OSAVI), Transformed Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (TSAVI) and Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI). Landsat TM image was used to identify/classify mangrove areas within the study area. Soil-line based VI‟s which includes soil slope, intercept and parameter were introduced in mangrove mapping in order to remove the soil background for example humus, root and rock which can alter the vegetation spectral. A total of five mangrove classes were mapped out using unsupervised classification technique namely Avicennia-Sonneratia, Avicennia, Acanthus-Sonneratia, Mixed Acrostichum and Mixed Sonneratia. Avicennia-Sonneratia was the dominant mangrove type found in Kelantan Delta. The accuracy of mapping using five indices was ranges from 70% to 79%, respectively. Results indicate that SAVI was the best indices for mangrove mapping compared to other indices with accuracy of 79% and able to determine four mangrove classes. Based on the results soil influences in partially vegetated cover and SAVI shown the constant and sensitive correspond to spectral in the full range of vegetation covers

Hazard-rating assessment of roadside trees at UPM using geospatial tool.

Roadside trees provide benefits in the form of green landscape, human health, storm-water management, carbon storage and etc. However, they are potentially hazardous to their surroundings. Hence, there is a need to evaluate these trees as to whether they are hazardous or not. Hazard-rating assessment in the context of urban trees is the evaluation of the hazard of trees and how likely they are to fail as well as how severe in terms of damage that they could cause to their surroundings. In this study, roadside trees hazard rating was assessed automatically using a customised ArcMap TM application using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), known as UPM-Malaysian Urban Trees Information System (UPM-MUTIS), developed by Faculty of Forestry, UPM. The study is to determine the capabilities of UPM-MUTIS in generating hazard-rating assessment. The study area covered part of UPM’s academic zone. Result depicted that out of 909 trees assessed, 99.8% (907 trees) were categorised as ‘Medium’ hazard rating and no trees with ‘Low’, ‘High’, and ‘Severe’ hazard rating. Upon deriving hazard-rating assessment, abatement activities were subsequently proposed in which was mainly various degrees and types of pruning. This paper details out the hazard-rating assessment process of roadside trees and the succeeding abatement activities proposed at the study site

Penghayatan sains dalam Al-Quran: Pengalaman perkongsian ilmu penyelidik PPAL (UMT) dengan sekolah Imtiaz Terengganu

Fakta Sains dan hubungannya dengan al-Quran adalah sangat berkait rapat. Pengetahuan yang jelas tentang wujudnya perkaitan Sains dan al-Quran dapat memupuk semangat cintakan ilmu dalam kalangan masyarakat Islam, selain mengukuhkan keimanan mereka kepada Allah.Kertas ini membincangkan pengalaman pengendalian program penghayatan ‘Cakna Sains Berteraskan Wahyu’ melalui perkongsian ilmu antara para penyelidik PPAL, UMT dengan pelajar sekolah Imtiaz yang terpilih.Program ini dijalankan berasaskan modul pengisian yang telah dibentuk sesuai dengan kepakaran penyelidik seperti slot ceramah, demonstrasi serta kuiz.Hasil pemerhatian ikut serta, serta respon yang diberikan pelajar melalui soalan kuiz dan perbincangan menunjukkan program perkongsian ini telah berjaya menarik minat pelajar menghayati kepentingan ilmu Sains secara Islamik.Perkongsian hasil penyelidikan yang dijalankan oleh para penyelidik PPAL berpandukan silibus pendidikan yang dipelajari oleh para pelajar sekolah Imtiaz turut menjadikan pengendalian program perkongsian ini menjadi lebih menarik

Hyperspectral remote sensing for tropical rain forest

Problem statement: Sensing, mapping and monitoring the rain forest in forested regions of the world, particularly the tropics, has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years as deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 30% of anthropogenic carbon emissions and are now included in climate change negotiations. Approach: We reviewed the potential for air and spaceborne hyperspectral sensing to identify and map individual tree species measure carbon stocks, specifically Aboveground Biomass (AGB) and provide an overview of a range of approaches that have been developed and used to map tropical rain forest across a diverse set of conditions and geographic areas. We provided a summary of air and spaceborne hyperspectral remote sensing measurements relevant to mapping the tropical forest and assess the relative merits and limitations of each. We then provided an overview of modern techniques of mapping the tropical forest based on species discrimination, leaf chlorophyll content, estimating aboveground forest productivity and monitoring forest health. Results: The challenges in hyperspectral Imaging of tropical forests is thrown out to researchers in such field as to come with the latest techniques of image processing and improved mapping resolution leading towards higher precision mapping accuracy. Some research results from an airborne hyperspectral imaging over Bukit Nanas forest reserve was shared implicating high potential of such very high resolution imaging techniques for tropical mixed dipterocarp forest inventory and mapping for species discrimination, aboveground forest productivity, leaf chlorophyll content and carbon mapping. Conclusion/Recommendations: We concluded that while spaceborne hyperspectral remote sensing has often been discounted as inadequate for the task, attempts to map with airborne sensors are still insufficient in tropical developing countries like Malaysia. However, we demonstrated this with a case study focused on a mixed hill dipterocarp forest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and discuss the work in the context of reducing uncertainty for carbon monitoring and markets