Construction of an Integrated Social Vulnerability Index to Identify Spatial Variability of Exposure to Seismic Hazard in Pahang, Malaysia

Devastating effects of natural disasters dynamically depends on the vulnerability components of a specific area. Therefore, assessing vulnerability is necessary to estimate the earthquake risk. This paper argues for a multidisciplinary method that integrates social vulnerability into the seismic risk analysis in Pahang. The methodology specifically relies on; (1) the development on a set of social indicators using multivariate data analysis to identify and evaluate the local characteristics that contribute to the vulnerability and risk of inhabitants of district space; and (2) the application of Geographical Information System (GIS) technology for generating and mapping the spatial pattern of social vulnerability index for seismic hazard in Pahang, Malaysia that was based on the classification of its exposure level. The classes of a social vulnerability index map were overlaid with a seismic hazard map that was proposed by JMG (Mineral and Geoscience Department Malaysia) through the use of map algebra functions in GIS tools. Results for social vulnerability map showed that, majority of the study area are in relatively low to moderate level except for Kuantan district, which is highly vulnerable. Meanwhile, the combination of the social vulnerability map and seismic hazard map reveals that, districts in the central parts of the region are the most highly exposed to earthquake threats, whereas in the eastern part it demonstrates the low level of exposure to seismic hazard (with the exception for the Kuantan district, where it is highly vulnerable). The proposed method provides useful information on the spatial variability of exposure vulnerability to seismic hazard that could enhance the earthquake preparedness and mitigation

Effect Of Soil Shear Strength on Shoreline Changes at Batu Pahat Coastal Area

This study focuses on the effect of soil shear strength due to the shoreline changes in Batu Pahat Coastal Area. The shorelines of Pantai Punggur were chosen as the subject location for this investigation on soil shear strength and shoreline changes of eroded areas in Batu Pahat, Johor. Pantai Punggur is situated on the west coast of Johor, with a latitude of 1.62° to 1.87° N and a longitude of 102.78° to 103.19° E. Aerial photographs and field observation data were used to determine the geomorphological components of the Pantai Punggur shoreline using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The study conducted is to produce shoreline changes mapping diagram and analysis soil shear strengths across different sampling locations were measured and correlate with shoreline changes at zones A, B, C, D and E. The aerial image that has been captured by the drone was analyzed using Pix4D and Global Mapper software. Based on the data of shoreline changes zone A portrays the highest changes followed by zone B and C. As for zone D and E its shows quite a small change. Within one month interval, Pantai Punggur coastline experiences changes in about 1.57 meters. From the undrained shear strength test at 0.5 m depth at HT and MT data for December 2021, zone A with Cu reading are more than 4.5 kPa followed by zones B, C, D and lowest at zone E. Next, at depth 0.5 m and 1.0 m data for December 2021 at HT level, zone A with Cu reading is more than 4.5 kPa at the 0.5 m and 1.0 m depth and other zones are below than 3.0 kPa.  The depth of soil also influences the data of this study.  The correlation of changes in soil shear strength with shoreline changes is reported to have a linear correlation with R2 value is 0.9261. It can conclude that the effect of soil shear strength on shoreline changes at Batu Pahat coastal area cause by the changes in soil shear strength (Cu) gives a large effect of shoreline changes

Earthquake Risk Assessment of Sabah, Malaysia Based on Geospatial Approach

Sabah is located in the northeast region of East Malaysia and recognized as the most active seismic areas in Malaysia. The scalability and frequency of earthquakes are growing due to the existence of both local and distant ground motions from active faults, with more than 100 earthquake events have been recorded since 1923. On the other hand, the skewed socio-economic development process associated with the rapid population growth and changes in the family structure, inequality issues, and the lack of adaptation measures would intensify the vulnerability of the earthquakes. Key elements linked to socio-economic vulnerability need to be address in order to reduce the risk of earthquake. Based on previous studies, we identified vulnerabilities from a multi-dimensional perspective consisting of exposure, resilience and capacity across districts. Subsequently, a holistic indicators system with 18 variables was constructed to assess the potential earthquake vulnerability in Sabah, Malaysia. The accumulated data will present an earthquake vulnerability classification using a Geographical Information System (GIS) approach. Finally, the earthquake risk was derived by integrating the earthquake vulnerability map with earthquake hazard map proposed by the Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) Malaysia. The results of the analysis revealed that the highest levels of earthquake risk accounts for 15.5% were concentrated in the eastern part of the Sabah region; the high-risk areas accounts for 7.7%; the moderate-risk areas accounts for 11.3%; and the area of low to very low risk accounts for 65.4%. Accordingly, it is expected that the derived earthquake vulnerability and risk map will allow the policymakers and response teams to improve the earthquake disaster mitigation and management in Sabah

Earthquake Risk Assessment of Sabah, Malaysia Based on Geospatial Approach

Sabah is located in the northeast region of East Malaysia and recognized as the most active seismic areas in Malaysia. The scalability and frequency of earthquakes are growing due to the existence of both local and distant ground motions from active faults, with more than 100 earthquake events have been recorded since 1923. On the other hand, the skewed socio-economic development process associated with the rapid population growth and changes in the family structure, inequality issues, and the lack of adaptation measures would intensify the vulnerability of the earthquakes. Key elements linked to socio-economic vulnerability need to be address in order to reduce the risk of earthquake. Based on previous studies, we identified vulnerabilities from a multi-dimensional perspective consisting of exposure, resilience and capacity across districts. Subsequently, a holistic indicators system with 18 variables was constructed to assess the potential earthquake vulnerability in Sabah, Malaysia. The accumulated data will present an earthquake vulnerability classification using a Geographical Information System (GIS) approach. Finally, the earthquake risk was derived by integrating the earthquake vulnerability map with earthquake hazard map proposed by the Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) Malaysia. The results of the analysis revealed that the highest levels of earthquake risk accounts for 15.5% were concentrated in the eastern part of the Sabah region; the high-risk areas accounts for 7.7%; the moderate-risk areas accounts for 11.3%; and the area of low to very low risk accounts for 65.4%. Accordingly, it is expected that the derived earthquake vulnerability and risk map will allow the policymakers and response teams to improve the earthquake disaster mitigation and management in Sabah

Power spectral density analysis of ocean wave by using GPS buoy

Wave buoy equipped with a mechanical or electrical sensor have been used extensively to observe waves around the world but the integration of GPS technology with wave buoy (GPS buoy) only has been explore usefulness in this field in the early 90's. This study presents the capabilities of GPS buoy to observe wave data at Strait of Malacca by using high precision kinematic positioning approach. The GPS buoy data obtained from this observation were processed through a precise, medium-range differential kinematic technique. These data were observed at a high rate (1 Hz) interval over a period of more than 24 hours from a nearby coastal site. The kinematic coordinates of the GPS buoy were estimated via epoch-wise pre-elimination and the backward substitution algorithm. These kinematic coordinates are used to calculate the magnitude of the Power Spectral Density (PSD). PSD analysis function able to shows the strength of the variations (energy) as a function of frequency. The tidal changes and monsoon wind has been found to greatly influence the wave energy as shown in the PSD analysis.  From the test result, GPS buoy and data processing technique promises a total solution as a complete ocean wave monitoring solution for Strait of Malacca

Applications GIS for earthquake threat mapping in Sabah

Disaster incidents will disrupt the daily life and cause suffering to the victims of incident. The earthquake is one of the series unpredictable incident. This incident causes the concerns of academicians, engineers, planners, decision-makers and governments to prevent and manage the disaster. The disaster threat index is analyzed with using GIS software. The data that analyzed will divide into three levels which are a lower, moderate and extreme threat. The results of the analysis on the earthquake threats in Sabah revealed that 99.9% was in the area of earthquake threats with a total area is 7 382 144 ha while areas with no earthquake threats was 0.1% with an area is 17 206 ha. From the result also, known that the high seismic hazard index is Lahad Datu with an area of 463 540 ha while the lower earthquake threat index is Tambunan with an area of 588 ha. With this result, it will indirectly facilitate various parties to prepare and plan strategies to reduce the losses and damage from the earthquake disaster. Besides that, with the result also will facilitate the responsible agency to prepare an early safety plan to reduce the loss of life and property damage

Applications GIS for earthquake threat mapping in Sabah

Disaster incidents will disrupt the daily life and cause suffering to the victims of incident. The earthquake is one of the series unpredictable incident. This incident causes the concerns of academicians, engineers, planners, decision-makers and governments to prevent and manage the disaster. The disaster threat index is analyzed with using GIS software. The data that analyzed will divide into three levels which are a lower, moderate and extreme threat. The results of the analysis on the earthquake threats in Sabah revealed that 99.9% was in the area of earthquake threats with a total area is 7 382 144 ha while areas with no earthquake threats was 0.1% with an area is 17 206 ha. From the result also, known that the high seismic hazard index is Lahad Datu with an area of 463 540 ha while the lower earthquake threat index is Tambunan with an area of 588 ha. With this result, it will indirectly facilitate various parties to prepare and plan strategies to reduce the losses and damage from the earthquake disaster. Besides that, with the result also will facilitate the responsible agency to prepare an early safety plan to reduce the loss of life and property damage

Teknologi georuang dalam analisis potensi dan pemetaan risiko tsunami di Pantai Barat Semenanjung Malaysia

Gempa bumi yang berlaku pada 26 Disember 2004 telah mencetuskan gelombang tsunami terbesar menyebabkan limpahan tersebar di seluruh Lautan Hindi. Impaknya mengakibatkan kerosakan yang luas, kehilangan harta benda dan kehidupan terjejas di sepanjang pantai meliputi 12 negara di sepanjang Lautan Hindi. Kehilangan nyawa juga melibatkan rakyat dari 27 negara dari bahagian lain di dunia termasuklah di Malaysia terutamanya di pantai barat Semenanjung Malaysia. Kesignifikanan daripada bencana tsunami di Lautan Hindi ini, suatu tindakan persediaan dan mitigasi perlu dilaksanakan oleh pihak pengurusan bencana untuk menilai dan mengambil langkah yang bersesuaian untuk menangani dan mengurangkan risiko bencana tsunami. Kajian ini adalah untuk menganalisis potensi dan memetakan kawasan risiko tsunami di kawasan persisiran pantai barat Semenanjung Malaysia. Analisis potensi bahaya tsunami bagi penduduk di pantai barat Semenanjung Malaysia khususnya di Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah dilaksanakan menggunakan perisian Tsunami Display Program untuk memodelkan mekanisme pembentukan tsunami, perambatan gelombang dan tahap limpahan tsunami. Seterusnya bagi mengenal pasti risiko iaitu tahap kerentanan sesuatu kawasan terhadap bahaya tsunami, teknologi georuang diaplikasikan untuk menganalisis lokasi kawasan yang berbahaya dan selamat dengan mengambil kira faktor-faktor seperti guna tanah, jarak kawasan daripada persisiran pantai dan permukaan topografi atau kecerunan serta tinggi sesuatu kawasan. Fungsi tindihan lapisan dan pengelasan dalam teknologi georuang digunakan untuk mengelaskan kawasan kepada zon sangat bahaya, zon bahaya, zon sederhana dan zon selamat sekiranya berlaku tsunami. Hasil kajian ini mengenal pasti kawasan berpotensi terjejas selepas bencana iaitu Kampung Kuala Sungai Muda, Kampung Masjid, Kampung Kepala Jalan dan Kampung Padang Salin (Kampung Hujong Permatang) dengan purata jarak daripada garisan pantai kurang daripada 400 m serta peta kawasan berisiko berpandukan tahap kerentanan bencana tsunami di Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah. Sumbangan daripada kajian ini diharap dapat membantu pihak berkenaan dalam urusan persediaan, perancangan dan mitigasi bencana tsunami pada masa akan datang

Utilization of waste paper sludge as an alternative adsorbent for the adsorption of ammonia nitrogen and COD in stabilized landfill leachate

Waste paper sludge (WPS) is produced by the paper industry during the wastewater treatment process of paper production. The disposal techniques of WPS pose a great concern for the environment. This study focuses on the evaluation of WPS as an alternative absorbent material to activated carbon (AC) for the removal of contaminants from stabilized landfill leachate. Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were identified as the two major contaminants in landfill leachate. Both AC and WPS were mixed together in different ratios. The optimum replacement for the absorbent was determined using the batch technique. The adsorption batch study was carried out under the optimum pH of 7, with a shaking speed of 200 rpm and a contact time of 120 minutes. The adsorption isotherms indicated that the Langmuir model was better fitted to the experimental data as it was found to have the highest regression values. The Langmuir adsorption capacities for COD and NH3-N were 32.26 mg/g and 21.60 mg/g, respectively. The optimum replacements were initially at two different ratios of 2:2 and 3:1 based on the optimum removal of COD and NH3-N, respectively. However, the final optimum replacement for the absorbents (AC: WPS) in this study was the ratio of 2:2 due to the higher removal of COD (85.9%) and NH3-N (49.3%)