GIS and Remote Sensing Programme at the Mara Institute of
Technology, Malaysia
Muhammad Hj. Jaafar, Abdul Malek Mohd Noor and Wan Mohd Naim
Department of Surveying Science and Geomatics
MARA Institute of Technology
Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysai
Tel: 03-5564978 Fax : 03-5564671
E-mail : Muhammad@sug.engr.itm.edu.my
Abstract
Among the problems of implementing GIS and remote sensing as tools to aid decision making in Malaysia as identified at the Seminar for Decision Maker on the Applications of Remote sensing and Geo-information Systems in Pulau Langkawi (December 1994) are associated with data availability and lack of skill personnel especially at the semi-professional level. In trying to rectify the later problem, MARA Institute of Technology (ITM), as one of the established academic institution in Malaysia has taken initiative by introducing two new diploma courses ( i.e. Diploma in Surveying Science and Geomatics option Natural Resources option Natural Resources and Diploma courses Surveying Science and Geomatics option Geographic Information Systems). This papwer intends to highlight the courses in details.
Introduction
Remote sensing and GIS technology has been widely recognized as efficient tools to help planners and decision makers to make sound and judicious decisions in their work. The idea of having GIS in Malaysia was first recognized by the Federal Land Adminintration Department back in the early 1970's(Kamaruddin, 1974). The established of the Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing in 1989 and the installation of COMPIS at the Centre of Information and Cartography of the ministry of Agriculture in 1982 were two important agendas which reflect the seriousness on the part of Malaysians in embarking on these technologies. Since then many other government organizations such as the Department of environment, the Klang Valley Planning Unit, the Malaysian Centre of Remote sensing (MACRES), Forestry Department, the Shah Alam Municipality, the Petaling Jaya Municipality, the Kuala Lumpur City Council and others have set-up their own Remote Sensing or GIS units.
As in many developing countries, the development of Remote sensing and GIS in Malaysia does not progressed so well. Among the main problems which headers the the development of these technologies in Malaysia as identified by several authors (Ramly, 1995), (Ahmad, 1991) and (Ahmad and Jaafar, 1994) and from the Seminar for Decision Makers on Applications of Remote sensing and Geo-information Systems are the availability of digital data, and lack of skill personnel. In Remote Sensing although the availability of data is not much of a problem but the time taken to acquire the data has become n inconvenience to users. Countries, which do not have its own receivingstations, suffered the most. In Malaysia, this problem will be overcome soon with the establishment of our own ground receiving station. Other problems related to the use of GIS as a tool to assist decision making in Malaysia are related to lack of appropriate map data, obsolescence of map information, and secreacy of information.
Some of the short term measures that have been taken to overcome the problem of skill personnel, which are mostly on ad hoc basis includes: i) sending officers for short-term training abroad, I) bring in foreign experts to train local staffs, and iii) sending staffs for short courses conducted by local universities and agencies. As a long term measures, several institutions of higher learning including ITM have taken initiative to conduct a formal education in Remote Sensing and GIS either as a subject or as a full course.
Remote Sensing and GIS within the Development of Surveying and Geomatics
In ITM, activities concerning Remote Sensing and GIS are mostly concentrate in the Development of Surveying Science and Geomatics formerly known as the Development of Land Surveying was established in July 1971. Initially only a three-year Diploma course in Land Surveying was offered. Starting from July 1983 a two and a half year Bachelor Degree programme was introduced. The Diploma and Bachelor of Science in Land Surveying are a two-tier programme. Graduates with better results from the Diploma may continue to study in the degree level but those with less satisfactory results may be eligible to apply after having two years of working experience in the profession.
Remote Sensing and GIS were first introduced as subjects to the Land Surveying curriculum in July 1998 at the at the undergraduate level. These subjects were introduced so as to prepare the graduates with the latest technologies, which have attracted a lot of interest from the public and the private sector. In realizing the shortage of skill personnel in the field of Remote Sensing and GIS especially at semi-professional level, the department have taken initiative to introduce two new diploma courses, that is, the Diploma in Surveying Science and Geomatics (option GIS) in early 1997.
The Diploma in Surveying Science and Geomatics (optional Natural Resources) provides
an education on the principles, image interpretations and applications of Remote Sensing technology in managing earth resources, while the Diploma in Surveying Science & Geomatics (option GIS) provides an education on the principles, concept and applications of GIS as well as on related field of data acquisition. Special emphasis is given on the practical aspects in both the Remote Sensing and GIS. Currently there are 141 students taking GIS, 108 taking Natural Resources and 154 taking Land Surveying option.
