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GIS as tools for monitoring the urban development in metropolitan region: A case of Llang Valley Region, Peninsular Malaysia 2.0 GIS Database Development and Planning Analysis – the Case of Klang Valley As much as the issues in planning which are sometimes too complicated and ‘wicked’, planners are responsible in managing the environmental changes. As managers, planners should adopt effective management approach in the planning process to arrange, control as well as lead changes (Bruton and Nicolson, 1987). Planners should thus adopt incremental and contingency approach to address current issues and pressing changes. In confronting these complex problems, planners have to resolve to consensus and bargaining measures to limit scenario pertaining conflict of interest. Due to the scope, process and methods involved in land use planning, a development programme does not only need a broad set of data and information but they should also be easy to be processed and manipulated base on requirement and situation. This has set the need for planning agency to develop a planning information system appropriate with its urban and regional planning and monitoring functions. The main challenge in planning and monitoring of an urban region like Klang Valley is the rapid growth of the region itself, resulting in the urgent needs for land development to cater for settlement/housing and facilities. Among the myriad of urbanisation issues faced by the local authorities in Klang Valley region includes traffic congestion, provision of house and amenities and declining environmental situation. With rational planning approach, the quality of planning and decision making process can be substantially improved with valid data appropriately and efficiently handled. In attempt to keep up with the ever-increasing issues of urban development especially where Klang Valley is concerned, the Application of Geographical Information System for Klang Valley Region (AGISwlk) project was first initiated in 1995 and has been improved since then. This project is considered successful and significantly contributes to the understanding of the development characteristic of the Klang Valley region and thus helps in planning, coordinating and monitoring the database and utilising every potential of the system mainly as a decision support tool in planning and monitoring the development programmes of the area. The database for the Application of GIS for Klang Valley Region (AGISwlk) was designed and developed to support ten application modules namely built up area, green and recreational areas, traffic and urban transport, squatter and low-cost housing, environment, utilities and community services, industrial and commercial development, population and socio-economic, tourism facilities and geohazard. This required as many as more than 100 map layers including base map, administrative boundary, physical characteristics, environmental quality, traffic and urban transport, green and recreational areas, public facilities and utilities (Figure 1). The database development for Klang Valley region basically involved gathering of data, spatial and attribute data entry, and generating of data layers based on the described applications for analyses purposes. Paper maps and remotely sensed data including satellite data and high-resolution digital orthophotographs are major sources for collecting digital data. Data gathering was carried out based on the type of data needed and sources of data. Data entry was then done through interpretation of the data gathered into the required form using the ARC/INFO and Arc View software. Since the geographic information is stored in its primary form, analysis can be more quantitative and rational. The modeling stage which is called for in planning process, requires planner to make explicit their criteria for the selection of alternative programmes. This encourages the selection of objective criteria, based on real data about the area under study. Analyses generated in AGISwlk employs the multi-criteria and multi-objectives approach which integrates all possible relevant elements. i) Identification of Environmental Sensitive Areas The generation of environmental sensitive areas and high-risk zones maps would very much help in planning and decision making process as the identified areas can be avoided from being developed. If development is a “must”, these maps could act as guidelines to further justify the type of development that is to be implemented together with comprehensive procedures, standards and preventive measures embedded throughout the development activities. The model for the identification of environmentally sensitive areas involved various criteria while taking into account the limitation of supporting information and database. These criteria include natural habitat which has not been interfered by human activities, natural habitat that has to be managed for human and environmental needs, natural or modified steep slopes as well as water catchment areas. The analysis was done using the GRID operation which includes the use of commands such as POLYGRID, LINEGRID, ISNULL, CON, IF, ARITHMATIC and FOCALMAJORITY (ESRI, 1995). The analysis resulted in the division of the Klang Valley into three environmental sensitive levels namely highly sensitive, moderately sensitive and less sensitive (Figure 2).  Figure 1: AGISwlk’s Database Elements and Map Layers  Figure 2: Environmental Sensitive Areas ii) Assessing Flood Impact on Urban Development Figure 3 shows the existing and committed housing areas in Klang Valley within the flood risk zones with relative levels of risk identified as low, medium and high (Yaakup et. al., 2001a). Such information gathered and mapped will enable relevant authorities in designing preventive measures to minimize flood occurrences. The appropriate measures include drainage improvement programs for flood risk zones, identification of relief centers for relocating victims as well as educate the public in affected areas on various aspects in confronting flood incidence and their role in preventing it from happening such as ensuring the drains are cleared and not clogged or alerting the Department of Irrigation and Drainage if the drainage system is not functioning well. iii) Assessing Squatters Resettlement Programmes and Supply of Low -Cost Housing The distribution, characteristics and associated problems were analysed to assign alternative solutions to be undertaken in solving the problems of squatter settlements. The analysis carried out was able to categorise squatters to three level of action to be taken namely ‘Immediate Resettlement’, ‘Upgrading’ and ‘No immediate action’ (Figure 4). The distribution and particularly development status (Occupied, Ready but unoccupied and Under Construction) of low cost housing in Klang Valley was also monitored (Figure 5). Apart from assessing the development status, the quantity and distribution of the low cost housing is essential in evaluating its supply and demand based on population needs and to cater for resettlement of squatters wherever necessary.  Figure 3: Existing and committed housing areas in Klang Valley within the flood risk zones  Figure 4: Analysis for Squatter Resettlement Programme  Figure 5: Distribution and Development Status of Low Cost Housing |