NRES Strengthens Disaster Risk Mapping, Installs 34 Landslide Early Warning Systems

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) is enhancing the country’s disaster risk mapping by using the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics, and installing 34 early warning systems (EWS) at high-risk slope locations across the country.

Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the initiative also includes slope hazard and risk mapping by the Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG), which to date has covered nearly 3,000 square kilometres, including highland areas and Kundasang, Sabah.

He said the mapping allows for early identification of areas with potential for landslides and slope failures, providing a reference for development planning and disaster preparedness among local communities.

“To improve the accuracy and capability of the mapping, JMG continues to use geographic information system (GIS) technology, remote sensing, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR).

“Through this information, we can manage it via existing geospatial platforms, namely the Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia Geospatial Information System (MyGEMS) and the National Terrain and Slope Information System (NaTSIS), to support information sharing for proper disaster risk assessment,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during the question-and-answer session today.

He was replying to a question from Datuk Verdon Bahanda (Ind-Kudat) regarding the government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s disaster risk mapping, including the use of modern technology to enhance predictive accuracy and the effectiveness of early warning systems.

Syed Ibrahim said all 34 EWS installed by JMG are equipped with monitoring equipment, sirens, and warning lights to improve the preparedness of residents in landslide-prone areas.

He said JMG has also developed the GeoSlide big data analytics system, which uses rainfall and geological data to support more effective landslide risk assessment.

He added that the ministry has also produced seismic hazard maps and seismotectonic maps of Malaysia to identify levels of earthquake tremor hazards and fault zones that may pose potential threats.

Meanwhile, he said the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) is strengthening the monitoring and forecasting of extreme weather, earthquakes and tsunamis through its network of weather radars, satellites and observation stations.

“We are further enhancing this capability through the use of high-performance computing (HPC), AI, and the Radar Integrated Nowcasting System (RaINS) so that we have more accurate, detailed, and targeted weather and rainfall forecast information,” he said.

-- BERNAMA