The determination of the high-risk area and clusters of typhoid cases is critical in typhoid control. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the epidemiology and spatial distribution of typhoid in four selected districts in Kelantan using GIS (geographical information system). A total of 1215 (99%) of the cases were coordinated with GPS (global positioning system) and mapping was done using ArcGIS 9.2. Spatial analysis was performed to determine the cluster and high-risk area of typhoid. Results showed that typhoid incidence was not associated with race and sex. Most affected were from the age group of 5-14 followed by 15-24 year olds. Nine sub-districts were categorized as highly endemic. In addition typhoid has shown a significant tendency to cluster and a total of 22 hotspots were found in Kota Bharu, Bachok and Tumpat with a few sub districts identified as high risk for typhoid. No significant relationships between the treated water ratio and flood risk area were found with the cluster of cases. The cluster of typhoid cases in the endemic area did not appear to be related to environmental risk factors. Understanding the characteristics of these clusters would enable the prevention of typhoid disease in the future.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
In hilly forest area, aligning forest roads is the key towards an effective and sustainable forest management. Constraints in forest road planning are mainly due to environmental factors and topographical conditions. Selecting the criteria for planning forest road and setting the priorities, ranking them for environmental sustainability and reduce cost in road construction is important. Different criteria are required at different forest area since the quantifiable relationship between cause and effect to meet the goal are not comprehensively prioritized. In order to solve the problem, the relative importance factor from multi criteria basis, namely Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop priorities and rank a selected criterion for planning forest road in hilly area using AHP approach. Four criteria had been identified to meet the goal of suitable forest road allocation namely slope, river crossing, elevation and existing forest road. The suitable criteria selected were sorted with weight in ranking order to minimize the impact of timber harvesting. Our results showed that the priorities and ranking were as follows; slope (w = 0.558), followed by river crossing (w = 0.303), elevation (w = 0.095) and lastly existing forest road (w = 0.044), respectively. Therefore, the relative preference factor developed in this study can be used by the Forestry Department for formulating suitable forest road allocation in hilly area simultaneously to be integrated with geographic information system technology.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Kedatangan spesies burung hijrah ke Hutan Paya Laut Matang, Perak merupakan suatu fenomena unik dan amat berpotensi untuk dikomersialkan. Namun begitu sejak sepuluh tahun kebelakangan ini kedatangan spesies burung hijrah ke kawasan ini mencatatkan penurunan yang membimbangkan. Pembangunan di sekitar kawasan Hutan Paya Laut Matang dikenal pasti menjadi faktor utama penurunan ini. Selain itu, pengurusan dan pemantauan terhadap spesies burung hijrah yang tidak bersistematik juga menyumbang kepada permasalahan ini. Kaedah pengurusan dan pemantauan burung hijrah secara konvensional masih diamalkan oleh Jabatan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (PERHILITAN) dalam merekod data dan maklumat yang diperoleh. Oleh itu kajian ini dilakukan dengan memperkenalkan pendekatan teknologi Sistem Maklumat Geografi (GIS) dan Penderiaan Jauh sebagai aplikasi utama yang dapat membantu dalam memperbaiki pengurusan dan pemantauan burung hijrah. Aplikasi GIS digunakan dalam memetakan data parameter kajian yang diperoleh menggunakan perisian yang bersesuaian iaitu ArcGIS 10.1 dan Penderiaan Jauh digunakan untuk memodelkan parameter kajian menggunakan aplikasi dalam perisian ERDAS Imagine 8.5. Sebanyak enam parameter kajian digunakan dalam kajian ini iaitu suhu, taburan hujan, makanan, ketinggian, gunatanah dan liputan tanah. Pemodelan setiap parameter kajian ini membolehkan kesan setiap parameter kajian terhadap taburan burung hijrah dalam suatu kawasan ditunjukkan dalam bentuk pemetaan. Hasil pemodelan ini juga membolehkan parameter yang terpenting dan paling mempengaruhi taburan burung hijrah bagi kawasan Hutan Paya Laut Matang dikenal pasti. Maklumat ini membolehkan DWNP lebih memahami keperluan burung hijrah dalam pemilihan habitat mereka. Selain itu, hasil pemodelan ini membantu DWNP dalam mengatur strategi pelaksanaan program pemeliharaan dan pemuliharaan di kawasan sekitar Hutan Paya Laut Matang bagi memastikan kedatangan spesies burung hijrah secara berterusan.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Countering the dangers associated the present extreme climate not only requires continuous improvement of local disaster
prevention engineering infrastructure but also needs an enhanced understanding of the causes of the disasters. This study
investigates the geologic hazard risk of 53 slopeland villages in Pingtung county of southern Taiwan. First, remote sensing
(RS) techniques were utilized to interpret environmental geology and geologic hazard zonation, including dip slope, fault,
landslide and debris flow. GIS map overlay analysis was used to further identify the extent of the geologic hazard zonation.
As a final step, field investigation is used to comprehend geologic, topographic conditions and the geologic hazard risk
specific to each locality. Based on data analysis and field investigation results, this study successfully integrates RS, GIS
and GPS techniques to construct a geologic hazard risk assessment method of slopeland village. The results of this study
can be used to promote support for future disaster prevention and disaster mitigation efforts.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Kejadian kebakaran hutan yang memberikan implikasi negatif terhadap ekosistem hutan, kepelbagaian biologi, kualiti udara dan struktur tanah dapat dikurangkan melalui sistem pengurusan bencana yang berkesan. Mekanisme pengurusan bencana dapat dibangunkan melalui sistem amaran awal yang tepat serta sistem penyampaian maklumat yang cekap. Penyelidikan ini cuba memberi tumpuan kepada pemetaan potensi kebakaran hutan serta penyampaian maklumat kepada
pengguna melalui aplikasi WebGIS. Teknologi georuang dan permodelan matematik digunakan bagi mengenal pasti, mengelas serta memetakan kawasan hutan yang berpotensi untuk terbakar. Permodelan model proses analitik hierarki (AHP) serta teknologi georuang yang merangkumi penderiaan jauh, sistem maklumat geografi (GIS) dan pengumpulan data lapangan secara digital telah digunakan untuk negeri Selangor. AHP adalah suatu teknik yang dapat memodel sesuatu
keputusan yang meliputi objektif menyeluruh, dalam kajian ini untuk mencari kawasan yang berpotensi berlakunya kebakaran hutan. Tiga kriteria iaitu bahan bakar, bentuk topografi dan faktor manusia telah dipilih untuk membina satu reka bentuk hierarki berstruktur yang setiapnya diberikan pemberat. Kemudian hierarki ini dianalisis melalui satu siri perbandingan berpasangan yang diproses secara matematik dan keutamaan diberikan kepada kedudukan yang tinggi untuk mencapai hasil sumbangan pakar yang terlibat secara langsung dengan operasi pemadaman kebakaran hutan
yang terdiri daripada pegawai Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia juga dinilai dalam model ini. Hasil kajian mendapati 65% daripada keseluruhan Selangor berpotensi rendah untuk terbakar sementara kawasan seluas 32.83 km persegi iaitu di Bestari Jaya, Ulu Tinggi dan Kuala Langat berpotensi melampau terbakar. Paparan maklumat melalui aplikasi WebGIS ini merupakan satu pendekatan terbaik bagi membantu proses membuat keputusan pada tahap keyakinan yang tinggi dan hampir menyamai keadaan sebenar. Agensi yang terlibat dalam pengurusan bencana
seperti Jawatankuasa Pengurusan dan Bantuan Bencana (JPBB) Daerah, Negeri dan Pusat serta Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia dapat menggunakan hasil akhir kajian ini sebagai persediaan menghadapi ancaman kebakaran hutan pada masa akan datang.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
In Malaysia, the incidence of Dengue Fever (DF) and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) have risen dramatically in the last twenty years. With the use of Geographical Information System an explanation for the spread and control of these diseases can be obtained. This study aims to develop a spatial modeling that can predict the risks for DF and DHF based on environmental factors such as physical surroundings, land use, rainfall, temperature and GIS application using logistic regression. A total of 16 variables were used in the process of spatial modeling development. At the significant level of 0.05, the results of logistic regression showed that only 10 out of 16 significant variables in the modeling process. The accuracy of the resulting model is 70.3%. A crucial feature of this study is a risk area map for incidence of DF and DHF in the study area. This study also highlights the application of spatial analysis in planning and implementing the process for the prevention and control activities of DF and DHF in Malaysia.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
The combination of geographic information system and mineral energy data management is helpful to promote the study of mineral energy and its ecological damage and environmental pollution caused by its development and utilization, which has important application value. The Trace Elements in Coal of China Database Management System (TECC) is established in this paper, applying the techniques of B/S three-layer structure, Oracle database, AJAX and WebGIS. TECC is the first database system which aims at managing the data of trace elements in coal in China. It includes data management and analysis module, document management module, trace elements in coal data maintenance module and authority management module. The data entry specification is put forward in the present study and the spatial data is included in TECC system. The system achieves the functions of data query, analysis, management, maintenance and map browsing, thematic map drawing as well as satellite video display, which lay the foundation for the analysis of large data of trace elements in coal. It is a practical platform for the acquisition, management, exchange and sharing of trace element research and geochemical research data of coal.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Previous studies have found positive correlations between mangrove forest extent and fisheries yield but none of these univariate relationships provide a reliable estimate of yield from mangrove area. This study tests the hypothesis that the nursery ground value or natural production of fish and shrimps is related to the hydrogeomorphology settings of mangrove forests by using multivariate redundancy analysis (RDA). The hydrogeomorphological metrics of five mangrove forests imaged by satellite were measured using Geographical Information System (GIS). The RDA indicated that the metrics, including mangrove area, multiple waterways and creeks, mangrove-river interface, waterway surface area and sediment organic matter, influenced the diversity and abundance of fish and shrimps. Larger values of these metrics increase the abundance of economically important fish species of the families Lutjanidae, Haemulidae, Serranidae and economically-important penaeid shrimps. Sediment organic matter also significantly correlates with the distribution and abundance of fish that feed off the bottom such as the Leiognathidae, Clupeidae and Mullidae. Mangrove forests with combinations of large mangrove area, river surface area, high stream ordering and longest mangrove-river interface will provide greater role as nursery grounds for fish and shrimps.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Aktiviti guna tanah di kawasan lembangan adalah salah satu faktor yang mendorong kepada kemerosotan kualiti air
sungai akibat daripada hakisan tanih. Potensi hakisan tanih di kawasan lembangan Sungai Bilut, Raub, Pahang yang
menjadi sumber bekalan air minuman utama di daerah Raub boleh ditentukan dengan menggunakan integrasi model
Semakan Semula Persamaan Kehilangan Tanih Universal (RUSLE) dan Sistem Maklumat Geografi (GIS). Kajian ini
bertujuan untuk menentukan potensi hakisan tanih dan faktor utama yang mempengaruhi kadar hakisan tanih. Kajian ini
melibatkan penggunaan data sekunder yang terdiri daripada data hujan, data siri tanih dan topografi bagi menghasilkan
faktor kehakisan hujan (R), kebolehhakisan tanih (K), serta panjang dan kecuraman cerun (LS). Faktor litupan tumbuhan
(C) dan amalan pemuliharaan (P) pula dijana daripada imej satelit Landsat 8 (2014). Keputusan kajian menunjukkan
nilai faktor R di kawasan kajian ialah 8927.68-9775.18 MJ mm ha-1 jam-1 tahun-1, nilai K ialah 0.036-0.500 tan jam-1
MJ-1 mm-1, nilai LS ialah 0-514, nilai C ialah 0.03-0.80 dan nilai P ialah 0.1-0.7. Kawasan yang mempunyai potensi
hakisan sangat rendah hingga rendah meliputi 81%, manakala potensi hakisan tanih sederhana hingga sangat tinggi
meliputi 19% daripada keseluruhan kawasan kajian. Model yang dihasilkan mempunyai ketepatan sebanyak 81%. Faktor
utama yang mempengaruhi berlakunya hakisan tanih di kawasan kajian adalah faktor topografi, litupan tumbuhan dan
kebolehhakisan tanih. Keputusan menunjukkan analisis integrasi RUSLE dan GIS berpotensi dalam penentuan potensi
hakisan tanih untuk kawasan luas yang mempunyai pelbagai jenis guna tanah, topografi dan jenis tanih.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Over the past 20 years, GPS collars have emerged as powerful tools for the study of nonhuman primate (hereafter, "primate") movement ecology. As the size and cost of GPS collars have decreased and performance has improved, it is timely to review the use and success of GPS collar deployments on primates to date. Here we compile data on deployments and performance of GPS collars by brand and examine how these relate to characteristics of the primate species and field contexts in which they were deployed. The compiled results of 179 GPS collar deployments across 17 species by 16 research teams show these technologies can provide advantages, particularly in adding to the quality, quantity, and temporal span of data collection. However, aspects of this technology still require substantial improvement in order to make deployment on many primate species pragmatic economically. In particular, current limitations regarding battery lifespan relative to collar weight, the efficacy of remote drop-off mechanisms, and the ability to remotely retrieve data need to be addressed before the technology is likely to be widely adopted. Moreover, despite the increasing utility of GPS collars in the field, they remain substantially more expensive than VHF collars and tracking via handheld GPS units, and cost considerations of GPS collars may limit sample sizes and thereby the strength of inferences. Still, the overall high quality and quantity of data obtained, combined with the reduced need for on-the-ground tracking by field personnel, may help defray the high equipment cost. We argue that primatologists armed with the information in this review have much to gain from the recent, substantial improvements in GPS collar technology.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems/statistics & numerical data*
In this paper we describe the construction of an online GIS database system, hosted by WorldFish, which stores bio-physical, ecological and socio-economic data for the 'Coral Triangle Area' in South-east Asia and the Pacific. The database has been built in partnership with all six (Timor-Leste, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea) of the Coral Triangle countries, and represents a valuable source of information for natural resource managers at the regional scale. Its utility is demonstrated using biophysical data, data summarising marine habitats, and data describing the extent of marine protected areas in the region.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Fisheries bycatch has been identified as the greatest threat to marine mammals worldwide. Characterizing the impacts of bycatch on marine mammals is challenging because it is difficult to both observe and quantify, particularly in small-scale fisheries where data on fishing effort and marine mammal abundance and distribution are often limited. The lack of risk frameworks that can integrate and visualize existing data have hindered the ability to describe and quantify bycatch risk. Here, we describe the design of a new geographic information systems tool built specifically for the analysis of bycatch in small-scale fisheries, called Bycatch Risk Assessment (ByRA). Using marine mammals in Malaysia and Vietnam as a test case, we applied ByRA to assess the risks posed to Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) and dugongs (Dugong dugon) by five small-scale fishing gear types (hook and line, nets, longlines, pots and traps, and trawls). ByRA leverages existing data on animal distributions, fisheries effort, and estimates of interaction rates by combining expert knowledge and spatial analyses of existing data to visualize and characterize bycatch risk. By identifying areas of bycatch concern while accounting for uncertainty using graphics, maps and summary tables, we demonstrate the importance of integrating available geospatial data in an accessible format that taps into local knowledge and can be corroborated by and communicated to stakeholders of data-limited fisheries. Our methodological approach aims to meet a critical need of fisheries managers: to identify emergent interaction patterns between fishing gears and marine mammals and support the development of management actions that can lead to sustainable fisheries and mitigate bycatch risk for species of conservation concern.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Due to the lack of dependency for routing initiation and an inadequate allocated sextant on responding messages, the secure geographic routing protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have attracted considerable attention. However, the existing protocols are more likely to drop packets when legitimate nodes fail to respond to the routing initiation messages while attackers in the allocated sextant manage to respond. Furthermore, these protocols are designed with inefficient collection window and inadequate verification criteria which may lead to a high number of attacker selections. To prevent the failure to find an appropriate relay node and undesirable packet retransmission, this paper presents Secure Region-Based Geographic Routing Protocol (SRBGR) to increase the probability of selecting the appropriate relay node. By extending the allocated sextant and applying different message contention priorities more legitimate nodes can be admitted in the routing process. Moreover, the paper also proposed the bound collection window for a sufficient collection time and verification cost for both attacker identification and isolation. Extensive simulation experiments have been performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed protocol in comparison with other existing protocols. The results demonstrate that SRBGR increases network performance in terms of the packet delivery ratio and isolates attacks such as Sybil and Black hole.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems/economics
Interferences and accuracy problem are one of the most talked issues in today's world for sensor technology. To deal with this contention, a microstrip framework consisting of a dual mode double negative (DNG) metamaterial based bandpass filter is presented in this article. To obtain the ultimate noise reduction bandpass filter, the proposed structure has to go through a series of development process, where the characteristics of the structure are tested to the limit. This filter is built on Rogers RT-5880 substrate with a 50Ω microstrip line. To pursue the elementary mode of resonant frequency, the ground layer of the structure is kept partially filled and a gradual analysis is executed on the prospective metamaterial (resonator) unit cell. Depending on the developed unit cell, the filter is constructed and fabricated to verify the concept, concentrating on GPS (1.55GHz), Earth Exploration-Satellite (2.70GHz) and WiMAX (3.60GHz) bands of frequencies. Moreover, the structure is investigated using Nicolson-Ross-Weir (NRW) approach to justify the metamaterial characteristics, and also tested on S-parameters, current distribution, electric and magnetic fields and quality factor. Having a propitious architecture and DNG characteristics, the proposed structure is suitable for bandpass filter for GPS, Earth Exploration-Satellite and WiMAX frequency sensing applications.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems*
The Water-associated Disease Index (WADI) was developed to identify and visualize vulnerability to different water-associated diseases by integrating a range of social and biophysical determinants in map format. In this study vulnerability is used to encompass conditions of exposure, susceptibility, and differential coping capacity to a water-associated health hazard. By assessing these conditions, the tool is designed to provide stakeholders with an integrated and long-term understanding of subnational vulnerabilities to water-associated disease and contribute to intervention strategies to reduce the burden of illness. The objective of this paper is to describe and validate the WADI tool by applying it to dengue. A systemic ecohealth framework that considers links between people, the environment and health was applied to identify secondary datasets, populating the index with components including climate conditions, land cover, education status and water use practices. Data were aggregated to create composite indicators of exposure and of susceptibility in a Geographic Information System (GIS). These indicators were weighted by their contribution to dengue vulnerability, and the output consisted of an overall index visualized in map format. The WADI was validated in this Malaysia case study, demonstrating a significant association with dengue rates at a sub-national level, and illustrating a range of factors that drive vulnerability to the disease within the country. The index output indicated high vulnerability to dengue in urban areas, especially in the capital Kuala Lumpur and surrounding region. However, in other regions, vulnerability to dengue varied throughout the year due to the influence of seasonal climate conditions, such as monsoon patterns. The WADI tool complements early warning models for water-associated disease by providing upstream information for planning prevention and control approaches, which increasingly require a comprehensive and geographically broad understanding of vulnerability for implementation.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
The development of GPS tags for tracking wildlife has revolutionised the study of home ranges, habitat use and behaviour. Concomitantly, there have been rapid developments in methods for estimating habitat use from GPS data. In combination, these changes can cause challenges in choosing the best methods for estimating home ranges. In primatology, this issue has received little attention, as there have been few GPS collar-based studies to date. However, as advancing technology is making collaring studies more feasible, there is a need for the analysis to advance alongside the technology. Here, using a high quality GPS collaring data set from 10 proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus), we aimed to: 1) compare home range estimates from the most commonly used method in primatology, the grid-cell method, with three recent methods designed for large and/or temporally correlated GPS data sets; 2) evaluate how well these methods identify known physical barriers (e.g. rivers); and 3) test the robustness of the different methods to data containing either less frequent or random losses of GPS fixes. Biased random bridges had the best overall performance, combining a high level of agreement between the raw data and estimated utilisation distribution with a relatively low sensitivity to reduced fixed frequency or loss of data. It estimated the home range of proboscis monkeys to be 24-165 ha (mean 80.89 ha). The grid-cell method and approaches based on local convex hulls had some advantages including simplicity and excellent barrier identification, respectively, but lower overall performance. With the most suitable model, or combination of models, it is possible to understand more fully the patterns, causes, and potential consequences that disturbances could have on an animal, and accordingly be used to assist in the management and restoration of degraded landscapes.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems*
Monitoring of land use change is crucial for sustainable resource management and development planning. Up-to-date land use change information is important to understand its pattern and identify the drivers. Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) have proven as a useful tool to measure and analyze land use changes. Recent advances in remote sensing technology with digital image processing provide unprecedented possibilities for detecting changes in land use over large areas, with less costs and processing time. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the land use changes in upper Prek Thnot watershed in Cambodia from 2006 until 2018. Geospatial tools such as remote sensing and GIS were used to process and produce land use maps from Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8. The post-classification comparison was conducted for analysing the land use changes. Results show forest area was greatly decreased by 1,162.06 km2 (33.67%) which was converted to rubber plantation (10.55 km2 ), wood shrub (37.65 km2 ), agricultural land (1,099.71 km2 ), built-up area (17.76 km2 ), barren land (3.65 km2 ), and water body (14.69 km2 ). Agricultural land increased by 1,258.99 km2 (36.48%), while wood shrub declined by 161.88 km2 (4.69%). Rubber plantation, built-up area, barren land, and water bodies were increased by 10.55 km2 (0.31%), 33.64 km2 (0.97%), 4.87 km2 (0.14%) and 15.89 km2 (0.46%), respectively. The decrease of forest and wood shrub had resulted due to population growth (1.8% from 2008 to 2019) and land conversion for agricultural purposes. Hence, this study may provide vital information for wise sustainable watershed’s land management, especially for further study on the effect of land use change on runoff in this area.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and three dimensional (3D) World Wide Web (WWW) applications usage are on the rise. The demand for online 3D terrain visualization for GIS data has increased. Current users demand for more complex data which have higher accuracy and realism. This is aided by the emergence of geo-browsers in the market which provide free service and also cater for the commercialized market. Other new technology driving the market is the use of software such as CityGML, Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML)/ Entensive 3D (X3D), geoVRML, and Keyhole Markup Language (KML). These technologies also play an important role for this new era of online 3D terrain visualization. The aim of this paper is to implement the online 3D terrain visualization for GIS data by using VRML technology and launching the system into three different web servers. The data used for this system are contour data and high resolution satellite image (QUICKBIRD) for Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) area. Testing was done only for satellite image overlaid to 3D terrain data. The web servers used in this experiment were the Spatial Research Group Server in UPM, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) web server, and ruzinoor.my web server. The comparison was based on the performance of web servers in terms of accessibility, uploading time, CPU usage, frame rate per second (fps), and number of users. The results from this experiment will be of help and guidance to the developers in finding the right web servers for the best performance on implementing online 3D terrain visualization for GIS data.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing are geospatial technologies that have been used for many years in environmental studies, including gathering and analysing of information on the physical parameters of wildlife habitats and modelling of habitat assessments. The home range estimation provided in a GIS environment offers a viable method of quantifying habitat use and facilitating a better understanding of species and habitat relationships. This study used remote sensing, GIS and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) application tools as methods to assess the habitat parameters preference of Asian elephant. Satellite images and topographical maps were used for the environmental and topographical habitat parameter generation encompassing land use-land cover (LULC), Normalized Digital Vegetation Index (NDVI), water sources, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), slope and aspect. The kernel home range was determined using elephant distribution data from satellite tracking, which were then analysed using habitat parameters to investigate any possible relationship. Subsequently, the frequency of the utilization distribution of elephants was further analysed using spatial and geostatistical analyses. This was followed by the use of AHP for identifying habitat preference, selection of significant habitat parameters and classification of criterion. The habitats occupied by the elephants showed that the conservation of these animals would require good management practices within and outside of protected areas so as to ensure the level of suitability of the habitat, particularly in translocation areas.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems
Malaysia is in the process of modernizing its oil palm plantation management, by implementing geo-information technologies which include Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS), and Spatial Decision Support System (DSS). Agencies with large oil palm plantations such as the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA), Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (FELCRA), Guthrie Sdn. Bhd., and Golden Hope Sdn. Bhd. have already incorporated GIS in their plantation management, with limited use of RS and DSS. In 2005, FELCRA, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Espatial Resources Sdn. Bhd. (ESR) collaborated in a research project to explore the potentials of geo-informatics for oil palm plantation management. The research was conducted in FELCRA located in Seberang Perak Oil Palm Scheme. In that research, a tool integrating RS, GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was developed to support decision making for replanting of the existing old palms. RS was used to extract productive stand per hectare; AHP was used to compute the criteria weights for the development of a suitable model; and GIS was used for spatial modelling so as to generate the decision support layer for replanting. This paper highlights the approach adopted in developing the tool with special emphasis on the AHP computation.
Matched MeSH terms: Geographic Information Systems