Introduction

Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan (KWP) or The Ministry of Federal Territory has moved from property-based GIS to Regional-based applications. Eight applications have been developed to respond to critical regional development issues. Ability to frame the right regional questions and its subsets at the early stage of GIS development could substantially reduce additional programming time. Past GIS training had failed to focus on substantive analytical spatial analysis (statistical and mathematical modeling) relevant to urban and regional planning issues. Greater efforts should be given to multiple stakeholder discussions to improve quality of data and analysis. In addition, KWP has embarked on developing a regional planning support system (RPSS) focusing on scenario building, measuring development impact and tracking module to monitor and measure regional plan targets (including structure plans).

Klang Valley Region

A Brief History

AGISwlk grew from a pilot project initiated in 1995 covering a 4.5-kilometer strip in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The goal of the phase is to demonstrate GIS capability as a planning decision support tool. The second phase covered Kuala Lumpur CBD and focuses on data collection, storing, and presentation. Experiences obtained during the first two phases were used in a more ambitious third phase of GIS development in Klang Valley. The third phase covered the entire Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Six applications module were developed by extensive analysis of cartographic layers as well as attribute data. These application modules were covered under threat, built-up area, squatters area, green area, pollution level and public utilities. The fourth phase is the present AGISwlk. It covers the entire Klang Valley Region consists of 5 districts and 8 local authorities. Eleven applications were developed: physical, built-up areas, green areas, tourism, environmental quality, geohazard, industrial and commercial, low-cost housing and squatters, public amenities, utilities, and transportation. (GIS chronology at KWP) (Memorial history)

 

GIS Database For Regional Planning Analysis

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 more than 100 map layers including base map, administrative boundaries, physical characteristics, environmental quality, traffic and urban transports, green and recreational areas, public facilities and utilities.

The database development for Klang Valley region basically involve 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 ArcGIS software.

Since the geographic information is stored in its primary form, analysis can be more quantitative and rational. The modeling stage which is called planning process, require planner to make explicit explicit for the selection of alternative programs. This is to encourage the selection of objective criteria, based on real data for the study area. Analyses generated by AGISwlk employs the multi-criteria and multi-objective approach which integrate all possible relevant elements.

What's Next

AGISwlk is shifting from development phase to system improvement and maintenance. Additional and more specific analysis will be carried out under each of the existing 8 application modules. Two new applications, tourism and geohazard, are being developed. Special attention is also given to the spatial aspect of housing supply and demand. This is to ensure that housing issues are not only tackled from quantity and quality perspectives but also meet spatial requirements. The new application modules and additional analyses are expected to widen the coverage of planning and development issues relevant to operating agencies. This will enhance AGISwlk capability as decision support tool for effective planning and management in the most vibrant and productive region in Malaysia.

An integrated application module called Integrated Landuse Assessment (ILA) model is being developed. There will be two sub-modules under ILA. The first sub-module is to identify the best site for development after taking into account economic, social, and environmental interests. The second sub-module is designed to have the capability of assessing the impact of proposed development in the region. Upon identifying the location of a proposed development and its main features such as floor space, population density, expected traffic generation, and number of school-going population, ILA will assess the impact of the proposed development on the level of services in the area. Assessments provided by ILA will be useful for local authorities in determining the suitability of the site for development. The information will also highlight the extent and type of constraints the particular area will face and thus allow preventive measures to be carried out or properly planned.

Regional Planning Support System (RPSS) is another GIS-based application module currently being developed. It is developed in conjunction with the preparation of the Klang Valley Perspective Plan II 2000-2020. It performs three major tasks: to generate desirable development scenarios in the region, to monitor implementation of development plans and to assess development impact on the region. RPSS is expected to complement spatial analysis covered by AGISwlk.