This initiative follows recent flood events that significantly impacted various parts of Sarawak, including key educational and agricultural zones in Bintulu. The Post-Flood Taskforce on RTK and LiDAR Mapping at UPM Bintulu taskforce’s primary objective is to provide high-precision geospatial data to assess terrain changes, identify topographical shifts and support long-term flood mitigation planning.

 

Mr. Desmond, who is overseeing technical operations for the taskforce, stated: “The integration of RTK and LiDAR technologies enables us to generate highly accurate, real-time 3D mapping of affected areas. This will be crucial in evaluating post-flood damage and planning resilient infrastructure upgrades for the campus and surrounding communities.” Civil engineer; Mr. Alex, a member of the mission, added: “The data collected will assist not only in identifying immediate flood-impacted zones, but also in informing future land use planning, drainage improvements and environmental monitoring.”

A total of seven students from the Bachelor of Science in Bioindustry programme, currently enrolled in this elective course of CAT4100 (Precision Agriculture) taught by Ts. Gs. Dr. Wan Nor Zanariah bt. Zainol @ Abdullah, an expert in the field of geomatic engineering who also participated in the post-flood surveying operations as representing the Institute of Ecosystem Science Borneo (IEB). Dr. Wan Nor Zanariah herself also took part in the taskforce's field activities, providing academic insight and technical support during the discussion.

 

The students were actively involved in the hands on learning from the monitoring and demonstration of advanced geospatial technologies, including LiDAR and RTK systems which acting as critical tools for high precision topographical mapping and disaster site analysis. They also gained hands-on experience with professional software used in real-time data collection, mapping, visualisation and interpretation, such as Global Mapper, DJI Terra and Agisoft.

 

Dr. Wan Nor Zanariah expressed her pride in her students’ performance, noting the significant growth they demonstrated during the field activity: “I am very proud of my students for embracing this real-world learning opportunity. Their engagement and adaptability in applying geospatial and precision agriculture tools show a great learning curve that bridges classroom theory with practical, impactful work in the field.”

 

This field experience not only offered the students practical insights into remote sensing and precision agriculture technologies but also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing environmental challenges. It served as a meaningful bridge between academic knowledge and real world application.

 

This operation reflects a strong collaboration between federal and state agencies, academia, and local authorities, and showcases the Sarawak government’s commitment to incorporating cutting edge technologies in disaster response and infrastructure planning. The Sarawak state government has expressed strong support for the taskforce, describing it as a forward-thinking approach to disaster management and sustainable development.