GIS Seminar as a Basis for Cooperation on Teaching and ... - UMS

School of International Tropical Forestry
University Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
<strong>GIS</strong> <strong>Seminar</strong> <strong>as</strong> a B<strong>as</strong>is <strong>for</strong> <strong>Cooperation</strong> on Teaching and
Research
Projek ini disokong oleh
Kerajaan Republik Persekutuan Negara Jerman
Michael Bock and Olaf Conrad
Malaysian-German Forestry Education Project
Consultancy Report No 17
Kota Kinabalu, November/December 2007
melalui
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit
(GTZ) GmbH
Bagi pihak

<strong>GIS</strong> <strong>Seminar</strong> <strong>as</strong> a B<strong>as</strong>is <strong>for</strong> a <strong>Cooperation</strong> on Teaching and
Research
Michael Bock and Olaf Conrad
November/December 2007
Malaysian-German Forestry Education Project, School of International Tropical Forestry
University Malaysia Sabah, Locked Bag 2073, 88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Tel/Fax 0060/88/320658, Email: gtzpjb@ums.edu.my

27.-28. Nov.: Travelling
Travelling from Hamburg to Kota Kinabalu via Frankfurt (Main) and Singapore.
29.-30. Nov.: First Contacts
On the first day introduction talks to the staff members were on the schedule. In the
afternoon a visit to the dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mahmud Sudin of the SITF w<strong>as</strong> on the
schedule. He in<strong>for</strong>med Mr. Bock that to his regret he is not able to take part in the 3-days
<strong>GIS</strong> seminar because of his numerous dates. Afterwards first talks about research activities
of the school and available geo data with Dr. Phua Mui-How and Dr. Andy Russel Immit
Mojiol could be held.
1. Dec.: Day Trip to Kli<strong>as</strong> Peninsula
Preliminary field trip to one possible study area (Kli<strong>as</strong> Peninsula). The Kli<strong>as</strong> Peninsula, about
60km south of Kota Kinabalu, is a 40 * 30 km flat spit sticking into the South Chinese Sea. In
the l<strong>as</strong>t decades it suffered from enormous land use pressure, because of its good
accessibleness and its flat terrain that makes it e<strong>as</strong>y to build up agro-<strong>for</strong>estry systems <strong>as</strong>
rubber and oil palm plantation. Still Kli<strong>as</strong> Peninsula is also home of remaining stocks of peat
swamp <strong>for</strong>ests, which have been declared <strong>as</strong> <strong>for</strong>est protection area. This <strong>for</strong>est type is the
most important carbon storage among all tropical <strong>for</strong>est types and so in times of climate
change the studying of this ecosystem to protect or even to per<strong>for</strong>m a re<strong>for</strong>estation of the
stocks is an urgent need. These facts are known in the SITF since many years. Particularly
SITF staff member Dr. Phua h<strong>as</strong> a research focus on analysing the re<strong>as</strong>ons and
repercussions of <strong>for</strong>est fires, which occur since the late 1980s in dry El Nino years. To get a
first impression of the landscape Dr. Fischer and Mr. Bock visited the Kli<strong>as</strong> Peninsula.
Fig. 1: Remaining stock of peat swamp <strong>for</strong>est
in the background
Fig. 2: Typical housing on Kli<strong>as</strong> peninsula
2. Dec.: <strong>Seminar</strong> Preparation
Dr. Conrad arrived in the early morning short after midnight at Kota Kinabalu International
Airport.
This day had to be used <strong>for</strong> final preparations and adaptations of documents and materials
<strong>for</strong> the <strong>GIS</strong> seminar. This became necessary, because it turned out that many of the seminar
participants had not even only small or none <strong>GIS</strong> pre-knowledge but also limited computer
skills in general.
The computers to be used by the participants had been rented specifically <strong>for</strong> the seminar
from an external computer hardware service. There<strong>for</strong>e the construction of the CIP

environment in the SITF’s seminar room w<strong>as</strong> accompanied and an inspection of the installed
computer equipment h<strong>as</strong> been done. Minor technical hardware problems could be solved
immediately. A WLAN h<strong>as</strong> been set up to give the seminar participants access to a common
data exchange directory. Pre-installation of software and data materials caused no further
problems.
3.-5. Dec.: <strong>Seminar</strong>
One of the main t<strong>as</strong>ks of the consultancy w<strong>as</strong> the holding of a 3-day seminar in Geographic
In<strong>for</strong>mation Systems (<strong>GIS</strong>). The seminar aimed at introducing the participants to special
<strong>as</strong>pects of spatial data, which are in the focus of <strong>GIS</strong>. It w<strong>as</strong> to be suggestive on <strong>GIS</strong>
techniques, particularly to demonstrate how scientific questions can be solved using various
<strong>GIS</strong> analysis tools. The <strong>GIS</strong> software used explicitly in the seminar is the free and open
source software SAGA (System <strong>for</strong> Automated Geoscientific Analyses) and had also an
emph<strong>as</strong>is on acquisition and usage of various data available free of charge. Both had been
chosen to enable the participants to per<strong>for</strong>m spatial analyses independently on their own and
to exploit free data sources relevant to <strong>for</strong>estry.
Table 1: <strong>Seminar</strong> contents
Day Topic Contents
3.Dec. General Introduction Introducing the lecturers and their research are<strong>as</strong>, the
University of Hamburg with the Dept. of Physical
Geography, and giving a course outline.
<strong>GIS</strong> and SAGA Theoretical backgrounds to geodata, Geographic
In<strong>for</strong>mation Systems (<strong>GIS</strong>) and the free open source <strong>GIS</strong>
software SAGA
First Steps Installing and executing SAGA, functionality of the
Graphical User Interface (GUI), loading and saving data,
data visualisation
Data Structures Vector and r<strong>as</strong>ter data, accessing different data file
Cartographic
Projections
<strong>for</strong>mats, special visualisation options, free data sources
Why we need map projections and what it is. Choosing
appropriate map projections. Specialities of r<strong>as</strong>ter data
projections.
4.Dec. Georeferencing Application of the georeferencing procedure on scanned
topographic maps
Digitising Creating vector data by manual and automatic
Working with Vector
Data
digitisation
Standard tools <strong>for</strong> vector data analyses and
manipulations. Intersection, union, buffer zones, contour
line derivation.
Working with R<strong>as</strong>ter Standard tools <strong>for</strong> r<strong>as</strong>ter data analyses and
Data
manipulations. R<strong>as</strong>ter calculator, merging and splitting,
5.Dec. R<strong>as</strong>ter Interpolation Creating r<strong>as</strong>ter data from scattered point samples.
Digital Terrain Models (DTM), Nearest Neighbour,
Triangulation, Inverse Distance to a Power, Modified
Shepard, Spline Interpolation
Image Analysis Colour composites, filter operators, vegetation indices,
supervised and unsupervised land cover cl<strong>as</strong>sification.
Terrain Analysis Digital terrain analysis, local morphometry (e.g. slope,
<strong>as</strong>pect, curvatures), hydrologic terrain parameters, hill
shading, view shed analysis.
Statistical Analyses Neighbourhood analysis, single and multiple regression
analysis, variogram modelling, ordinary and universal
Kriging interpolation

Data chosen and prepared <strong>for</strong> the seminar have been located <strong>for</strong> the area of Malaysia where
possible to show the participants relations to their personal situation and research are<strong>as</strong>.
Likewise examples have been chosen from existent projects to demonstrate the practicability
of spatial analysis <strong>as</strong> far <strong>as</strong> possible. The seminar contents are listed in Table 1.
Evaluation Discussion
The closing evaluation discussion gave us feedback from the participant’s seminar
impressions. Generally a positive feedback h<strong>as</strong> been uttered. Some expressed that the
speed of the lessons w<strong>as</strong> too high so they sometimes were lost. But it w<strong>as</strong> also mentioned
that most of the times this h<strong>as</strong> been recognized by the trainers, who could lead them back
again. Actually, this is a situation to be expected, when many participants with different
knowledge are joined in one course.
Conclusion
From the trainer’s point of view the sum up of the 3 days <strong>GIS</strong> seminar implies the following:
The demonstrated methods and the shown data sources were relevant <strong>for</strong> most of
the participants especially <strong>for</strong> m<strong>as</strong>ter students. In contr<strong>as</strong>t the job specification of
some of the participants of the SITF (<strong>for</strong> instance members of the administrative staff)
did not include activities, where the shown methods (geodata analysis) give a real
benefit. This h<strong>as</strong> to be kept in mind in future <strong>for</strong> the invitation of participants <strong>for</strong> similar
events.
The number of participants w<strong>as</strong> adequate, so effective teaching sessions could be
per<strong>for</strong>med.
The motivation of the participants w<strong>as</strong> relatively high. Those who saw the benefit <strong>for</strong>
their own <strong>as</strong>signments or their m<strong>as</strong>ter thesis learned a lot in these three days.
The precognition of the participants w<strong>as</strong> very different. A more homogenous group
regarding the participant’s skills of computer techniques would have led to an even
more effective teaching.
a) b)
Fig. 3: <strong>Seminar</strong> room during the workshop
<strong>Seminar</strong> Finish and Graduation
The closing event of the 3 days seminar on <strong>GIS</strong> and geodata took place in a restaurant,
which created a friendly atmosphere not only <strong>for</strong> handing over a course certificate to each
participant. After this official part a delicious meal h<strong>as</strong> been served and first discussions
about a future cooperation began.

Fig. 4: Group photo of seminar participants
a) b)
Fig. 5:Official seminar graduation. Also the lecturers have been honoured and got a small present
handed over by Dr. Phua: a) M. Bock , b) O. Conrad
6. Dec.: Discussing Future <strong>Cooperation</strong>
For further impressions of the <strong>for</strong>ests of Borneo this morning Dr. Fischer took Dr. Conrad and
Mr. Bock to the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Center. This refuge of natural mangrove vegetation
and wildlife is located in the direct neighbourhood of the densely populated housing area of
the city and there<strong>for</strong>e is quite in danger. A private organisation carries on the centre. The
work is mostly done by volunteers, who keep the areal clean, provide in<strong>for</strong>mation <strong>for</strong> visitors
and do some research on mangrove species.
In the late morning a meeting with partners from SITF about cooperation possibilities in
different research fields w<strong>as</strong> on the schedule. Beside the consultants and Dr. Michael
Fischer also Dr. Phua Mui-How, Dr. Andy Russel, Dr. John Tay, Dr. Norma <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> a few
SITF students attended the meeting.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. John Tay <strong>as</strong> head of the SITF research programme gave an overview about
the structure of the school and their ongoing research activities in different fields of <strong>for</strong>est
sciences. After this introduction the floor w<strong>as</strong> opened <strong>for</strong> discussion.

As conclusion the attendees agreed on the fixation of a research field that deals with several
important research topics relevant <strong>for</strong> the SITF: changing conditions <strong>for</strong> <strong>for</strong>est and <strong>for</strong>est
management due to climate and land use change with regard to carbon storages and carbon
trading, both topics that will be of utmost importance <strong>for</strong> tropical countries like Malaysia in the
near future. A modelling perspective of the topics can be yielded by the working group of the
Hamburg University with the head Prof. Dr. Jürgen Böhner.
a)
b)
Fig. 6: Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre. Typical habitus of tree species in a mangrove <strong>for</strong>est. The
roots undertake many functions, e.g. sustaining of the plants in the different situations of
the tides (a, b), sign of a typical mangrove wildlife: entrance to the residence of a mud
lobster (c)
Such a bigger project needs a long <strong>for</strong>erun since proposals have to be written and submitted
to suitable funding organisations, who in turn take some time to decide about the funding.
There<strong>for</strong>e Dr. Phua and Dr. Conrad agreed to conduct a ‘mini’ project following a proposal by
Dr. Fischer.
The project shall focus on <strong>for</strong>est fragmentation analysis b<strong>as</strong>ed on satellite imagery of Kli<strong>as</strong>
Peninsula. Several dates shall be compared to point out the radical changes caused by
<strong>for</strong>est fires during the dry El Nino year 1999. Data acquisition, preparation and land cover
cl<strong>as</strong>sification shall be done by Dr. Phua where<strong>as</strong> Dr. Conrad h<strong>as</strong> the responsibility <strong>for</strong> the
development and implementation of the fragmentation analysis. Figure 8 shows first results
of land cover cl<strong>as</strong>sification per<strong>for</strong>med by Dr. Phua. It is further planned to publish the results
<strong>as</strong> paper and to give a presentation at the Conference on Applied Geoin<strong>for</strong>matics AGIT 2008
in Salzburg, Austria, which will be held in the beginning of July 2008.
c)

Fig. 7: Forest Status of Sabah (World Wildlife Fund 2005, ‘Borneo: Tre<strong>as</strong>ure Island at Risk’,
http://<strong>as</strong>sets.panda.org/downloads/tre<strong>as</strong>ureislandatrisk.pdf )
Fig. 8: Land cover cl<strong>as</strong>sification b<strong>as</strong>ed on satellite imagery (LandSat) <strong>for</strong> the years 1985
and 1999.

7.-8. Dec.: Field Trip
Day 1: Kli<strong>as</strong> Peninsula
On the first day of the field trip the focus w<strong>as</strong> on the lowland <strong>for</strong>ests of Kli<strong>as</strong> Peninsula. The
mangrove and peat swamp <strong>for</strong>ests are in heavy land use conflicts due to the economic
incentive that is offered by conversion into rubber or oil palm plantation. The local <strong>for</strong>est
authorities try to protect the remaining pristine <strong>for</strong>ests and also start to af<strong>for</strong>est degraded
are<strong>as</strong>. These ef<strong>for</strong>ts but also the losses of <strong>for</strong>est are<strong>as</strong> were presented to the attendees of
the field trip by local <strong>for</strong>est department staff on day one.
a) b)
Fig. 9: a) Binsuluk Forest Reserve in the northern part of the Kli<strong>as</strong> Peninsula, a remaining
pristine peat swamp <strong>for</strong>est. b) rubber plantation
a) b) c) d)
Fig. 10: Kli<strong>as</strong> Forest Reserve. Drainage ditches were laid out to prepare the <strong>for</strong>mer peat
swamp <strong>for</strong>est area <strong>for</strong> use <strong>as</strong> plantation (a), attempts to af<strong>for</strong>est a degraded (in this
c<strong>as</strong>e burned) area (b, c), monitoring of the peat thickness due to ph<strong>as</strong>ing out after
lowering the groundwater level (d)

a) b)
Fig. 11: One of the main causes <strong>for</strong> conversion of lowland <strong>for</strong>ests is the earning power of
plantations: Oil palm plantation (a) and harvest of the fruits (b)
Day 2: Crocker Range
Sabah's <strong>for</strong>ests are also home to the largest flower in the world, the gigantic Rafflesia,
usually occurring in undisturbed hill <strong>for</strong>est. Few locations exist in Sabah where these
f<strong>as</strong>cinating plants are known to occur. Most of these sites are now fully protected to prevent
the extinction of these unique species (Sabah Forestry Department 2007,
http://www.<strong>for</strong>est.sabah.gov.my ).
Visiting the location of Rafflesia w<strong>as</strong> one of the highlights of the second day. Others were the
presentation about the Crocker Range National Park held by a Park Ranger, the short hike
into the <strong>for</strong>est reserve and the visit to a local rice wine brewery.
a) b) c)
Fig. 12: Crocker Range: a) Bamboo undergrowth <strong>as</strong> a sign <strong>for</strong> beginning <strong>for</strong>est degradation.
b) Rafflesia spec. exemplar short after blooming. c) Also the mountainous <strong>for</strong>ests
are in danger: laying out terraces <strong>for</strong> plantation (behind the banana leafs)
9.-10. Dec.: Travelling
In the late morning of 9 th December travelling back to Hamburg w<strong>as</strong> on the schedule. The
consultants arrived in the early morning of 10 th December.