KOTA KINABALU: Relevant government departments and agencies in the State should take advantage of remote sensing technology to enhance its delivery system to the people.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau said the technology has been available at the Malaysia Remote Sensing Agency (ARSM) all this while.
“It can assist to drastically reduce operation costs because remote sensing data, particularly, is sourced locally and can enhance efficacy of the departments concerned,” he said.
Closing the seminar on strengthening remote sensing technology usage for the people’s benefit and the nation’s security organised by ARSM at Tabung Haji Hotel here yesterday, Madius added that there should be more awareness among government departments and agencies on the benefits of remote sensing technology.
He explained that remote sensing is the science of acquiring information about the surface of the earth without actually being in contact with it, which is done by sending and recording reflected or emitted energy and processing, analysing as well as applying the information obtained.
Madius was heartened to note that so far, 55 government agencies in nine main applications, namely, agriculture and fishery, natural resources and environment, monitoring and development of land, environment auditing and physical development, health, commodity plantation, disaster management and security and national defence have collaborated with ARSM through the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS).
“Such an approach is not only cost and time effective but also produces a huge impact on the people’s life,” he said.
He noted that in Sabah, ARSM had already worked together with the Agriculture and Fishery Departments in developing and operating an application system that boosts the management of land usage and marine as well as aquaculture resources in the State.
“The system had been proven to be able to improve fishery and agriculture officers’ capability in providing assistance. It also allows for more efficient consultations with the people as compared to the manual method being used previously.
“The ARSM had also developed MyGTS for land usage management using satellite images, as well as a system using remote sensing and geographic information system to look for underground water sources. The system benefits the setting up of tube wells to assist those in areas with water problems.
“Several applications for smartphones have also been developed by ARSM, such as MyCuaca, a weather information app, and iDengue, an app that shows areas with high cases of dengue,” Madius revealed, saying the applications and technologies were developed to help the people lead better lives.
As for national security, Madius said the ARSM had been working closely with security forces in ESSCom and sensitive areas by providing intelligence information using remote sensing technology.
“What I want to say here is that the government through MOSTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation) has the technology that will help the people. I hope there will be more awareness on this so that the delivery system to the people could be greatly enhanced,” he added.
Also present at yesterday’s seminar were ARSM director general Azlikamil Napiah and MOSTI deputy secretary general Dr Ramzah Dambul.