Earth Observation Center

 

The Earth Observation Centre (EOC) is a centre of excellence under the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), which conducts research on the impacts of global change through the application of remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. Besides researchers of the Faculty, EOC also pools experts from various faculties such as the Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment and the Faculty of Economics.

Members of EOC have been successful in obtaining international and national grants to conduct research in Southeast Asia on such issues such as Land Use and Land Cover Change in Malaysia, Forest Cover Change and Forest Assessment and Management in Southeast Asia, Deforestation and Missing Sink for Carbon, Sediment Plume in Selangor and Tropical Forest Assessment and Management. The University programmes that use RS / GIS laboratories at EOC include geography, engineering, geology, marine science, environmental science, hydrology and conservation biology.

EOC has launched its website in English in 2000 : http://www.eoc.ukm.my. This move has strengthened relations with researchers from Southeast Asia and the organization of the Southeast Asian Regional Research and Information Network (SEARRIN). This way UKM has became the coordinator of research projects conducted by EOC and SEARRIN (http://www.eoc.ukm.my/searrin). Link’s relationship with researchers and other international organizations in USA, Europe, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Australasia also has strengthen since the establishment of EOC and SEARRIN.

Over the years, EOC has secured a three year contract research project from the International Geosphere and Biosphere Programme / UNDP (IGBP / UNDP) under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of Malaysia. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, representing Malaysia, has joined the research organization SEARRIN which consists of member from several Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. They have conducted research on land-use changes in their respective countries. Studies conducted by Malaysia are concentrated solely in the Klang-Langat Drainage Basin using MSS / TM of Landsat data from satellites. Through the research fund, computer hardware and software tools in this lab have been expanded. In addition, income from contract research with Petronas has enabled the Department of Geography at UKM to set up another of the laboratory to receive continuous satellite data from NOAA / GMS geostationary satellites. With the establishment of this laboratory, the applications of satellite technology in teaching and research can be expanded to include matters relating to meteorology and atmospheric and weather issues.

Another research, is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Asia Pacific Network (APN) Japan, SARCS-START (Washington) and IRPA,  allowed the Department to build a more elaborate laboratory infrastructure for the study of earth and meteorological resources. This, by this development,  the nature and scope of research and teaching can be expanded.