Spatial Information for Disaster Risk Management: The Constraints, Limitations and Opportunities from JUPEM Perspective

Abstract

The age of spatial information has undoubtedly unlocked the potential in visualising, investigating, and forecasting natural disasters, especially for policymakers. From this viewpoint, the implementation of spatial data has drastically transformed the traditions through which human civilisations embrace natural disaster management policies to reduce loss of life and economic losses. Unfortunately, each natural disaster is harmed varied and has different impacts locally. The various environmental and climate factors for mega-landform diversity countries like Malaysia play a crucial role in causing natural disasters and limiting the agency’s ability to obtain geomorphological spatial information during and after the incident. Therefore, this paper will analyse the constraint faced by Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM) in providing spatial data for stakeholders based on a case study of natural disasters in Gunung Jerai, Kedah. All six (6) identified constraints, including time, climate, system, data, equipment, and human constraints, were examined. The opportunities to enhance the existing JUPEMs’ policies for natural disasters were highlighted from the JUPEM perspective. The prospects for empowering Subject Matter Expert (SMEs), equipment maintenance and improvement, annual disaster preparation, and enhancement of JUPEMs’ Peraturan Tetap Operasi (PTO) for disaster management were discussed in this paper.