Towards the Development of Malaysia’s Subsurface Asset Management Framework

Abstract

Underground utility detection survey has been practiced in Malaysia for a long time but it was never regulated. While there are guidelines to govern the practice of utility detection survey, an enabling clause is required to regulate the practice. The aim of this paper is to study the available subsurface asset management framework and to propose a framework for subsurface asset management in Malaysia. The methodology to carry out this research shall involve data collections from stakeholders in the form of interviews, questionnaires and discussions. A case study of an underground utility detection survey shall provide data on the process flow a project which involves stakeholders and the authorities. The final input shall be in the form of intellectual discourses with expert committees related to subsurface utility survey and policy makers. From the findings, it was observed that there were significant discrepancies between the engineering and cadastral survey records. While the engineering survey information related to subsurface utility was up to date, the cadastral survey record was never updated. Furthermore, it was observed that the is no enabling clause in existence to govern the management of subsurface assets. The result of this research is a proposed framework for subsurface asset management based on the data collected. In conclusion, it was recommended for the subsurface asset management framework to be tested in the real working environment and to continue with the efforts to realise the framework.