Skip to main content
News

More techs to tackle environmental issues

BUKIT JALIL, 11 Sept 2019: More technology solutions for tackling environmental issues are in the pipeline, said national applied research and development (R&D) centre MIMOS.

Among MIMOS’ solutions for the environment include Internet of Things (IoT)-based systems for peat forest management, flora and fauna protection and river quality monitoring.

MIMOS Chief Technology Officer Thillai Raj said emerging technologies such as IoT, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics can play a central role in ensuring sustainable development and a healthy community across the globe.

“Prolonged dry spells and burning of agricultural waste in forest reserves have often caused bushfires in many parts of the world including Malaysia, and haze is just one of the consequences,” he said.

“There are also increasing poaching or encroachment activities in forest reserve areas, as well as issues in river water quality in some parts of the country.

“Technological advancements do not only drive businesses and industries. They are also the planet’s best hope in helping to solve environmental issues,” Raj said.

“Advanced technologies such as IoT, AI and big data analytics can play important roles in preventing environmental issues and threats such as poaching, deforestation, and biodiversity loss,” he said.

MIMOS’ solution for peat forest management is basically an early warning system for peat forest fire detection. The system enables forest management authorities to better understand the peat swamp forest ecosystem through microclimate data, subsequently providing alerts for immediate human interventions.

Similar to the peat forest management system, MIMOS’ solution for flora and fauna is an IoT-based monitoring system installed in forest reserve areas that provides immediate notification for human interventions. Apart from IoT, the solution also employs AI-based video analytics for intelligent surveillance of the forest reserve areas.

MIMOS has also come up with a river water quality monitoring solution. These environmental technology solutions will be showcased during the Ozone Day at Technology Park Malaysia in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur from 8am to 1pm, tomorrow (12 Sept 2019).

Organised by the Department of Environment, the event is held in conjunction with the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2019.

There will also be lectures and collection of electronic waste for recycling.

-end-