[Malaysia] Integrated Modelling of Landslides due to Hydrometeorological Impacts in Langat Basin, Peninsular Malaysia (iModelLandslides)

Lead Research Organisation: Durham University
Department Name: Engineering

Abstract

In recent years, Malaysia has experienced a number of landslide disasters resulting from extreme tropical rainfall. Landslides have occurred in several parts of Malaysia, such as Paya Terubong (Penang), Highland Towers (Kuala Lumpur), Hulu Langat and Pos Dipang (Perak). These landslides cost millions of pounds of property loss and hundreds of lives. On 21 October 2017, 11 workers were killed in a landslide at a construction site on Malaysia's Penang Island. The October 2002 landslide in Kuala Lumpur which completely destroyed several houses and killed six members of a family and the 2011 Hulu Langat landslide, where 15 children and a caretaker in an orphanage were killed are still in the public's memory. Population increase and subsequent urbanization have demanded the development of new residential and areas and roads in mountainous areas where there is an increased risk of slope failures. Malaysia's population is projected to rise to 41.5 million by 2040, up from 28.6 million in 2010.
This proposal will produce a qualitative hazard map delineating areas prone to landslides in the Langat River Basin, Peninsular Malaysia. The hazard map will identify landslide-prone areas, including expected changes in landslide susceptibility as a result of climate change. Langat River Basin is most urbanized river basin in Malaysia. Important conurbations include towns such as Cheras, Kajang, Bangi and Putrajaya (the administrative capital of Malaysia). The basin has an area of about 2350 km2. The area has been experiencing numerous landslides disasters and has been identified by the Malaysia Public Work Department in its National Slope Master Plan Study as landslide-prone area.
The proposal will involve close collaboration with the Public Works Department and the National Disaster Management Agency in Malaysia and several industrial partners to ensure the adaptation of the proposed map in practice.

Planned Impact

There are many recent cases of landslides in Malaysia which are attributed to soil instability due to change of the soil water content as a result of monsoonal rainfall. The Highland Tower collapse in 1993, which claimed 48 lives, and the 2011 Hulu Langat landslide, where 15 children and a caretaker in an orphanage were killed, are well-known examples. 600 lives have been lost since 1973 as a result of failures landslides in Malaysia [1]. The majority of failure cases are associated with soil instability triggered by monsoon rainfall. Malaysia's economy depends on its transportation network. The Public Works Department in Malaysia has estimated that one-third of slopes along the federal motorways are at risk. Collapses of slopes often cause delay and disturbance on highways. As an example, the Bukit Lanjan landslide near Kuala Lumpur in 2003 had resulted in a six-month highway closure. Population increase and subsequent urbanization have demanded the development of new residential and areas and roads in mountainous areas where there is an increased risk of slope failures. This research project will lead to economic, social and environmental impacts as follows:

a) This proposal will produce a qualitative hazard map delineating areas prone to landslides in the Langat River Basin, Peninsular Malaysia. The hazard map will identify landslide-prone areas, including expected changes in landslide susceptibility as a result of climate change.
b) This project will minimize the extent of the damages from landslides by producing a long-term early warning system predicting the mass movements in the landslide-prone areas would have been in place.
c) The qualitative map will form a basis for loss and damage assessment and has potential to assist in landslide hazard mitigation. The map will help in infrastructure development planning taking into consideration climate change impact.
d) The map will help in identification vulnerable people and therefore help in pre- and post-disaster interventions. The output of the research can also be used as part of a disaster relief effort for example identifies road routes most likely to be open.
e) The obtained outputs will raise the awareness of the public and help government agencies in channelling hazard funding.
f) The project will train young researchers in advanced analytical and experimental techniques and will enable them to train the next generation of Malaysian and UK researchers.
 
Description A numerical tool for analysing soil-atmosphere interaction in slopes in tropical soils has been developed. Two testing sites in Malaysia were selected and instrumented with sensors to measure the soil movements resulted from changes in its moisture contents. The numerical tools and the site monitoring aim to understand the hydrometeorological impacts on slope stability.
The outputs of the site scale study and the numerical study was fed into a Statistic Multivariate Analysis using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) model to produce the landslide mapping incorporating both the physical and social aspects associated with landslide disasters to reduce vulnerability of communities in landslides area. The methods used will cover both physical susceptibility and social vulnerability components. The susceptibility maps produced by this project can be used to quantify social vulnerability associated with landslides.
Exploitation Route In this project, we worked closely with the Public Works Department and the National Disaster Management Agency NADMA (part of the Malaysia Prime Minister's Office) on producing hazard maps, which will help in the identification of vulnerable people, planning pre- and post-disaster interventions and help government agencies in channelling hazard funding. We have developed a methodology to optimise the design of the water barriers as a protective measure to prevent water ingress during monsoonal rainfall.
Sectors Construction

Transport

 
Description Landslides in Malaysia result in significant property and human loss. Population increase and subsequent urbanization have demanded the development of new residential and areas and roads in mountainous areas where there is an increased risk of slope failures. Malaysia's economy depends on its transportation network. Slope failures often result in cut-off of access roads or links in which if happen along major highways or roads, will stop the flow of people and goods, causing further economic loss and the welfare of people jeopardized. The impact of reducing delays caused by slope failure will be highly significant in both direct economic and indirect social and economic terms. The key achievement of this project that we produced an integrated disaster risk map using the landslide susceptibility map and the social vulnerability index thus these maps take into consideration climate impact and social parameters related vulnerability of communities in landslide areas. We have worked closely with the Public Works Department and the National Disaster Management Agency NADMA (part of the Malaysia Prime Minister's Office), and the results of this project can be used in the identification of vulnerable people, planning pre- and post-disaster interventions and help government agencies in channelling hazard funding. In partnership with the Construction and Industry Development Board (CIDB) - a board that is responsible for standards and design guidelines in Malaysia, we have carried out a critical review of current guideline documents, and we have identified the limitations in current policies. We are currently collaborating with CIDB in re-editing "The Guideline for Landslide Vulnerability Index and Risk Classification for Critical Infrastructure (CI)", a major policy document in Malaysia which was first published in 2019.
First Year Of Impact 2022
Sector Construction,Transport
Impact Types Societal

Policy & public services

 
Description Interaction with policymakers and development of guidelines for lanslides
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified and recommendations were made. We are currently working with CIDB to re-edit "The Guideline for Landslide Vulnerability Index and Risk Classification for Critical Infrastructure (CI)" which was published in 2019 by CIDB.
 
Description Developing a Framework for Landslide Susceptibility and Adaptability in South East Asia (SEAL)
Amount £103,903 (GBP)
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2021 
End 03/2022
 
Description Shallow Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in Rize, Turkey
Amount £80,000 (GBP)
Funding ID N/A 
Organisation Royal Academy of Engineering 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 04/2022
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Asian Institute of Technology
Country Thailand 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Chiang Mai University
Country Thailand 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Ehime University
Country Japan 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Gadjah Mada University
Country Indonesia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Government of Indonesia
Department Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing
Country Indonesia 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Government of Malaysia
Department Malaysian Public Works Department
Country Malaysia 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Gunma University
Country Japan 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Indian Institute of Technology Mandi
Country India 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Kasetsart University
Country Thailand 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation National University of Malaysia
Country Malaysia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Teikyo Heisei University
Country Japan 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description COP26 Adaptability and Resilience- partnership on developing framework for susceptibility mapping in South East Asia 
Organisation Thuyloi University
Country Viet Nam 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The partnership focuses on incorporating landslide hazards into national planning and infrastructure design. Our research team has shared expertise and techniques developed in the iModel project to develop landslide susceptibility mapping.
Collaborator Contribution Partners shared landslides and monitored slopes data and current policies and practice with the research team.
Impact This a multi-disciplinary partnership includes experts landslides, climate change impacts on infrastructure, earth science, geology and environmental science. A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. A critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Engagement with JKR (Public Work Department, Malaysia) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A meeting was held at the Hulu Langat office of the Public Work Department on 6 Sept 2019. The objectives and project activities were presented. The meeting sparked interest from the stakeholders on the importance of climate resistance and led to collaboration and sharing of data of slopes in the region. The meeting was followed with several communications and a visit of officials from the Public Work Department to the project monitoring site.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
 
Description Engagement with MPAJ (Ampang Jaya City Council) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Four meetings were held with the officials of Majilis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (Ampang Jaya City Council, Malaysia) to discuss the objectives of the projects and the importance of climate resilience design of slopes. The debate sparked questions and discussion afterwards. Officials were invited on three occasions visit the project testing sites on 16/04/2019, 06/08/2019 and 28/08/2019.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
 
Description Engagement with MPKJ (Kajang City Council) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Two meetings with officials of MPJK (Majilis Perbandaran Kajang, Kajang City Council, Malaysia) were held on 6 Nov 2019 and on 15 June 2020 to raise the awareness of the policymakers on the importance of climate-resilience design of slopes. These meetings sparked interests form the city council and led to collaboration and sharing of information on slopes and infrastructure planning
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
 
Description Extreme Climate Impact Modelling Expert Review Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact On 18/12/2022, a workshop on Extreme Climate Impact Modelling Expert Review Workshop was organised at Hotel Tenera Bangi with attendees from National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), City Council of Kajang (MPKJ), Minerals and Geoscience Department Malaysia (JMG), MegaConsult Sdn Bhd, Merian 2000 Sdn Bhd, Geotechnica Sdn Bhd. This workshop was conducted to get expert comments from government agencies and industrial partners in Malaysia on the landslide modelling and integrated disaster map produced. Reviews and expert input were taken heavily as their comments represent the importance and relevance in the industry. In addition, the workshop had been a great platform for the audience to build a network and plan for further research opportunities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presentation to Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Prof Raihan Taha and his co-workers gave a presentation to the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia on 20 Feb 2020 about the project activities and the importance of considering climate change in designing man-made slopes. The presentations sparked several discussions and interesting questions
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Training course on applications of unsaturated soil mechanics on the analysis of slopes 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact A two-day short-term training course on the theme "Application of unsaturated soil mechanics on the analysis of slopes" was organized by Durham University UK, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and IIT Mandi India. More than 400 participants from around 14 countries registered for the course and attended by more than 250 participants. The event had witnessed knowledge sharing sessions by renowned speakers and an overwhelming presence of UG/PG students, PhD research scholars, academics and practitioner engineers from India, UK, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, USA and many other countries.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpYwaXwueAY
 
Description Workshop on current guidelines and policies on landslide risk management 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A discussion forum was organised in January 2022 to discuss current codes of practice and guidelines in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Critical review was carried out and limitations in current policies were identified.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Workshop- Landslides Susceptibility and Adaptability in South-East Asia: From Theory to Practice 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A two-day international workshop on the theme "Landslides Susceptibility and Adaptability in South-East Asia: Theory to Practice" was jointly organized by Durham University UK and IIT Mandi India. About 350 participants from more than 25 countries covering six continents registered, and more than 214 participants attended online. The sessions were enriched by the felicitous presentations by renowned speakers and marked the overwhelming presence of students, early career researchers and practising engineers from India, UK, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil and many other countries. The feedback from the audience shows increased interest in the topic discussed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022