By Lian Cheng and Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Sept 20: Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) will develop a research management system for Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi).
This was disclosed by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg who said the decision was made in view of Tropi’s need for big data facilities.
“I would like in view of the big data facilities needs of Tropi to take the opportunity to announce the commissioning of SDEC to assist in Tropi’s digital transformation by developing for the institute a Research Information Management System, or Rims.
“This will speed up the work process, minimise errors and archive the generated data. This baseline data is vital as we move forward towards environmental sustainability.
“With Rims in place for Tropi’s improved efficiency, Sarawak will, at the same time, be able to attract further global research collaboration,” said Abang Johari during the Gala Dinner of AsiaFlux Conference 2022 held at Tropi this evening.
He said in 2017, he had the privilege of visiting Finland and seeing the University of Helsinki’s SMEAR II station (station for measuring ecosystem-atmosphere relations) at the Hyytiälä Forestry Field Station.
Scientists at this EU-funded research station conduct multidisciplinary research on the role of forests and peatlands in climate change, focussing on forests, peatlands and the atmosphere, he added.
“Sarawak is proud to be the only State in Malaysia that has three eddy flux towers on tropical peatlands that have been generating significant volumes of raw eddy flux and meteorological data every month for more than 10 years.
“This is a very outstanding achievement. Tropi has collected data both manually and through a standalone system. For that, I applaud the consistency, meticulousness, and efforts of Tropi in collecting these data sets years before many realised its value,” said Abang Johari.
He noted that collecting, processing, and archiving the data from the three towers over the last 12 years has required big data facilities.
As Tropi needs to manage the complex workflow process, data entry, data processing and data storage, especially for peat carbon inventory, as part of Sarawak’s initiative to regulate and measure forest carbon activities for achieving environmental sustainability, he approved the development of Rims for the research institute.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Modern of Agriculture and Regional Development Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi, Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie, Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Deputy Minister Datuk Len Talif and other dignitaries. — DayakDaily
