Application of Geographical Information Systems in Sustainability in the Malaysian Context: A Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36777//jag2024.3.1.7Keywords:
Environmental Planning, Environmental Sustainability, GISAbstract
The depletion of natural resources to meet growing demands for food, fuel, and fibre, driven by population growth and urbanisation, has contributed to significant environmental degradation in Malaysia. These pressures have also increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and atmospheric GHG concentrations, contributing to global warming and climate change. Within this context, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as an important tool for supporting environmental monitoring, resource management, and sustainable development. The application and development of GIS are shaped by political, economic, and social factors, which influence how spatial data, technologies, and analytical approaches are developed and utilised. This paper presents a structured framework for conducting an extensive literature review on the application of GIS to sustainability in Malaysia. The framework outlines key steps for identifying relevant literature, evaluating existing research, synthesising findings, and identifying gaps for future investigation. Applying this framework enables researchers to systematically examine and evaluate the existing body of knowledge, thereby providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of GIS applications for sustainability in Malaysia. The review highlights the importance of GIS as a critical tool for supporting sustainable management across a range of sectors, including flood hazard management, urban planning, agriculture, forest monitoring, transportation, air quality management, and water resource management. By integrating spatial data, analytical models, and mapping capabilities, GIS can support evidence-based decision-making, improve environmental monitoring, and contribute to more effective and sustainable resource management in Malaysia.
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