MoU to offer cost-effective mapping services in Sarawak
KUCHING: Local-based start-up, UAS Mapping Sdn Bhd (UAS), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with leading Malaysian LiDAR provider, Ground Data Solutions R&D Sdn Bhd (GDS), for cooperation to promote and provide LiDAR survey services in the state.
The signing ceremony was held at the offices of GDS in Petaling Jaya (PJ) and officiated by GDS’ executive chairman and founder of the Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (MACRES), Datuk Nik Nasruddin Mahmood. It was witnessed by directors from both companies.
LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a cutting-edge technology which utilises pulsed laser light to measure distances.
Most famously, it has been used for environmental detection in self-driving cars and autonomous robots.
LiDAR is also capable of producing highly accurate topographical maps quickly when applied from an aircraft.
According to UAS’ executive director Aaron Tan, “While LiDAR is hardly new in Sarawak, it has been underutilised mainly due to high costs.
Applications of LiDAR in Sarawak so far has been done with the support of foreign outfits which has increased costs drastically.
“We believe we can offer economical LiDAR services to users like surveyors and engineers in Sarawak through our partnership withGDS, which builds, operates, and maintains their own airborne laser scanning system in Malaysia.”
GDS is a Malaysian company with 28 years of experience in LiDAR survey, having completed over 140 projects around the world, including 12 in state, for clients like Sarawak Energy Berhad.
Nik added, “The MoU is in line with GDS’ vision to be a regional leader in airborne LiDAR mapping. The Sarawak government has reiterated its desire to better the welfare of citizens living in rural regions, but time and access is often limited. We believe airborne LiDAR is a viable solution for planning these efforts as it is able to access difficult terrains easily and deliver survey data in a time and cost-efficient manner”.
UAS is a local start-up offering next-generation mapping services and technology, including drone and underground mapping solutions. For more ininformation on LiDAR, please contactinfo@uas-mapping.comandadmin@grounddatasolutions.com.
