Management Team
This project is led by a Project Director which is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of UTeM and assisted by a Project Coordinator which is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of UNITEN. Both Project Director and Coordinator are responsible for smooth and efficient project implementation. Moreover, they are also responsible for organizing the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting annually where the JCC meeting is a platform for project progress presentation and discussion related with any arise problems during the project implementation. Both Project Director and Coordinator are assisted by an advisor, two Principal Investigators (UTeM and KINDAI), and a Project Manager (UNITEN).
Emeritus Prof. Zen Kawasaki
An expert in design and development of VHF interferometer system in Japan for ground-based and space (satellite) lightning measurement.
Professor Takeshi Morimoto
An expert in rocket-triggered lightning (TL) in Japan. Designed and developed lightning observations by means of space-borne VHF interferometry in GLIMS on JEM-EF of the International Space Station (ISS).
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Riduan Ahmad
An expert in lightning physics and localization in Malaysia. Designed and developed magnetic direction finder (MDF) and VHF interferometer observation systems in Malaysia. Involved in several international and industrial projects on lightning and climate change in Antarctica, flash flood in Malaysia and Indonesia, and consultation work with Telekom Malaysia R&D and MCMC.
Dr. Zafri Baharuddin
Lecturing digital signal processing, robotics and artificial intelligence in UNITEN where he also performs research and consultancy in the same fields.
Project Outputs
Three outputs (projects) have been formulated to achieve the project mission. All projects are conducted together by members from UTeM, UNITEN, and KINDAI.
Observation & Triggered Lightning
This project delivers the installation and operation of Electric Field Mill (EFM), Low Frequency (LF), and Very High Frequency (VHF) sensors at 9 sites located in Lembah Klang, Negeri Sembilan, and Malacca. The outputs of the sensors will be used to construct lightning 3D mapping.
3D Lightning Imaging
The outputs of the sensors will be used to construct lightning 3D mapping utilizing signal processing and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. A new algorithm will be proposed to map lightning channel progression in 3D and estimate the electrical charges inside thundercloud in real time manner. The accuracy of the mapping will be validated with the Rocket Triggered Lightning (RTL) experiment and current measurement.
Countermeasure
The validated real time lightning 3D mapping system will be used to forecast flash flood and storms surrounding Malacca Strait and Kuala Lumpur areas and study the effectiveness towards the fisherman and publics. Furthermore, the system also will be used to forecast lightning strikes to power transmission and distribution lines in Malaysia and provide IoT-based power line diversion prototype to related industries.