About MEITA

About

MEITA

Realizing the importance of mangrove resources, the Internet of Things (IoT) will be applied as a medium to monitor mangrove growth and its environment. Four main parties in Malaysia involving Universities (Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Industry and professional societies in collaboration with several academicians from seven different International Universities (Université Libre de Bruxelles / Vrije Universiteit Brussel, South China Institute of Botany, Mahidol University, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, University of Tasmania, National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA) aim at collaborating together on mangrove management initiatives towards sustainable aquatic resources for food security.

Internet of Things (IoT) sensors will be used as a tool to monitor mangrove growth and its environment (including the monitoring of associated biodiversity, climate change, flooding). An e-online course will be developed for university students covering multidisciplinary contents from mangrove biology, ecology and its socio-economics to the use of technology in the mangrove ecosystem. Knowledge transfer initiatives will be initiated through training, seminar and outreach programs with the community.

The research activities outlined in this proposal uphold the principle of sustainability and in line with at least seven (7) of the UN Sustainable Development Goals that include zero hunger (Goal 2), quality education (Goal 4), industry, innovation, infrastructure (Goal 9), climate action (Goal 13), life below water (Goal 14), life on land (Goal 15) and Partnership for the goals (Goal 17). It is expected that this project will bring together all parties to be more aware on the importance of mangrove preservation for food and environment sustainability. The usage of frontier technologies such as sensors, robotics, drones will optimize the mangrove management while online courses will be a platform to disseminate e-information to students and society at global level.

Various awareness programs and knowledge transfer to the community and school will be held to expose the importance of mangroves while attracting school students towards research activities and encourage younger generations to become actively involved in protecting the mangrove around them.