SYNOPSIS

Generally, property development in environmentally challenging areas particularly in the hillslopes and highlands has been mushrooming worldwide since 1980s in many developing and even developed nations. Hence, there has been a growing demand within the real-estate sector that had prompted many land and property developers as well as venture capitalists around the world to invest in multi-million properties with the hope of getting prominent property owners and investors to own them.

However, tragedies such as the collapse of high-rise buildings and other superstructures, and even occurrence of landslides, mudslides or even debris flow had destroyed many properties and infrastructures in these sloping areas around the world had been a wake-up call to the general public. In essence, these untoward incidences can be avoided with proper planning and management of land utilization during the early stage of any property development in such areas.

Hence, this webinar will focus on the latest approaches and challenges with technological advancement for property development on hillslope and highlands with emphasis on the layout planning, geological, geotechnical, erosional, environmental, ecological, hydrological and socio-economic impacts to the general public. Hopefully, with the specific approaches taken for development control, it would be beneficial to the knowledge-based community worldwide in moving a step closer towards a better understanding of land development issues and its after-effects, thus ensuring that a sound and sustainable development could be carried out in future.


SPEAKER BIODATA

Ir. Dr. Tew Kia Hui obtained his Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from University Technology of Malaysia and Ph.D (Civil & Geo-Environment) from University of Malaya. He started his early career as a Research Officer with University Technology of Malaysia and subsequently MARA University of Technology, to carry out specialized research on geo-environmental related issues in various environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) particularly the highlands and expressways in Malaysia. In fact, he has also gone great depths to carry out in-house and collaborative R&D with local institutions of higher learning as well as other related government agencies in Malaysia. Onset of that, he founded VT Soil Tech Professional in 2008, which had since been providing specialized civil and geo-environmental professional services for prominent employers within the Asia Pacific Region with regional business interest presently in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand. Hence, with such in-depth experience in erosion, environmental, geological, geophysical, geotechnical, geohazard and planning related issues, he has also pioneered one-stop professional solutions worldwide and had since been involved in numerous high profile projects throughout his career that is spanning over 25 years now. Nevertheless, his innovative inventions has been awarded various Gold Medals in the University of Malaya Research, Innovation and Invention Expo, Malaysia in 2005 & 2006; IPTA R&D Expo, Malaysia in 2005; and also Seoul International Invention Fair, South Korea in 2006 respectively. Professionally, he is a registered and certified :

• Environmental Impact Assessment Consultant (EIA), Malaysia
• Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), USA
• Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), Australia
• Professional Engineer (PEng) with Practicing Certificate (PEPC), Malaysia
• Member of The Institution of Engineers Australia (MIEAust)
• Member of The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (MIEM)
• National Engineering Register (NER), Australia
• Registered Professional Engineer Queensland (RPEQ)

Ir. Chee Shai Choon holds a Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering (Hons) and is also a CPESC certified professional. Practically, he has more than 26 years of engineering experience in infrastructure engineering and technology. In essence, he leads a group of software developers in C&S Software Solutions Sdn Bhd which was incorporated in 2006, an infrastructure software developer company in Malaysia. He also specializes in civil works especially on water resources sector. One of his favourite software is ZeonEarth-3D earthworks, which he has successfully incorporated the concept of simplicity, which has made a big difference. Undoubtedly, this software has gained great response from the professional marketplace in Malaysia. Besides that, he has also developed first in the country a digital MSMA – codenamed the “Core MSMA Suite”. Hence, he will be sharing his experience in software development from the field of theory and practical issues especially on the application for property development in hillslopes and highlands in Malaysia. With all the experience gained, he has gathered a collection of practical and theoretical knowledge in civil engineering in which he had written a book “Essential of Earthworks”. Nevertheless, he is actively involved in various organizations by conducting trainings, workshops, talks and seminars for The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM), Malaysia Stormwater Organisation (MSO), Applied Technology Group of Companies, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Additionally, one of his on-site events held on 14/3/2020 at IEM HQ was the Pre-AGM Talk on “Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Software”, where he shared about the advancement of technology especially on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how AI can really help human with a proper and systematic approach. Currently, he serves on the committee of ICT SIG at IEM HQ and committee of IEM NS.


MODERATOR

Ir. Dr. Ooi Teik Aun graduated in Civil Engineering in 1966 from Auckland University, New Zealand and obtained his Master degree from the same University in 1968. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy from Sheffield University in 1980. He is an Honorary Fellow of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Hon. FIEM), Fellow of The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators (FMIArb) and Fellow of The Institution of Civil Engineers, United Kingdom (CEng FICE), Fellow of the Society of Adjudicators Malaysia (FSAM), Fellow of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering & Technology (FAAET). He is an ASEAN Engineer, APEC Engineer, International Professional Engineer, ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer, Professional Engineer with Practicing Certificate (PEPC) (Malaysia), Accredited Checker (Geotechnical Engineering) and Chartered Engineer (C.Eng.), United Kingdom. He is a Specialist Engineering Consultant, an Arbitrator, an Adjudicator, an Accredited Checker and Expert Witness. Ir. Dr Ooi joined Public Works Department, Malaysia (PWD) in 1968 and held the post of Engineer, Senior Executive Engineer and Assistant Director respectively, in charge of the PWD Headquarters Soils and Materials Laboratories in the Design and Research Branch. He was involved in the design and construction of airports, buildings, highways, ports and Johor Causeway. He was also involved in slope investigations, design and rectifications, soils and materials investigations, building foundation designs as well as remedial works. In 1982, he left PWD to join Promet Construction Sdn Bhd, and was Project Manager for Wisma Saberkas in Kuching, Sarawak. He joined Pilecon Engineering Berhad in 1984 as an Operations Director in charge of Design and Construction of Geotechnical and Civil Engineering Projects. In 1989 he joined the Transfield Construction Group as a Director and General Manager for operations in Southeast Asia. In 2000, he established his consultancy services. Dr. Ooi has been an Arbitrator since 1994 and he is on the AIAC Panel of Arbitrators. He is also on the AIAC Panel of Adjudicators. Ir. Dr Ooi is an active and a long serving member of IEM since 1970s. He was IEM Council Member in 1981 -1984, Vice President in 1988 - 1990 and is a Director of IEM Training Centre Sdn Bhd since 1991. He is currently Executive Director of IEM Academy Sdn Bhd. Ir. Dr Ooi is Organising Chairman of the recent ITA-AITES World Tunnel Digital Congress 2020 (WTC2020). He and his Committee and the Secretariat fought against the COVID 19 Pandemic and had a successful World Tunnel Digital Congress and Exhibitions WTC2020 with over 1000 delegates, one Landmark Lecture, three Keynote Lectures, 263 technical papers and 80 Exhibitors from 54 countries globally. He is currently Organizing Chairman of GEESS2022.