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174-185
DOI: 10.35631/JISTM.624018

JOURNAL OF INFORMATION
SYSTEM AND TECHNOLOGY
MANAGEMENT (JISTM)
www.jistm.com

GEOSPATIAL APPROACH FOR GEOLOGICAL

INVESTIGATION AT DISTRICT OF MERSING

Muhamad Asyraf Zamari 1*, Tajul Ariffin Musa 1,2, Edy Tonnizam Mohamad 2, Ivin Amri Musliman1,
Wan Anom Wan Aris1
1
Geomatic Innovation Research Group (GnG), Faculty of Built Environment & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Email: acapzamari@gmail.com
Email: tajulariffin@utm.my
Email: ivinamri@utm.my
Email: wananom@utm.my
2
Centre of Tropical Geoengineering (GEOTROPIK), School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Email: edy@utm.my
*
Corresponding Author

Article Info: Abstract:

Article history: Effective geological information evaluation is essential for accurate site
Received date: 01.10.2021 characterization. A major concern in geological mapping is to locate the
Revised date: 01.11.2021 accurate location of the geological information. The geoinformation approach
Accepted date: 20.11.2021 such as precise GPS surveying and UAV mapping could be integrated with
Published date: 01.12.2021 other geospatial information to augment the geological information. This
research aims to integrate the geoinformation approach into geological
To cite this document:
structure mapping. To achieve the overall purpose of the study, the objective
Zamari, M. A., Musa, T. A., identified was the establishment of a high-precision control point by using
Mohamad, E. T., Musliman, I. A., & Precise GPS measurement in the study area. Therefore, the establishment of
Aris, W. A. W. (2021). Geospatial GPS data observations involves the establishment of primary networks and
Approach for Geological several GPS controls points within the study area. Subsequently, the GPS
Investigation at District of Mersing. positioning has been processed to produce a topographic information map and
Journal of Information System and to support the collection of geological data in the study area. It is hoped that
Technology Management, 6 (24), 174- the integration of the geoinformation approach has been provided a significant
185. increase in geological information at the district of Mersing.

DOI: 10.35631/JISTM.624018 Keywords:

This work is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Geological Information, Precise GPS Surveying, UAV Mapping

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 Volume 6 Issue 24 (December 2021) PP. 174-185
DOI: 10.35631/JISTM.624018
Introduction
Understanding the Geological profile of our earth is important for many different applications
within geosciences especially in geoengineering. The creation of three-dimensional models can
assist with this understanding by providing us with a conceptual and quantitative model of the
Geological profile. Detailed and reliable assessment of the ground condition is one critical
aspect in order to do a proper ground evaluation. Geological profile conditions play an
important role in the analysis and design of geology structures and facilities. Geological profile
offers information about land profiling that can be used for exploration purposes. In the study,
the Geology of the study area is underlain by unpredictable lithology of older alluvium as in
Gobbett et al. (1973).

It is underlain by sandstone, siltstone, shale, clay, and tuff. The utmost common variation is
coarse feldspathic sand with irregularly rounded phenocrysts, but gravelly clay, sandy gravel,
sandy clay, silty clay, clayey sand, and clay are correspondingly presented. Therefore, in the
case of the common feldspathic sand type its surface appearance is that of sandy clay or clayey
sand where the Mersing formation are located with sedimentary rock associated volcanism.
This research aims to integrate geoinformation approach into geological structure mapping at
district of Mersing in Eastern Johor as shown in Figure 1.

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 Volume 6 Issue 24 (December 2021) PP. 174-185
DOI: 10.35631/JISTM.624018

Figure.1.0: Location of The Study Area.

Methodology
The study area was conducted in the district of Mersing in Eastern Johor with a total land area
of 838.6 km2, and a population of 69,028. The project was covered three locations of the
geological site i.e.: Site A, Site B, and Site C within the district of Mersing as shown in Figure
1. There are two (2) types of data have utilized in this study which are primary and secondary
data. Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements and digital aerial image as a primary
while geological information as secondary data in the study area.

GPS Data Collection

There were two (2) GPS observation method were adopted which are GPS static and GPS fast-
static method. The static observation was conducted for an hour for each control station while
fast static observation was conducted from 30 to 45 minutes for each. The static method was
utilized in order to establish the reference stations in the study area where this reference station
was relatively connected with Malaysia Real-Time Kinematic GNSS Network (MyRTKnet)
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 Volume 6 Issue 24 (December 2021) PP. 174-185
DOI: 10.35631/JISTM.624018
stations that are maintained by the Department of Surveying & Mapping Malaysia (DSMM).
These primary reference stations were observed continuously by the static technique
throughout the project.

Figure 2: GPS Observation Conducted in The Study

At the same time, the GPS observation on the GCP was carried out so that there is an overlap
time between the BASE and GCP observation. It is intended to control the quality of GPS
observations data for the purpose of processing and generating GCP coordinate. Meanwhile,
the fast-static observation was adopted to establish the GCP stations in the study area. This to
ensure a better quality of GPS observation data and the final coordinate of GCPs generated
from the processing. Observation information such as start/end time of observation, device
type, antenna height, and station ID for each GPS control point have been recorded in the
Observation form.

The GPS data were processed by using Trimble Business Centre (TBC) software in post-
processing mode i.e: network and single baseline processed for coordinate estimation. As the
result, this process has provided final GCP coordinates in Geocentric Datum of Malaysia 2000
(GDM2000) and these 3D coordinates were projected onto 2D mapping coordinates system
(RSO Geocentric).

The primary three (3) GPS reference stations (BASE) was relatively connected to three (3)
stations of MyRTKnet station namely KROM, MRSG and LBIS stations to form a network as
shown in Figure 3. Each GCPs has processed to form a single baseline connected to Base
Station (BASE A, BASE B and BASE C). As a checking purpose, each GCPs also connected
to KROM station. Therefore, there are two sets of coordinates for each GCPs referred to BASE
and KROM station as shown in Figure 4.

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Figure 3: Design of the GPS Network Observation.

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Figure 4: Each GCP is Connected to the BASE and Checked Using KROM Station for
Quality Assurance.

UAV Data Collection

The purpose of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) data collection is to generate the latest
topographic map to support current of the study area (Zamari, 2017). The digital aerial images
have collected by using multi rotor UAV. This data was post-processed by using Agisoft
software in order to produce digital orthophoto and DEM. There are several parameters
required in preparation of the flight planning which are overlapping of images, flight path
determination and UAV altitude. In this study, the proposed flight altitude in this data
collection was 150 meters with lapped of images was 70 % for the whole study area. The drone
deploy application software will be used for preparing the flight planning as shown in Figure
6.
Table 1: Parameter for Preparation of The Flight Plan.
Parameter Information of Flight Plan
Flight altitude 150 Meter
Overlapping of images 70 %
Speed of drone 15 m/s
Flight direction 0-180 degree
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Figure 6: Design of Flight Plan for This Study.

Geological Field Investigation

Firstly, the existing geological map in hardcopy has been crop, digitized and georeferenced
by using GIS approach. Then, Geology field investigation has been conducted to verify
geological information in the study area as shown in Figure 7. During this field
investigation, the GPS observation has utilized to validate location of the geological
information in the geological map.

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Figure 7: Geological Field Investigation at The Study Area.

Result and Discussion

Accuracy Assessment
The GCPs final coordinates derived from GPS baseline post-processing represented in 2D RSO
Geocentric (GDM 2000) in Table 2 until Table 4, respectively. Height components for each
GCPs was also provided in Ellipsoidal height and Orthometric height. The accuracy
coordinates in horizontal components for all GCPs meet the requirement of below 3 cm as
coordinate checking was conducted by comparing set of coordinates derived from BASE and
KROM stations within 3 location geological site. Meanwhile, the height component accuracy
achieved below 6 cm except for point B01 (7.0 cm) and B08 (6.5 cm) and B02 (6.4 cm) at the
site B. Overall, the results show that established GCPs have obtained high accuracy and
suitable for geological mapping works of this project.

Table 2: RMSE of Horizontal and Height Component GCP On the Site A.

1st set coordinates from BASE 2nd set coordinates from KROM Difference (1st – 2nd
Name
A(m) (m) (m)
Point Northing Easting Height Northing Easting Height Horizontal Height
A01 639355.544 292538.357 3.418 639355.532 292538.379 3.418 0.025 0.000
A02 639814.570 292788.443 6.671 639814.55 292788.47 6.652 0.030 0.019
A03 640026.020 292977.882 39.621 640026 292977.91 39.636 0.030 -0.015
A04 640180.540 292806.963 3.142 640180.52 292806.99 3.15 0.028 -0.008
A05 640087.130 292553.262 1.908 640087.12 292553.28 1.919 0.023 -0.011
A06 640314.4 292558.239 5.428 640314.39 292558.25 5.413 0.021 0.015
A07 640528.35 292443.411 1.703 640528.33 292443.42 1.668 0.021 0.035
A08 640816.12 292366.075 1.971 640816.11 292366.09 1.948 0.022 0.023
RMSE 0.025 0.007

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Table 3: RMSE of Horizontal and Height Component GCP On the Site B.

Difference (1st –
1st set coordinates from BASE B 2nd set coordinates from KROM
Name 2nd)
(m)
(m) (m)
Point Northing Easting Height Northing Easting Height Horizontal Height
B01 642502.357 289688.984 1.556 642502.349 289689.000 1.486 0.018 0.070
B02 642840.426 289535.750 1.266 642840.422 289535.762 1.202 0.013 0.064
B03 642750.312 289171.144 2.130 642750.310 289171.148 2.112 0.004 0.018
B04 642644.199 288815.311 2.065 642644.207 288815.305 2.049 0.010 0.016
B05 642587.157 288452.749 1.810 642587.159 288452.746 1.806 0.004 0.004
B06 641980.094 288632.746 1.783 641980.094 288632.748 1.779 0.002 0.004
B07 642609.083 288212.487 2.844 642609.085 288212.489 2.848 0.003 -0.004
B08 643373.716 289284.502 1.691 643373.708 289284.515 1.626 0.015 0.065
RMSE 0.009 0.030

Table 4: RMSE of Horizontal and Height Component GCP On the Site C.

1st set coordinates from BASE C 2nd set coordinates from Difference (1st – 2nd)
Name
(m) KROM (m) (m)
Point Northing Easting Height Northing Easting Height Horizontal Height
C01 629412.19 294872.741 2.828 629412.18 294872.73 2.785 0.010 0.043
C02 629485.64 294876.42 1.464 629485.64 294876.41 1.455 0.010 0.009
C03 629383.76 294818.547 1.352 629383.76 294818.53 1.32 0.016 0.032
C04 629416.16 294754.026 1.946 629416.15 294754.01 1.959 0.016 -0.013
RMSE 0.013 0.018

Development of Geospatial Database

Geospatial database is a medium for storing and managing the spatial data. Three (3)
components has utilized in development a geospatial database of the study area: (1) feature
datasets, (2) raster dataset and (3) tables. The overall framework in developing a geospatial
database for this study is illustrated in Figure 8. Based on this database, the information such
as topography and profile information of the geological structure have been integrated in the
GIS environment. Figure 9 shows geological properties at the study area. Figure 10 shows
topographic information of the study area and is being used as the base map for the geospatial
database of geological mapping information in this study.

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Figure 8: Framework in Development of Geospatial Database.

Figure 9: Geology Properties of The Study Area.

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Figure 10: Digital Orthophoto for The Study Area.

Conclusion
The purpose of this research project is to support geological mapping with a geospatial
approach. This mapping area has been focused on three mapping areas located in the district of
Mersing, Johor. The main data consisted of GPS measurements and digital aerial photographs
used for the creation of topographic maps of the study area. The results of this study
successfully established twenty -three (23) GPS control points in the area. Based on the GCP
accuracy results, it is found that the average RMSE for the horizontal and vertical components
of GCP is less than 7cm. Then, digital aerial photo data was successfully observed and
processed by combining together the established high - precision GPS control points.
Meanwhile, secondary data consisting of existing geological maps were digitized and
georeferenced using GIS techniques. All data sets have been integrated into a useful geospatial
database to provide insight in decision making and future planning for geological mapping in
the study area.

Acknowledgement
The authors would like to acknowledge the Research University Grant (RUG) vot number
R.J130000.7352.4J341 for providing funds in this project. Special thanks also to the Centre of
Tropical Geoengineering (GEOTROPIK) and Geomatic Innovation Research Group (GnG).

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