Our project, Coastal Malaysia at Risk, is an interactive layered map designed to visualize and analyze the impact of climate change on Malaysia's coastal communities. The map integrates data on coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and changing flood patterns, offering a comprehensive view of how these environmental challenges are evolving over time. By mapping these key issues, the project reveals the most vulnerable areas and identifies communities at risk of displacement and infrastructure loss.

How It Works:

The project functions by using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to layer open-source spatial datasets on a digital map. The layers include:

Current coastline and areas undergoing erosion
Communities affected by rising sea levels and coastal flooding
Historical flood patterns to visualize changes over time

These data layers are overlaid in a web-based, interactive format that allows users to explore specific areas, zoom in on communities, and see where climate impacts are most severe. Users can interact with the map to discover patterns, trends, and critical areas that require intervention.

Benefits:

Data-Driven Insights: By visualizing climate data in a spatial format, this project helps policymakers, researchers, and local communities understand the immediate and long-term risks of climate change.
Informed Decision-Making: The map can be used as a tool for urban planners, environmentalists, and government bodies to prioritize adaptation strategies such as coastal protection, land-use planning, and community-based interventions.
Raising Awareness: The project educates the public about the effects of climate change on Malaysia's coastal regions and emphasizes the urgency of sustainable, proactive responses.

Goals:

The primary goal is to identify the most at-risk coastal communities in Malaysia and provide a visual, data-driven tool to guide adaptation strategies. We hope this project will contribute to sustainable development planning, protect livelihoods, and support efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change along Malaysia’s coastline.

Tools and Technologies Used:

GIS Software: We used QGIS for building and analyzing the layered maps.
Web Development Tools: The map was deployed using Leaflet.js, an open-source JavaScript library for interactive maps.
Data Sources: Open-source datasets from NASA Earthdata GIS, NASA Worldview, NASA Environmental Justice Data Search Interface, the Global Flood Monitoring System (GFMS), as well as Malaysia-specific datasets such as the Flood Dataset (Malaysia), Public Infobanjir from Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and the National Coastal Risk Map together with Marine Data Repository, from National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM).
Coding Languages: JavaScript, HTML, and CSS were used for creating the web interface, and Python was utilized for handling data manipulation.
AstroWind: Utilized to streamline the front-end development of the interactive map, ensuring a fast and user-friendly web experience.
GitHub: Used for version control and collaborative development, enabling seamless teamwork and project management.
Visual Studio Code: Our primary code editor for writing and debugging the project’s code, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge

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