International Journal of Engineering Advanced Research (IJEAR) eISSN: 2710-7167 [Vol. 1 No. 3 September 2020]
Journal website: http://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijear
THE DEVELOPMENT OF GIS-BASED DIGITAL ARCHIVE FOR HERITAGE BUILDING IN MELAKA WORLD
HERITAGE SITE (UNESCO), MALAYSIA
Shahrul Hapizah Musa1*, Noor Suhaiza Sauti2, Fadhillah Mohd Nasir3, Noor Azidah Abdullah4 and Yahaya Ahmad5
1 4 5 Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
2 Faculty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, University of Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, MALAYSIA
3 Department of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic of Merlimau, Melaka, MALAYSIA
1 2 4 Department of Polytechnic & Community College Education, Ministry of Education Malaysia, Putrajaya,
MALAYSIA
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Article Information:
Article history:
Received date : 15 June 2020 Revised date : 8 July 2020 Accepted date : 25 August 2020 Published date : 29 September 2020 To cite this document:
Musa, S., Sauti, N., Mohd Nasir, F., Abdullah, N., & Ahmad, Y. (2020).
THE DEVELOPMENT OF GIS- BASED DIGITAL ARCHIVE FOR HERITAGE BUILDING IN MELAKA WORLD HERITAGE SITE
(UNESCO), MALAYSIA.
International Journal Of Engineering Advanced Research, 1(3), 1-16.
Abstract: This paper presents the development of digital archive management for heritage buildings and monuments in Melaka using the Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. There are numerous amounts of resources including documented data on heritage buildings in Melaka comprising historic facts, measured drawings, photographs, inventory, and reports.
Recently, most of the architectural heritage resources in this country are at risk due to minimum preservation and conservation approach. Melaka and Georgetown have been acknowledged as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and carry out great numbers of heritage properties including historic building and monuments from different era in Malaysia. Conflict of data and resources management leads to redundancies and difficulties in accessing data due to the involvement of various parties such as State Government, Local Authorities, and scholars from various higher learning institution.
Therefore, digital archives resources need to be centralized in order to improve the heritage and conservation management in Malaysia. This paper
1. Introduction
Melaka and Georgetown were recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Site on 7 July 2008.
This remarkable criterion gives an excellent example of a building type or landscape that explain important stages in the history of human civilization. Through the existence of government buildings, churches, squares, and fortifications, Melaka has proved that in the early stages of this history that began in the 15th-century Malay sultanate and the era of the early 16th century started the Portuguese and Dutch periods (Melaka Historical City Council, 2008).
This listed architectural heritage consisted in the Civic Zone which is within the radius of the Core Zone located on the east side of Melaka.
Based on Nomination Dossier, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca (2008), “The Core Zone of the Historical City of Melaka consists of two significant zones, the St Paul’s Hill Civic Centre Zone that find number of 16th century government buildings, museum, churches, urban square and unique fortification town from the Portuguese and Dutch Era. Another area is Historic Residential area and Commercial Zone that have more than 600 shop houses, commercials and residential buildings, religious buildings and tombs along of four mains streets, which are Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street), Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street), Jalan Tukang Besi/ Jalan Tokong/Jalan Tukang Emas/ and Jalan Kampong Pantai”(Nomination Dossier, 2009).
During the Malay Sultanate era St. Paul’s Hill in the Civic Zone area, known as Bukit Melaka.
In the Portuguese colonial period, they built a fortress and church around this hill and completed in 1548. After the Dutch took over the church, transformed it into a Protestant church and named it as St. Paul’s Church. The name of Bukit Melaka was changed to St. Paul’s Hill and sustain until now. Around the St. Paul’s hill inside the Civic Zone area has many historical buildings, monuments and urban square which were built during the Portuguese, the Dutch or the British era that have been preserved and remain unchanged. long-established colonial powers in Melaka is evidenced by the relics of a buildings and monuments mainly located on Jalan Kota, Jalan Laksamana, on St. Paul’s Hill or around the Town Square.
The architectural heritage in this Civic Zone comprises of tangible heritage consist of building, heritage site and monuments which are treated as deserving to manage, conserve, and preserve for the future generations. Where, most of these tangible heritage listed as Heritage Buildings or National Heritage Buildings under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645)(Malaysian National Heritage Act (Act 645), 2006). Presently, listed of heritage buildings have evolved from their original functions into museums, libraries, and offices known as an adaptive reuse.
These are one of the heritages and conservation management principles that conserve and data of heritage buildings and monuments in the Melaka World Heritage Site (UNESCO) known as Core Zone area.
Keywords: Heritage and Conservation, digital archive, GIS, spatial data.
2. The Application of GIS Technologies in Heritage Management
Documentation is a part of the methodology to conserve the heritage, that includes measuring, sketching, drawing, documenting and photographing on-site appreciation towards the building’s value. Conservation is a method used to prevent damage and to manage heritage preservation. Besides that, there is a need for specific digital archiving to manage all the documentation in digital media aligned with the twenty-first- century technology. Geographic information systems (GIS) are used in the cultural heritage area to record data about site, buildings and link them to locations (Economou, 2015). GIS is a recent techno logy that combines the advantages of computer science with modern data capture systems, to integrate and recover all the information in a convenient way for those who need this information (Basir, Setan, Majid, & Chong, 2014). Web-based GIS can also contribute to development in other field such as spatial analysis and modelling, mobile services, 3D data access and questioning forecasted to study a very accurate project in the future (Acar et al., 2018). These innovative technologies allow the geographic representation of the characteristics included in the relational databases; this kind of databases permit the visual representation of the geographical distribution of heritage buildings and monuments (Academy & Team, 2013). Nowadays, this technology used to develop several crucial national programs of heritage management in many countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Turkey, Hong Kong and many more.
Figure 1: The GIS on Hong Kong Heritage, Hong Kong - http://www5.lcsd.gov.hk/gishinter/html/viewer_en.htm
Figure 2: Tangible Cultural Heritage Management system, Taiwan - http://nav.boch.gov.tw/
Figure 1. shows the GIS on Hong Kong Heritage and Figure 2. shows the Tangible Cultural Heritage Management System, Taiwan. Both data show the best practices of applying GIS technologies in heritage management and preservation.
Therefore, the objectives of this research are to:
• Explain the process involved in designing and developing the database
• Apply the spatial analysis by displaying the spatial and attribute data of heritage building
• Produce the thematic map and report (hyperlink document and statistical form) related to the heritage building
2.1 Problem Statement
Documentation and recording of heritage building real significance for preserve data for the future generation. The architecture value gathers from heritage buildings, and monuments perform the interaction between various cultures from history, including social values, political strategies, economic circumstances practices of the specific time (Basir et.al, 2014). Its real importance to well managed and organized all the heritage data by using recent technology so that it can attract tourism and future generation as well.
Melaka has abundant data and documentation regarding heritage buildings and monuments.
Currently, all the data are in the management of Melaka Museum Corporation (PERZIM), Historical Melaka City Council (MBMB) and National Heritage Department (JWN). There is numerous amount of resources, including documented data on heritage buildings in Melaka comprising historical facts, measured drawings, photographs, inventory, and reports. The documents outcomes in the form of hardcopies such as drawing papers, reports, models and artefacts need to be kept in a gallery so that others can access it for future references.
Notwithstanding, the issue confronted these days is a need and the least number of spaces to store everything in a gallery.
Recently, most of the architectural heritage resources in this country are at risk due to minimum preservation and conservation approach. Conflict of data and resources management leads to redundancies and difficulties in accessing data due to the involvement of various parties such as the State Government, Local Authorities, and scholars from multiple higher learning institution. There is a demand to create a specific database to manage all the data in digital format in line with the twenty-first-century technology. Digital archiving can be managed and organized easily compared to the traditional method (Yadav, 2016). Digital archiving allows the practical preservation of heritage buildings and monuments and become a movement all over the world. The purpose of the preservation of cultural heritage is to sustain cultural properties through public understanding. However, to provide complete and accurate information, an efficient and integrated management system is needed for managing large and varied data.
2.2 Research Scope
The scope of this research focuses on the St. Pauls’s, Civic Zone Area – Melaka, UNESCO World Heritage Site, located at Jalan Kota, Banda Hilir Melaka. The Civic Zone area consists of 15 Heritage Buildings and 2 Monuments that have been gazetted by PERZIM and JWN.
Figure 3 shows a map of Civic Zone Area Melaka World Heritage Site.
Figure 3: Civic Zone Area Melaka World Heritage Site Research
Scope
3. Material and Method
The methodology of the study has four main phases. The first phase involves the preliminary research; the second phase is the feasibility study or user requirement analysis (URA); the third phase comprises database design and development, and finally, the last phase involves testing and validation of the developed system (Figure 4). The development of digital archives for heritage buildings is carried out using the procedure in the system development life cycle (SDLC).
Figure 4: Flowchart of Digital Heritage Archive development
The first phase emphasizes preliminary research to understand the previous studies and the supporting data needed in this study is conducted a systematic literature review study related to heritage building management, documents related to heritage buildings and applications of GIS technology in heritage building management and preservation This process helps to identify, consider and synthesize all empirical evidence before answering the research questions of this study.
In the second phase, feasibility study or user requirement analysis is conducted to study the existing systems as far as their advantages and disadvantages and current issues. Interview and discussion methods with relevant parties such as PERZIM, MBMB, and JWN are carried out to obtain detailed feedback. All information on the user's needs and requirements will be gathered to identify the necessary data as well as the appropriate functions in the new system to be developed. All inputs at this level will be documented to serve as the primary source of reference throughout the development of this system (Maguire & Nigel, 2002).
The third phase involves the process of collecting and organizing data, including the available spatial data layers and attribute data from responsible agencies and new data from fieldwork measurement. Table 1 shows the arrangement of data listed, format, and sources. Data is the most vital component in defining the success of GIS application. Therefore, the required information for this study are identified according to the data types, either spatial or attribute data and data format (vector or raster).
Table 1: List of data, format, and sources
No Data Format Source
1 Heritage building Polygon-vector PERZIM
2 River Polyline-vector MBMB
3 Road Polyline-vector MBMB
4 Cadastral lot Polygon-vector MBMB
5 JUPEM lot Polygon-vector MBMB
6 Buffer zone Polygon-vector MBMB
7 Landuse Polygon-vector MBMB
8 Basic map Raster image ESRI
9 Inventory form Pdf file Fieldwork
10 Measured drawing dwg and pdf file Fieldwork
Next is the process of database design starting from conceptual design, logical design and finally, the physical design of the database. Figure 5 and Table 2 show the stages of this process.
Generally, the conceptual design is a process of data modelling to represent the geographic data in a database (Chen, 1976).
The logical design of the database will describe all layers of data structure in detail. The characteristics of a logical data model include all entities and their relationships. All attributes for each entity are specified in a logical scheme to provide detailed information.
Figure 5: Part of conceptual design diagram
Physical design is the last process after designing the logical design in developing the database.
The physical design defines how data is stored in the database to optimize performance while ensuring data integrity by avoiding unnecessary data redundancies. Details of the entire table structure are documented comprises of column names, column data types, column constraints, primary keys, foreign keys, and tables relation.
Finally, the last phase is the process of developing the functions of the system and the design of the system interface. The developed system has been tested and verified based on SDLC procedure (Isaias & Issa, 2015).
Table 2: Logical design for heritage data layer Heritage
CONTENT: Heritage building DATABASE STRUCTURE:
Fields Type Note
BOUNDARY Text (7)
LOT_NO Text (11)
HOUSE_NO Text (12)
FLOOR Text (3)
SIGNIFICANT Text (11)
BUILD_NAME Text (32)
OWNERSHIP Text (32)
BUILD_TYPE Text (22) Straits colonial,
Dutch, Portugese Modern, Baroque
CONDITION Text (10)
BUILD_AGE Long Integer
NAME Text (25)
SPECIALITY Text (20)
CATEGORY Text (13)
HEIGHT Double
ZONE Text (7)
Spatial Object: Polygon Format: .shp (Shapefile)
Projection System: Malaysia_Cassini_Melaka
4. Results and Discussion 4.1 Database and Analysis
The system enables function to measure the distance between features; for example, the distance between The Democracy Museum and The TYT Museum (Figure 6). The system also supports function to measure the area of a polygon feature in various units.
Figure 6: Function to measure the distance between features
The Graph Manager functions allow users to create graphs (ESRI, 2018). The management of heritage buildings by the responsible agencies refer to the MBMB can be done easily. The process of analyzing information such as obtaining statistics of building numbers by age in the form of graphs helps to convey the information in a visually understandable way (Figure 7).
Non-spatial information can also be presented along with spatial data as additional information about features on the map or similar information in different ways. The graph is used to show numerical information in a simple way and visually displays information from the attribute table that complements the map. Graph display makes it easy to compare features of geographical objects with ease, thus determining the relationship between features, trends, patterns and distribution of data that may be difficult to interpret.
Figure 7. Function to create and display the graph analysis
In addition, users can apply the Identify function to easily display attribute information of geographic feature (Figure 8).
Figure 8: Identify feature to display attribute detail
The most common and frequently used functions are queries. Queries refer to basic spatial analysis in GIS tools with the ability to ask and answer questions about their geographical features and properties and the relationships between them (Figure 9 and Figure 10).
Figure 9: Query by attributes function
Figure 10: Output from query function
4.2 Hyperlink Document
Among the problems faced by PERZIM and MBMB are to review and prepare documents such as measured drawings and inventory forms for a heritage building renovation application. The system facilitates the following process by hyperlinking each object with the relevant documents (Figure 11 and Figure 12). It helps to simplify the process of documents searching and updating each time the application is made.
Figure 11: Hyperlink feature with measured drawings
Figure 12: Hyperlink feature with an inventory form
4.3 Mapping and Layout (layout template)
The report preparation process for each application can also be easily done using the layout function using templates stored in the system database (Figure 13). Various basic map data sources for instance satellite maps can also be included as added-value to the resulting output map. (Figure 14).
Figure 13: Map layout for report documentation
Figure 14: Data layer overlayed with satellite images
5. Conclusion and Future Work
The findings of this study have several implications on the current scenario concerning a conservation project. Conflict of data and resources management lead to redundancies and difficulties in accessing data due to the involvement of various parties such as State Government, Local Authorities, and scholars from the various higher learning institution.
Therefore, centralized digital archives resources needed in order to improve the heritage and conservation management of heritage properties in Malaysia.
Nonetheless, several limitations need to be considered by adding more information in databases for heritage buildings such as video, dilapidation report, Historical, Architectural, and Building Survey (HABS) and another relevance document. As mentioned by (Brusaporci, 2017),the studies set out to the equally impressive exponential growth of digital technology thereby safeguard for heritage conservation, guided by the reflection on concepts of “conservation” and the opportunities in the relationship between virtual heritage, digital heritage, and also geographic information system (GIS) (Brusaporci, 2017).
These findings suggest adding analysis function in the system for various outputs such as buffer analysis for the classification of conservation areas in historic buildings by specific zones. It will provide a broader location of conservation areas that related. However, the data should always be updated to such a degree producing the accurate and recent outcomes based on GIGO concept (Garbage In Garbage Out)(Abbot et al., 1998).
By providing the best database and right procedures of conservation concerns, we are taking the most crucial step towards preserving the cultural and architectural heritage and the course of time, also contribute to the sustainable conservation of cultural heritage sites mainly in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Hence, this research project was align with Goal 12 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development United Nations, to responsible consumption and production using digital documentation (United Nations, 2016).
6. Acknowledgement
This research was supported by TVET Applied Research Grant Scheme (T-ARGS), Ministry of Education Malaysia to Politeknik Merlimau, Melaka (KPT.JPP.PPPP.700-1 Jld.10 (92) 2018). Special thanks to Director of Politeknik Merlimau for providing us with all the support and trust to make this project a success. Thank you to Historical Melaka City Council (MBMB) and Melaka Museum Corporation (PERZIM) for providing us with the data and information to facilitate this project. We would also like to show our gratitude to the Malaysian Centre for Geospatial Data Infrastructure (MaCGDI) for WebGIS related training and server service provision for this project.
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