KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) is developing a Tree Hyperspectral Identification System (THySIS) to ensure the construction of its transmission tower does not affect endangered tree species.
TNB chief grid officer Dev Anandan said the system, the first of its kind in the country, detects endangered tree species automatically using remote sensing techniques.
"This THySIS system will allow us to identify the flora and fauna in the area involved before submitting a proposed delivery route, compared with before which was completely dependent on information provided by forest authorities,” he said in a statement here today (March 5).
He said the system will be used when TNB’s Land Planning Department wants to identify the route or alignment for the construction of new transmission line towers.
He added that the THySIS system operates by using the LIDAR (light detection and ranging), along with the hyperspectral method installed on a drone.
Both systems collect data about plants and map them in an image bank.
Dev said the use of THySIS allows TNB to make early detection of types of plants in the proposed area and be able to select routes for the construction of towers and transmission lines to avoid areas of endangered tree species.
"The Forestry Department and the Forestry Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) have identified 40 tree species that cannot be cut down because they are becoming extinct,” he said.
He added that the project is expected to be able to help TNB and the country conserve forest reserves and unique plants, especially endangered species from extinction. - Bernama
