Sains Malaysiana 41(12)(2012): 1613–1620

 

Space-Time Behavior of Klang Valley Region Slope Failures

(Perilaku Ruang dan Masa Kegagalan Cerun di Kawasan Lembah Klang)

 

 

P. Thanapackiam*, O. S. Khairulmaini & A. G. Fauza

Department of Geography, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

   

Received: 25 January 2012 / Accepted: 6 August 2012

 

 

ABSTRACT

In the last decade slope failure intensity and frequency has increased. This article investigates slope failure distribution and trend change and the tendency of spatial direction of slope failures in the Klang Valley Region (KVR) of Malaysia. The change in land cover especially for urbanization and population pressure has notably influenced spatial and temporal variations in slope failure occurrences in the KVR. This study recognized two significant impacts of slope failures: increase in intensity and frequency of slope failures from 1991 to November 2011 and spatial direction of slope failures in the KVR. Both of these effects create severe stresses on the population of the KVR. The study observed that the temporal and spatial advances of slope failures would continue to increase in intensity and frequency in the not so distant future as the environment would become more stressful as a result of urbanization. The knowledge generated from the work would be valuable to all stakeholders affected by slope failures in the KVR and lead the way towards achieving a more sustainable slope development planning in the future.

 

Keywords: Slope failures; spatial direction; sustainable development; temporal direction

 

ABSTRAK

Kadar kegagalan cerun semakin meningkat sejak sedekad yang lalu. Makalah ini melaporkan taburan dan trend kegagalan cerun serta arah kecenderungan daripada segi ruangan kejadian kegagalan cerun di Kawasan Lembah Klang (KVR) di Malaysia. Perubahan ciri liputan bumi terutamanya diakibatkan oleh perbandaran dan tekanan penduduk mempengaruhi kejadian kegagalan cerun daripada segi ruangan dan masa. Kajian ini mengenal pasti dua impak signifikan dalam kejadian kegagalan cerun: pertambahan kejadian kegagalan cerun dari 1991 ke November 2011 dan perkembangan arah kegagalan cerun. Kajian ini mendapati hala masa dan ruang kegagalan cerun semakin meningkat memandangkan tekanan persekitaran yang meningkat akibat perbandaran. Kajian ini diharap dapat menyumbangkan ilmu untuk pembangunan cerun yang mampan pada masa hadapan.

 

Kata kunci: Hala masa; hala ruang; kegagalan cerun; pembangunan mampan

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*Corresponding author; email: tnpba@yahoo.com