Sr. Nur Azfahani Ahmad

Mt Ruapehu 2011

2011-07-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

My collection of pictures for winter season this time was taken at Mt Ruapehu.

Where is Mt Ruapehu?
It is 23 kilometres northeast of Ohakune and 40 kilometres southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park. The North Island's major skifields and only glaciers are on its slopes.
Mount Ruapehu, or just Ruapehu, is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand.

The scenery is magnificent and superb!

Electrical generation from the process of electrolysis (Thanks to solar PV!!)

2011-06-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hydrogen-electricity:
Towards Effective Storage of Energy from Solar PV

"A U.S. scientist has developed a new way of powering fuel cells that could make it practical for home owners to store solar energy and produce electricity to run lights and appliances at night.

A new catalyst produces the oxygen and hydrogen that fuel cells use to generate electricity, while using far less energy than current methods. With this catalyst, users could rely on electricity produced by photovoltaic solar cells to power the process that produces the fuel"

(Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008)

Current Situation is..

During the day, homes with solar panels can feed electricity into the power grid , but there is a problem at night--owners have to draw back from the grid at night.

In Malaysia, the main problem is the numbers of clouds in equator region--which is numerous.

Thus, there are really needs for every homeowners to develop effective energy storage, to prevent detrimental effect for the power supply.

MIT had developed a system that allow homeowners to bank solar energy as hydrogen and oxygen, which a fuel cell could use to produce electricity to overcome situation such as rainy days, cloudy days or night-time.

“It’s cheap, it’s efficient, it’s highly manufacturable, it’s incredibly tolerant of impurity and it’s from earth-abundant stuff"

. Nocera, 2008 )

Ref:

http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2008/08/03/mit-scientist-develops-means-to-bank-solar-energy-at-home/

Introduction

Hydrogen electrolysis is the process of spitting water into Hydrogen gas and Oxygen gas. The Hydrogen gas can then be used as fuel either by being burnt in an engine or reacted in a fuel cell.

The Theory
The picture below shows the basic theory on how hydrogen can be generated through a process of electrolysis with an aid of solar PV panels

Ref: http://www.nmsea.org/Curriculum/7_12/electrolysis/electrolysis.htm

It is made from cobalt, phosphate and an electrode that produces oxygen from water by using 90 percent less electricity than current methods, which use the costly metal platinum (Nocera, 2008).

Ref: http://www.dotyenergy.com/Introduction/primer.htm

Things need to be remembered:

Hydrogen is not an energy source, but is an energy vector or carrier. This means that it has to be produced from one of the primary energy sources: fossil fuels, nuclear, solar, wind, biomass, hydro, geothermal and urban waste resources. All the energy we use, including hydrogen, must be produced from one of these three primary energy resources.

Hydrogen Production Paths

Ref: http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/hydrogen/basics/production.htm

Solar energy from PV panels can be used to help keep the system at the required temperature (normally 1000 degrees). Thus, there is no problem for a tropical country like Malaysia.

Solar cells can be used to generate electricity to run an electrolyzer to generate hydrogen which is then stored for later use in the fuel cell.

The Benefit

"Hydrogen based PV have lower green house gases (GHG) emission!"

The graph illustrates the energy use necessary to utilize several power sources (nuclear, PV, and wind produce H2 via electrolysis). As can be expected, the more energy used to convert the power source into a usable form, the greater the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Ref: ttp://sitemaker.umich.edu/section4group3/methods__results___discussion

"Hydrogen based PV have lower CO2 gas release!"

Ref: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/section4group3/methods__results___discussion

Auckland oh Auckland..

2011-05-30T02:31:00.000-07:00

Night @ Auckland..

Autumn is here!! Model: Mr Hubby -D

Auckland Harbour Bridge

Colors of Auckland

2011-05-30T01:17:00.000-07:00

All photos are proudly captured by me..

I love my new hobby ...

POWERING THE POVERTY

2011-05-26T23:59:00.000-07:00

Solar PV: A Hope for Rural Dwellers in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a secular republic and a parliamentary democracy, with an elected parliament called the Jatiyo Sangshad. It is the eighth most populous country and among the most densely populated countries in the world. A high poverty rate prevails, although the United Nations has acclaimed Bangladesh for achieving tremendous progress in human development.

Picture Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jajankie/4106150526/in/photostream/

Bangladesh Electrical Power Supply in Rural Areas

Picture source: http://www.bdembassyamman.com/photo_gallery_item.php?id=2

A country programme evaluation initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in 2006 attested that Development Cooperation was playing an important role in global structural policy, was oriented towards poverty reduction and was convincing in terms of its basic definition of priority areas.

Electric power supply in Bangladesh is inadequate, and has recently continued to deteriorate significantly. Only 38 percent of the population have any access to electricity, and the figure for rural areas is even as low as 15 percent, which places a significant constraint on social and economic development. Power consumption has been growing continuously since 1994 by around eight percent a year. The available capacity of the country's power plants has fallen far short of keeping pace with demand, and is thus completely inadequate for guaranteeing a reliable supply; power cuts are frequent and long.

Capacity shortfalls a common occurrence

In 2006 there were even protests and riots leading to fatalities. At the root of the problems was general difficulty in obtaining funding, serious problems with tendering and award procedures, and the low quality of investments made. As well as capacity shortfalls, the sector is also characterised by inefficient operation and inadequate maintenance of the existing plants. Losses are unacceptably high at around 25 percent. Over the last few years the sector has been decentralised and commercialised, which has brought about a slow but steady increase in efficiency.

German Financial Cooperation is attempting to raise energy efficiency by supporting investments to help reduce technical and non-technical losses in power transmission and distribution. This also includes, for example, the introduction and successful trial of prepayment meters. Here, we are cooperating with the newly established institutions; this also supports the restructuring process in the energy sector.

The use of renewable energies is a high priority for the Government of Bangladesh, especially in rural areas. There are also plans for the decentralised use of renewables. German Financial Cooperation is supporting this government strategy by promoting local, off-grid use of renewable energies (solar home systems, biogas) in rural areas.

http://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de/EN_Home/Countries,_Programmes_and_Projects/Asia/Bangladesh/Priority_areas_of_cooperation.jsp

Who is Grameen Shakti?

Grameen Shakti(GS) is a NGO in Bangladesh that began its operation in 1996 and is now the most successful rural renewable energy company in the world. Grameen Shakti installs about 7,000 solar home systems (SHS) per month. The collaboration of renewable technology and micro-credit enables those without electricity to cross over the ‘power line’ of social inequality. The electricity allows the residents to work longer and earn more money. Currently 90 million people (60%) of Bangladesh are without access to electricity. Nearly 2 million people enjoy a better quality of life and also use energy to generate an income because of Grameen Shakti.

Grameen Shakti uses other programs including Wind, Biogas, Organic Fertilizer, and Cooking Stoves, creating green jobs in the process, and a lot of them, how many you ask? Right now GS has trained almost 2,600 technicians and 98,000 of its customers to be SHS installers, and by 2015, GS plans to have created 100,000 women entrepreneurs from its Grameen Technology Center (GTC) program. Dr. Dipal C. Barua understands that rural women suffer the most under these circumstances, and champions for them in his programs

http://www.socialearth.org/grameen-shakti-powering-bangladesh%E2%80%99s-rural-poor-with-renewable-energy

Grameen Shakti has sold and installed over 65,000 solar home-systems (SHS) in rural Bangladesh, and brought major benefits to its users. Nearly 70% of households in Bangladesh are not connected to the electricity grid and depend on kerosene for lighting. This includes most rural areas and extends as far as the fringes of Dhaka. There are plans to extend the grid, but there is little prospect of substantial change in the foreseeable future.

Picture source: http://www.socialearth.org/grameen-shakti-powering-bangladesh%E2%80%99s-rural-poor-with-renewable-energy

By selling SHS, Grameen Shakti has provided lighting, communications (especially mobile phone charging) and TV, and has increased employment opportunities. It is the largest single installer of SHS in Bangladesh.

Picture source: http://www.bighaber.com/haber/solar-power-lights-up-bangladesh-rural-areas-842547.html

This impressive number of installations has been achieved by enabling users to purchase their systems on micro-credit with affordable terms, tailored to their specific needs. Funding for the micro-credit system comes from the World Bank and GEF via the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) which provides Grameen Shakti with both subsidy and concessional loans. The cash pool from credit repayments will enable Grameen Shakti to continue the scheme when the subsidy, which is being phased out, ceases in 2008.

Picture source: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/2403

Grameen Shakti has also started a network of technology centres throughout the country to manage the installation and maintenance of SHS locally. It emphasises the importance of technicians who know local customs working through local branches, and has trained 2,000 (mainly female) technicians. It aims to install 100,000 systems by 2006 and sees the potential to install one million systems by 2015.

http://www.ashdenawards.org/winners/grameen

The Function of World Bank

Solar power is in place in nearly a million homes in rural Bangladesh, which is drastically short of electricity, the World Bank said on Monday.

"More than 870,000 homes and shops in remote rural areas have installed solar home systems with support from the World Bank and other development partners," the global lender said in a statement.

The World Bank had provided additional financing of $130 million in 2009 to support the government's efforts to reach more households in rural areas with solar home systems.

"Access to electricity has many benefits including better quality of life, more time spent by children for study, and opportunities for new village enterprises."

Barely 45 percent of Bangladesh's 150 million people have access to power but they still face frequent power cuts that often trigger protest.
The impoverished country faces 2,000 megawatts of electricity shortages. In addition, population growth, increased industrialization, additional connections, and rise in the use of modern, electrical appliances have boosted demand for electricity, currently growing at a rate of over 500 MW a year.

Solar home systems have proven to be a viable option to provide electricity to villages the national grid cannot reach, the World Bank said.
Bangladesh aims to meet 10 percent of its total power demand from renewable energy sources by 2020. Renewable energy contributes less than 1 percent to overall power generation.

The government, facing growing public anger over power and utility shortage, says it is exploring various means, including nuclear power generation, to overcome the problem, which is one of the key constraints to growth and is considered as a big barrier to foreign investments.

(Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Anis Ahmed)http://www.bighaber.com/haber/solar-power-lights-up-bangladesh-rural-areas-842547.html

Helping micro-enterprises of the rural areas by micro-finance solar systems

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/node/2403

Two bone-rattling kilometres on a brick-cobbled road, beyond the market and the grid, past the flooded paddy fields lit intermittently by fireflies in the twilight is where the three Chowdhury brothers live, their homes awash in the white radiance of CFL bulbs. This is solar country, on the island of Mehindiganj in south Bangladesh.

Flipping through yesterday’s paper Hamid Chowdhury looked up and said, “Welcome to Mehindiganj.” In clipped English, he said he is satisfied with his solar home system (SHS), especially with the after-sale service of Grameen Shakti, the largest vendor in the country. An 80 Watts peak (Wp) system powers seven CFL lamps and a black-and-white TV in his six-room house.

All three Chowdhury brothers, former zamindars, are Grameen Shakti customers. Despite their obvious clout, there’s little hope that the grid, two km away in the Mehindiganj market, will reach their homes anytime soon. “Every year, the government promises the grid will reach us next year,” said Sirajuddin Chowdhury. There’s no economic rationale for the Palli Bidyut Samitis, cooperatives that manage rural electrification in Bangladesh, to extend the grid to areas with so few customers.

Diesel is expensive on the islands while kerosene lanterns only illuminate weakly. Electricity from solar panels powers lights and fans, recharges mobile phones, lights the family poultry farm— and allows them to watch an occasional Bollywood film on an LCD television set.

Naturally, solar

A simple plug-and-play technology, the solar home system is well suited to a country with 300 sunny days on an average. Home systems can easily meet the small needs of two-thirds of the 100 million rural Bangladeshis with no access to electricity from the grid.

Electricity is crucial for Mijanu Rahman, pharmacist in ChormituaGrameen Shakti, one of 32 Grameen social businesses, is perhaps the world’s fastest growing rural renewable energy programme. Since its inception in 1996 till November 2010, Grameen Shakti had installed 500,524 home systems across all 64 districts of Bangladesh. It installs 20,000 systems each month. Rural Services Foundation (RSF), an NGO, is a distant second with 94,482 installations till October this year.

On the island of Chormitua, across Mehindiganj, Grameen Shakti has targeted small traders, shopkeepers and artisans. Markets start late on these islands, a hub for hilsa fish, betel leaf and betel nut. Small crowds gather outside the general store-cum-tea stalls in the evenings to watch the lone Bangladesh TV channel on their blackand- white television sets. Illumination extends trading hours as fishers and agricultural workers stroll the market on their way home.

Rasul Mahmud, 22, who owns a small general store on the ghats is testing the limits of his 40 Wp system—he’s hooked up three CFL lamps, a black-and-white television set, a small fan, a mobile charger and a music system. He rents out one lamp to a tea stall nextdoor for taka (Tk) 10 (Rs 1=Tk 1.6) a day.

Grameen’s micro-utility scheme allows small shopkeepers, and fish and vegetable vendors to purchase up to a 50 Wp system on a 10 per cent down payment, with zero-interest loan repayment spread over 48 months. Under this scheme, SHS owners are required to rent the other solar lamps to their neighbours at Tk 5 to 7 per day per lamp. As of September 2010, the company had distributed more than 10,000 home systems under this scheme alone.

It made sense, Mahmud said, to switch from a kerosene lantern to a solar home system. Kerosene, like diesel, is expensive on the islands; it costs Tk 52 a litre, six takas more than in Dhaka. This is Mahmud’s second solar system—he had bought one earlier for his house. He cleared his loan in 36 installments of Tk 631 each; a framed certificate of ownership hangs in his shop.

The key to the programme’s success is the money saved by switching to solar —the company claims middle-income households save about Tk 800 each month, while low-income households save Tk 200.

Electricity is crucial for Mijanu Rahman, who owns a chemist’s shop in Bangla Bazaar, a 10-minute walk from the Chormitua ghat. Rahman’s basic medical training and a degree in pharmacy means he is de facto the island’s doctor, often called upon to diagnose (mostly stomach ailments) and to prescribe medicines (mostly antibiotics).

Earlier, traders in Bangla Bazaar depended on a diesel generator, paying 10 Tk per lamp each day. Rahman paid Tk 900 each month for his three lights; more than the Tk 600 installments he now pays for his 65 Wp system and a black-and-white TV.

Grameen Shakti muscled its way to the top despite the high upfront costs. It does not target the very poor, but the poor. The cheapest 10 Wp system, which can power two LED lights and one five-Watt CFL bulb, retails at Tk 8,800 in rural areas. After a 15 per cent down payment, it makes for an EMI of Tk 220 for a 36-month loan term.

A trainee solar engineer in JhalakatiAsking customers to pay about US $400 for a 40-Wp system is like asking a household with an average monthly income of US $60 to pay for 20 years’ worth of electricity bills in one go. Still, the social business turned a profit in four years, by combining micro-finance with efficient after-sale service and by involving local actors to keep costs low.

Customers can make a 15 or a 25 per cent down payment and pay the remainder on EMIs of a 36- or 24-month loan term respectively, and at a flat service charge (a more acceptable term than interest rate) that ranges from four per cent to six per cent. There’s a four per cent discount for those who pay the entire cost upfront. About 80 per cent of all customers buy systems on credit.

Grameen Shakti’s home system makes economic sense to its customers: purchase on loan against a small down payment and repayment in easy installments; loans extended without collateral; a buy-back option against the depreciated value of equipment in case the grid reaches the area; an efficient aftersale service; and if they so choose, an annual maintenance contract for Tk 300 a year that covers the post-warranty period. Grameen solar engineers also train customers on the use of the home system equipment.

The company has an extensive on-the- ground presence and service centre network of 1,159 offices staffed by 8,975 employees across the country. It serves three million people in Bangladesh. Solar electrified villages are easy to spot along the shoreline from the Barisal-to-Mehindiganj launch—TV antennae and solar panels fastened to the tall, storm-proof betel-nut trees that are plentiful on these islands.

Grameen Shakti has 1,400 customers in Mehindiganj alone, and another 40 customers, mostly shopkeepers and traders in and around Bangla Bazaar. The divisional office at Barisal, one of 13 in Bangladesh, handles all coastal areas in south Bangladesh and is an overnight ferry ride from Dhaka. The office of the divisional manager, Mukhlasur Rahman, is also his residence and a warehouse packed with batteries, PV panels and other solar components.

“Business is good,” said Rahman, pointing to the solar batteries being unloaded from a truck parked at the office entrance. This divisional office sold 3,000 systems in August alone. Employees are set daunting sales and service targets. “This is a tough job and the hours are long,” Rahman said late one evening after his daily meetin with office staff. “That’s because everything happens at our customers’ doorstep—marketing, selling, loan disbursement, after-sales service, and recovery of loans.”

Each system sold, when still under warranty, has to be serviced once a month by a Grameen Shakti solar technician for a period of three years. As about half of the solar home systems have been sold in the past three years alone, the human effort taken to visit about 250,000 households each month is mind-numbing. About five per cent of the company’s Tk 1,000-crore annual turnover is spent on its employees’ travel allowance.


	We think of us as social engineers. I tell my team, you have to create the demand at the field level
	ABSER KAMAL, Acting MD, Grameen Shakti

It takes immense effort to collect dues from customers’ doorsteps. “Yet this is crucial,” pointed out Abser Kamal, Grameen Shakti’s acting managing director (MD). “As 80 per cent of our customers buy a solar system on credit, our focus is on providing good after-sale service; otherwise, we would find it difficult to reclaim dues.”

Customers refuse to pay if there’s a breakdown in equipment or if they perceive any tardiness in after-sale service. Naturally, there is frequent staff turnover. Grameen Shakti has an annual staff turnover of close to 40 per cent, claims Rajeev Munankami, senior advisor at Dutch development agency SNV’s biogas programme in Bangladesh, and a close observer of the country’s renewable energy programmes. “Jobs here are very, very hard as compared to other Grameen businesses,” said Kamal. “We think of ourselves as social engineers. I constantly tell my team, ‘This is your institution. You have to make it work. It has given jobs to you. You have to create demand at the field level’.”

Green jobs

This exponential growth of the solar home system programme means more trained solar engineers, more service centres, and more trained people to assemble parts for solar home systems, most often in remote areas. The company turned these to its advantage by training and employing people from the area. This creates jobs and lowers operations costs.

This it did by focusing on the symbolic and at times lyrical relationship women have with energy. “In Bangladeshi homes, it is women who are responsible for lighting up the home,” said acting MD, Abser Kamal. So far, it set up 46 Grameen Technology Centres (GTC) and trained 1,500 women as certified solar technicians and entrepreneurs. The technology centres are central to the company’s expansion plans.

A truck unloading solar batteries in Barisal is testimony to the increasing demandJobs at Grameen centres are coveted as the earnings are good with the strong demand for solar home systems. Women are paid per piece of equipment assembled, for instance Tk 7 per lamp shade and 14 Tk for each charge controller assembled and can earn up to Tk 350 each day or more. “The idea is for rural people to help rural people,” said Mukhlasur Rahman. China Rani Acharjo at the GTC in Jhalakati, Barisal division, earns enough to send her son Tk 2,000 each month to support his education at Dhaka University (“he’s studying BA English Honours course”, she proudly said), and also supplements her husband’s earnings.

A fallout of the expansion is shortage of trained engineers, said Rajeev Munankami. “There are no government certified technicians; only NGO certified ones.” If participating NGOs lose interest in pushing solar, it will impact after-sale service, he pointed out.

There’s a definite push to indigenise components to keep costs low. The PV panels are imported, but most other components are now manufactured in Bangladesh. Rahimafrooz, the country’s largest solar battery manufacturer doubled its capacity in the past few years to meet domestic demand.

Demand is also increasing for compatible appliances and equipment. “In future, I see a good opportunity for us to produce battery cables, CFLs, tubelights, charge controllers, and maybe even PV panels,” said Abser Kamal. “Perhaps through a separate Grameen company,” he added.

Institutional anchoring

The proliferation of solar home systems can be explained in part by the strong anchoring by Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), a government-owned nonbank financial institution that funds infrastructure projects. Renewable energy accounts for close to 40 per cent of IDCOL’s investment portfolio. But it does more than direct donor funds.

IDCOL selects partner organisations (POs) to implement the programme. IDCOL has 21 partners; Grameen Shakti is the largest. The list of partners is a veritable who’s who of Bangladeshi NGOs, including BRAC, RSF—the social development initiative of Rahimafrooz—and COAST Trust, among others that also include private companies. Only a few partners are focused on solar power, however. “If tomorrow funds pour in for HIV, what will happen to this renewables programme?” Munankami said.

Past all targets

Under IDCOL, the home system programme has surpassed all targets (see graph, above). The initial World Banksupported target of 50,000 systems was achieved in August 2005, three years ahead of schedule and US $2 million below estimated costs. As of September 2010, the programme installed 680,000 systems, or about 34 MW of the 5,271 MW generated in the country. IDCOL installs about 30,000 home systems every month. It has now upped its goal to 2.5 million systems by 2014.

Source: Infrastructure Development Company LimitedWhile partners such as Grameen Shakti leverage scale to get bargain prices on solar hardware (that’s their profit), IDCOL charges the donors a fee of seven euros per system installed by POs. The roles are clear. Partners select the project areas and potential customers, extend loans, install solar systems and provide maintenance. IDCOL channels grants and soft loans to the partners, sets technical specifications for solar equipment, monitors partners’ financial performance and helps build their capacities. The government, on its part, pitches in by waiving duties on the import of key components.

IDCOL financially supports partners with grants and soft loans—grants to its partner suppliers of SHS hardware to reduce the overall cost of approved solar equipment; soft loans at eight per cent for an eight-year maturity term to partners to manage their respective microcredit services. Partners also receive an ‘institutional capacity building grant’.

IDCOL funds cover about 80 per cent of the credit project partners give. IDCOL grants reduce with the progress of the project – from US $90 per SHS for the first 20,000 systems, to the equivalent of €20 (US $28) per system for 500,000 systems and more. The logic is to incubate and then withdraw as market forces and demand take over. It is compulsory for all to provide after-sale service.

A solar home system brings Bollywood to the Chowdhury sitting roomBangladesh Bank, the country’s central bank, also chips in. It has set aside Tk 2,000 million for commercial banks and financial institutions to on-lend to renewable energy projects at a low five per cent interest rate.

A key role, says Islam Sharif, CEO of IDCOL, is the close and routine scrutiny of the performance of partners. “Monitoring is very important as we have a cultural tendency to take shortcuts,” said Islam. “I have 50 inspectors in the field, and two inspection offices, in Sylhet and Khulna.”

Sharif minces no words in advocating commercialisation. “This makes it very different from a donation mentality,” he said, referring to the country’s subsidy and tariff-based solar projects (see Solar isolated).

“Everyone must make money— even us. Partners should see money in the scheme, and the end user must also see benefits. It must be financially binding for all,” Sharif added.

ALL COLLECTIONS ARE EXTRACTED DIRECTLY FROM THE MENTIONED WEBSITE

My hobby in New Zealand

2011-04-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

All photos are proudly captured by me..
Without editing..
Yes, I love photography =)
See the magnificent wonders and view of Auckland..from the perspective of me..

Auckland City at night

Lovely bench in Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island

Sunset

Auckland City from far-far away

Mt Eden Summit-My husband with his pose =)

Auckland Fish Market

Walkway-our apartment

Kate Edger Commons Centre-The University of Auckland (my university)

Auckland Jetty

Peer Review Article: Professional Magazines [Surveyors ISM]

2011-04-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

My article published in January 2011 issue. After 2 years waiting and waiting..=)
Published in Surveyors, Institution of Surveyors, Malaysia Issue January 2011
Alhamdulillah
Thanks to the publication team, especially Dr Adi Irfan Che Ani

TIPS KE NEW ZEALAND (CATATAN KEDUA)

2011-04-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

CATATAN KEDUA:
UNTUK MEREKA YANG AKAN MENYAMBUNG PENGAJIAN KE NEW ZEALAND (TERUTAMA SEKALI AUCKLAND )

Ini merupakan catatan kedua saya di bawah tajuk Tips ke New Zealand. Untuk yang pertama kali membaca blog saya ini, sila lihat dahulu catatan terdahulu saya untuk mendapatkan gambaran yang lebih spesifik tentang New Zealand, terutama sekali bagi mereka yang akan menyambung pengajian di Auckland

Barangan Elektrik

Di dalam catatan terdahulu, saya ada mengesyorkan untuk anda membawa rice cooker dan blender. Jadi, perlu diingatkan kepentingan membawa adapter elektrik, kerana plug point NZ sangat berbeza dengan di Malaysia. Bawalah sekurang-kurangnya dua (2). Ini kerana, anda mungkin memerlukan satu adapter untuk barangan elektrik dapur, dan satu lagi diperlukan untuk laptop yang anda bawa dari Malaysia. Saya cadangkan beli seperti di dalam gambar-gambar yang telah saya sertakan di sini. Seelok-eloknya pilihlah universal world adapter-mudah dibawa ke mana-mana.

Mungkin ada yang tertanya bagaimanakah rupa power point and oulet di NZ. Ianya adalah seperti gambar di bawah:-

Jangan lupa juga bawa bersama electrical socket extension dari Malaysia. Boleh digunakan jika anda telah membawa adapter bersama-sama.

Dan jangan lupa juga untuk para lelaki, sila bawa electrical shaver/gunting elektrik dari Malaysia. Kos memotong rambut di sini agak mahal.

Internet

Internet seumpama nadi bagi pelajar-pelajar PhD. Walaupun kemudahan internet disediakan di universiti dan alhamdulilah, ianya sangat laju, tetapi anda tetap memerlukan pemasangan internet di rumah. Terdapat pelbagai pilihan sebenarnya di New Zealand/Auckland. Samada anda menggunakan landline (sambungan dari telefon rumah dan mendapat internet)-seperti Streamyx TM di Malaysia, atau pun anda memilih untuk menggunakan broadband. Di sini, saya dan suami menggunakan broadband sahaja, atas sebab pihak pengurusan apartment tidak membenarkan pengambilan syarikat landline lain di bangunan mereka - kerana mereka mempunyai kontrak dengan certain syarikat telekomunikasi. Kami tidak berminat kerana capaian yang sering terhenti-henti.

Jadi, kami telah memilih rangkaian broadband dari Woosh. Bagi kami Woosh sangat berpatutan berbanding broad band lain dan ianya juga laju, tetapi kelemahannya adalah apabila penggunaan yang tinggi dari pelajar-pelajar undergrad yang ramai (peak hours), kelajuan woosh sederhana sahaja. Namun begitu, apabila semua pelajar-pelajar undergrad bercuti (semester break), sayalah orang yang paling bahagia-kerana Woosh laju seperti capaian internet di universiti. http://www.woosh.com/ContentClient/Home/Home.aspx (Maka catatan di blog ini pun terhasil!- Atas sebab capaian internet sedang laju.)

Untuk mereka yang berminat untuk membawa router wifi sendiri dari Malaysia, amat-amat dialukan. Highly recommended! Kerana walaupun ianya disediakan oleh syarikat internet disini, harga pakej mungkin akan jadi lebih mahal. Keputusan suami untuk membawa router wifi sendiri dari Malaysia adalah tepat, kerana ianya telah sedikit sebanyak mengurangkan kos internet installation kami. Apa yang penting, anda tahu setting sendiri. Jika anda seperti saya yang tidak tahu satu apa pun berkaitan setting internet ini, tidak perlulah bawa. Minta sahaja syarikat telekomunikasi sediakan segala-galanya untuk anda. Saya bernasib baik kerana suami mahir di dalam selok belok komputer ini.

Pekerjaan Tetap/Sampingan/Penjagaan Anak [Day care]

Realitinya, mencari pekerjaan di NZ adalah lebih sukar dari mencari pekerjaan di UK dahulu. Di UK, kerja sampingan mudah didapati. Di sini, mereka agak cerewet dan sangat mementingkan warga tempatan iaitu masyarakat Kiwi itu sendiri. Saya tidak sama sekali menggalakkan pelajar-pelajar PhD mencari pekerjaan sampingan, kerana perlu ditegaskan matlamat utama kita di sini adalah membawa pulang PhD. Jadi catatan ini, lebih ditujukan kepada pasangan pelajar-pelajar PhD samada isteri/suami.

Kebanyakan yang bekerja disini adalah para suami-suami yang mana isteri mereka menyambung pelajaran PhD (seperti saya). Manakala kaum-kaum ibu, lebih selesa untuk tinggal di rumah dan menjaga anak-anak kerana kos day care di sini agak mahal! (Untuk anak yang berusia 3 tahun ke atas, kos day care adalah $90 seminggu, manakala untuk anak yang berusia 3 tahun ke bawah-lebih mahal lagi! Maaf saya tak ingat-tetapi melebihi $130-jika tidak silap saya). Jadi, lebih baik kaum ibu menjaga anak-anak mereka sendiri.

Ok, berbalik kepada isu pekerjaan. Asalkan anda tidak memilih pekerjaan, anda boleh bekerja apa-apa pun. Anda boleh melayari laman web ini untuk mencari pekerjaan. http://www.seek.co.nz/

Alhamdullilah, selepas 3 bulan suami saya menghadiri pelbagai temuduga, beliau memperolehi pekerjaan bersesuaian dengan kelulusan beliau. Jadi, untuk mereka yang mempunyai kelulusan kejuruteraan/bangunan (awam, QS, elektrik, mekanikal) - peluang untuk mendapat pekerjaan yang bersangkutan dengan bidang anda amat cerah. Walaupun bukan bertaraf Engineer, sekurang-kurangnya masih bersangkut-paut dengan bidang anda dan ini akan memberikan anda sedikit kelebihan pengalaman sebaik sahaja pulang ke Malaysia. Rata-rata bayaran minimum di sini (minimum wages) adalah $11/jam. Jadi boleh hitung sendiri jika anda bekerja 8 jam sehari x 7 hari(seminggu)-lumayan bukan?

Namun begitu, perkara wajib yang perlu anda ada untuk mendapatkan pekerjaan profesional di sini adalah:-

(i) Working Visa

(ii) Driving Licence (International)-buat di Malaysia siap-siap! - lebih baik Driving Licence NZ - tetapi sangat mahal (Kos $400 untuk menduduki ujian memandu)

(iii) No IRD (NZ Inland Revenue) -lebih baik apply ini, sebelum memohon mana-mana pekerjaan. [Wajib ada!] http://www.ird.govt.nz/

(iv) Semua kelulusan (sijil-sijil bawa semua dari Malaysia)

Bagi yang berminat untuk mencari pekerjaan sampingan sahaja, seperti bekerja di kedai, hotel dan lain-lain lagi, cukuplah sekadar ada item (i) dan item (iii). Tetapi, kadangkala untuk hotel-hotel 5 bintang, item (iv) juga diperlukan.

Tips Temuduga (dari suami)

Walau sekecil manapun jawatan yang anda pohon dan dipanggil temuduga, sentiasa berpakaian kemas (berkolar). Masyarakat Kiwi tidak mempunyai masalah jika English anda kurang mantap, mereka memandang pengalaman dan kematangan. Cuba sedaya-upaya untuk menerangkan pengalaman kerja anda di Malaysia dan menonjolkan kemahiran yang anda ada, bagi membuatkan penemuduga impressed. Sewaktu ditemuduga, mereka amat jarang melihat resume yang disertakan, jadi komunikasi anda penting untuk menerangkan apa yang pernah anda buat di Malaysia.

Pengeposan Barang-barang

Jika anda mempunyai barang-barang yang melebihi 20kg (syarat yang dibenarkan MAS), anda mungkin boleh membuat alternatif yang pernah saya buat ini. Sekurang-kurangnya 2 bulan sebelum berangkat, pastikan anda mengepos keperluan yang anda rasakan penting seperti buku dan printer yang dibalut kemas ke alamat di NZ. Jadi, pastikan anda tahu alamat di NZ (samada rumah sewa baru anda yang telah confirm atau rumah rakan-rakan PhD baru di NZ). Pada kebiasaanya, pos melalui kapal akan tiba di dalam tempoh 2 bulan dan harganya lebih murah dari pos melalui airline. Pastikan barangan anda dibalut dengan plastik bagi mengelakkan ianya basah atau rosak sewaktu di dalam perjalanan. Ada pihak-pihak di Pos Malaysia yang memberikan pelbagai alasan yang pelik dan kelakar (mengikut pengalaman cerita rakan-rakan di sini), hakikatnya barang-barang makanan MEMANG boleh dipost. Tiada masalah! Setakat ini, saya telah mendapat 4 kiriman bungkusan kotak dari famili di Malaysia. So, jangan risau. Pos sahaja! Syaratnya-pastikan ada ingredients in English. Dan tiada barangan pelik seperti mercun dan barangan merbahaya. Saya tahu anda cukup bijak. =)

Jika ada pihak yang berkata tidak boleh, sila ke cawangan pos yang lain. Dan anda akan kagum, mereka menerimanya dengan baik tanpa sebarang masalah.

Kad GRADS for Student (by Malaysia Airline)

Ramai yang tidak tahu kelebihan dan kewujudan kad ini, saya bersyukur mempunyai saudara-mara yang bekerja di MAS dan mereka mencadangkan kad ini kepada saya sebelum saya bertolak ke New Zealand. Kad ini memberikan kita kelebihan sebagai pelajar untuk memperolehi akses baggage sebanyak 10 kg tambahan lagi. Anda boleh apply kad ini di MAS, KL Sentral. Ianya valid setahun dan anda perlu renew kad tersebut. http://www.money4invest.com/apply-malaysia-airlines-grads-card-to-enjoy-discounted-airfares/

Tamat Catatan Ke-2.

Terima Kasih

TIPS KE NEW ZEALAND

2011-04-21T02:49:00.000-07:00

CATATAN UNTUK MEREKA YANG AKAN MENYAMBUNG PENGAJIAN KE NEW ZEALAND (TERUTAMA SEKALI AUCKLAND )

Saya kerap mendapat soalan-soalan dari para pelawat blog saya tentang bagaimana proses mendapat visa dan sebagainya dari mereka yang akan menyambung pelajaran di sini. Jadi untuk catatan kali ini, saya akan lari sedikit dari topik akademik dan research saya. Saya merasakan perlunya catatan ini dibuat bagi memudahkan mereka mengetahui selok-belok kehidupan di bumi Kiwi. Sedikit sebanyak tips yang diberikan ini, akan membantu mereka untuk datang belajar atau bekerja di New Zealand. Namun begitu, catatan saya ini banyak memfokuskan kepada mereka yang akan menyambung pelajaran di peringkat Postgraduate (Master and PhD).

Universiti:
Terdapat 4 universiti di Auckland, tetapi pada pandangan saya hanya 3 universiti yang mendapat recognition dari Kerajaan Malaysia. Maafkan saya jika tersilap. Tetapi tidak pernah saya mendengar pelajar-pelajar Malaysia belajar di universiti yang ke -4 ter-bawah.
(a) The University of Auckland (UoA) http://www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/
(b) Auckland University of Technology (AUT) http://www.aut.ac.nz/
(c) Massey University (Cawangan) http://www.massey.ac.nz/
(d) Unitec Institute of Technology http://www.unitec.ac.nz/

Jika anda berhajat untuk bekerja di NZ selepas tamat pengajian di NZ dan merupakan pelajar self-sponsored, saya rasa tiada masalah untuk menyambung pelajaran di Unitec. Ianya diikhtiraf Kerajaan NZ dan terdapat pelbagai course seperti di universiti-universiti yang lain. Cuma, bagi mereka yang memegang biasiswa Kerajaan Malaysia - JPA, MARA, KPT, Universiti (seperti saya), sebaik-baiknya pilihlah 3 universiti teratas yang telah saya nyatakan.

Universiti (a) dan Universiti (b) terletak di tengah-tengah Auckland City. Namun begitu terdapat juga kampus-kampus di luar kota, jadi anda harus melayari website rasmi mereka untuk melihat di mana kedudukan kampus anda kelak. Manakala untuk Universiti (c), kampus utama mereka terletak di Palmerston North (agak jauh dari Auckland) http://www.pncc.govt.nz/ , dan di Auckland, universiti ini hanyalah merupakan kampus cawangan sahaja.

Bandar Auckland:
Auckland merupakan bandar di persisiran pantai dan sebenarnya terbahagi kepada beberapa zon/district yang besar, dan penempatan pelajar-pelajar Malaysia banyak didapati di:-

(a) Auckland City http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/ - Urban area, betul-betul di tengah bandar dan berhampiran dengan universiti dan segala city life. Sangat sesuai untuk individu, pasangan yang belum mempunyai cahaya mata atau seorang/dua yang masih kecil. Sewa rumah agak tinggi. Kebanyakan pelajar menyewa apartment (studio, 1-2 bedroom)

(b) Mount Area (Mt Wellington, Mt Eden, Mt Roskill etc) http://www.mounteden.co.nz/ , http://www.arc.govt.nz/environment/volcanoes-of-auckland/mt-wellington.cfm- sub-urban, jauh sedikit dan memerlukan pengangkutan untuk ke universiti. Namun begitu, kadar sewa rumah agak rendah berbanding city dan rumah juga agak besar. Sangat sesuai untuk famili yang besar (anak-anak yang bersekolah) dan mereka yang sukakan ketenangan di waktu malam.

(c) North Shore (Albany, Takapuna) http://www.albany.co.nz/- Sub-urban, di seberang laut, perlu merentasi jambatan jika dari city. Kebanyakan adalah pelajar-pelajar AUT dan Massey Univ. Memandangkan terdapatnya kampus AUT dan Massey Univ di sini. Oh Ya! Untuk melihat jambatan yang saya maksudkan, sila lihat link ini. Auckland Harbour Bridge. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Harbour_Bridge

Penginapan
Cadangan saya adalah lihat dahulu di mana kampus anda berada, dan bagaimana keadaan kewangan anda dan famili. Kebiasaanya mereka yang berkeluarga besar akan tinggal di Mount Area (lihat link di atas).
Sebaik-baiknya boleh jenguk website ini http://www.trademe.co.nz/property untuk melihat senarai rumah-rumah sewa.

Bagi yang memikirkan mudah untuk ke universiti, Auckland City adalah tempat yang bersesuaian. Kebiasaanya, jalan-jalan yang mempunyai ramai pelajar Malaysia tinggal adalah di Symonds Street, Anzac Avenue, Mount Street (bukan Mount Area ye) dan Beach Road. Kedudukan jalan-jalan ini memang sangat berdekatan dengan universiti. Seperti saya yang menginap di Unilodge, Anzac Avenue, http://www.unilodge.com.au/Auckland/  perjalanan 'kaki saya' ke fakulti kira-kira 10-15 min (jalan saya yang agak santai). Selain dari apartment saya ini, ramai pelajar Malaysia mudah didapati di Apartment - Eden Crescent, Quest on Mount, Whitaker Place, Bldg 96, Railway, Forte, Princeton.
Kadar sewa di sini juga agak tinggi di mana purata adalah $250 - $330 (seminggu). Jika lebih dari itu, dikira sangat mahal. Di sini, rumah-rumah dibayar mengikut minggu. Bukan bulan. Sebaiknya jika anda akan sampai ke Auckland (dalam tempoh 1-2 bulan), mohon bantuan pihak Malaysia Auckland Postgraduate Student Association (MAPSA) untuk membantu mencari penginapan. http://mapsa.org/ Jangan risau, semua pelajar-pelajar Postgrad Auckland sangat baik dan ukhwah kami sangat tinggi!

Makanan Halal
Alhamdullilah, pengalaman belajar di UK (ketika master) dan di sini sedikit sebanyak dapat membantu saya menilai kandungan makanan halal. Makanan halal mudah didapati di Auckland City. Jika anda malas masak, kebab dengan mudah didapati di mana-mana. Setiap bucu jalan, ada sahaja restoran atau kiosk menjual kebab dari bangsa-bangsa Turki, Pakistani dan Arab ini. Restoran India muslim juga banyak.
Namun begitu, harga di sini memang agak mahal (rata-rata kebab didapati $8 ke atas) tetapi bagi saya berbaloi kerana saiz yang besar dan boleh dikongsi dua orang. Terdapat juga pilihan seperti kebab on rice, dan butter chicken on rice (masakan India)-kesimpulannya untuk mereka yang tidak boleh miss nasi, Auckland memang tiada masalah! http://dining.aucklandnz.com/restaurant/2501/Kebabs+On+Queen

Di sini juga terdapat Asian Food Alley, yang berkonsepkan seperti food court di Malaysia, yang mana terdapat Indonesian Food dan Malaysian Food yang halal! Saya dan suami sering ke sini pada hujung minggu, jika saya agak malas memasak. Wardani Indonesian Food adalah pilihan kami yang menyediakan masakan Minang dan Padang. Sedap dan pedas! Manakala terdapat 2 Malaysian Food di sini, tetapi satu tidak halal dan yang halal menjual makanan seperti roti canai, mee, nasi goreng dan sebagainya. http://www.viewauckland.co.nz/restaurants/food-alley-info-57154.html

Di universiti juga terdapat cafe menjual masakan India muslim. Namun begitu, kebanyakan pelajar Malaysia yang tinggal di sini, memasak adalah medan menunjukkan skil kerana barang-barang segar dengan mudah di dapati di hypermart, supermarket yang berdekatan. Tambahan pula dengan kos sara hidup yang tinggi, sedikit sebanyak, memasak dapat membantu mengurangkan kos.
Pasaraya yang sering menjadi pilihan ialah:-
(i) Countdown http://www.countdown.co.nz/our-stores/store-hours-and-locations   [fresh dan bersih]
(ii) Pak N' Save http://www.paknsave.co.nz/splash.aspx?Region=Auckland   [termurah!]
(iii) FoodTown http://www.foodtown.co.nz/  [fresh dan bersih]
(iv) New World http://www.newworld.co.nz/  [agak mahal]

The great news is-- ada 2 asian supermarket di Auckland, bermakna segala jenis beras, sos cili Malaysia, Indonesia, kicap-kicap, milo dengan mudah boleh didapati. Saya kurang pasti siapakah pemiliknya, tetapi besar kemungkinan adalah orang Hong Kong atau Taiwan. Jadi, Ba Alif Ba Ya juga dijual. Tetapi tiada masalah, kerana section berbeza.
(i) Tai Ping Asian Market http://www.taiping8.co.nz/sp.aspx?p=home
(ii) Lim Chour Asian Market http://yellow.co.nz/companies/Supermarkets/Lim-Chhour-Supermarket/101923532_1568.html

Dan untuk mencari kedai menjual daging-daging halal, alhamdullilah, walaupun agak jauh dari City, ianya mudah didapati. Kedai-kedai ini milik sepenuhnya orang-orang Islam berbangsa Pakistan, Arab, Fiji dan India. Mereka juga menjual rempah-rempah kari, serbuk-serbuk cili dan pelbagai lagi rempah yang pastinya segar dan sedap. Terdapat juga convenient store berkonsepkan 7-eleven yang dimiliki sepenuhnya oleh orang Islam, namun faham-fahamlah jika konsep sama dengan 7-eleven, harganya agak tinggi.
(a) Muhammad's http://www.mohammeds.co.nz/about.htm [main supplier]
(b) Kyber Mount Roskill http://www.finda.co.nz/business/listing/3y2n/khyber-foods-spices-ltd/
(c) Indian Species, Anzac Avenue [website tidak dijumpai]
(d) Forte Convenient [konsep seperti 7-eleven, agak mahal, tetapi sgt dekat dgn universiti ] http://www.zenbu.co.nz/entry/1124326-forte-convenience

Permohonan VISA dan Medical Check-Up
Ok, jika bercakap pasal permohonan VISA ini, lain orang lain pengalamannya. Ada yang menemui jalan kesukaran/kebuntuan dan ada yg smooth. Pengalaman saya alhamdullilah, dalam tempoh 2 minggu, semua visa student (saya) dan working visa (suami) siap dengan baik. Alhamdullilah! Thanks to our agent Mr Kiat from JMECC. Jadi ini bukan nak promo, tapi JMECC is highly recommended untuk anda yang akan ke New Zealand.http://www.jmecc.com.my/ Saya menggunakan khidmat JMECC Zon Utara (Penang) memandangkan saya bekerja di UiTM Perak. Kena ingat ya, di Malaysia tiada NZ Embassy, paling dekat pun di Singapura sahaja. So, better untuk permohonan Visa, gunakan khidmat agent dari awal! Saya tegaskan di sini even dari awal anda memohon program apa di university. Gunakan khidmat agent. Free of Charge! Sebab, agent ini akan dibayar oleh pihak universiti kerana berjaya mencarikan pelajar untuk mereka. Bukankah bagus..So, anda tidak perlu runsing-runsingkan kepala. Anda hanya perlu sediakan kos pembuatan Visa dan kos pengeposan. Harga visa lebih kurang SGD 490 (untuk 1 student visa+1 working visa). Kenapa Singapore Dollar, sebab dokumen-dokumen kita ini akan dihantar terus ke NZ Embassy di Singapore. JMECC akan sediakan setiap satu borang, anda perlu isi sebaik mungkin beserta requirements seperti medical check-up dan Sijil Akaun Baik (perlu memohon dr Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Putrajaya).

Tips untuk medical check-up.
Memandangkan hanya Doktor panel terlantik NZ Embassy sahaja yang akan dibenarkan membuat medical check-up anda, dapatkan semua senarai Doktor di Malaysia melalui JMECC. Mereka akan memberikan list ini. Seminggu sebelum anda membuat medical check-up, jaga semua pemakanan anda dan banyak minum air kosong. Sebaik-baiknya berpuasa. Ini untuk menurunkan paras kolestrol dan gula anda. Tips ini penting kerana medical check-up untuk ke NZ adalah sangat-sangat rumit dan cerewet. Jika anda tidak berjaya melepasi beberapa syarat, kemungkinan untuk anda tidak mendapat visa atau visa anda dipendekkan tempoh akan berlaku. Ini terjadi kepada seorang sahabat saya yang tidak mendapat Visa penuh (3 tahun), tetapi hanya untuk tempoh 1 tahun setengah. Ini mendatangkan masalah di Auckland kerana sahabat saya terpaksa membuat semula visa tersebut sebaik shj tempoh itu tamat. Ada yang terpaksa mengulang medical check-up sebanyak 2-3 kali (yang pasti costly!), untuk mendapat bacaan yang baik. Saya mencuba tips ini dan alhamdullilah, kami suami isteri melepasi medical check-up. Terima Kasih pada seorang kakak yang memberikan tips berguna ini.

Tips untuk Sijil Akaun Baik
Sijil Akaun Baik (Good Conduct Certificate) adalah syarat wajib NZ Embassy untuk meluluskan permohonan visa kita. Ini untuk melihat samada kita mempunyai sebarang rekod jenayah atau sebaliknya. Sebaik-baiknya walau di mana anda berada, ambil sedikit masa untuk pergi sendiri ke Putrajaya, Ministry of Foreign Affairs untuk membuat Sijil Akaun Baik ini. Saya pergi sendiri ke sini dan dalam masa setengah hari, saya mendapat Sijil Akaun Baik ini. Kosnya hanya RM10-RM20 sekeping. Ada rakan yang membuat melalui pengeposan, mengambil masa 2 minggu! Bukankah itu telah membuang masa.

Membawa barangan di dalam bagasi
Perkara paling wajib untuk saya cadangkan adalah bawa rice cooker dan blender anda sendiri dari Malaysia. Ini sangat-sangat berguna kerana, rice cooker agak mahal dan lain sedikit dari rice cooker di Malaysia. Begitu juga dengan blender. Elakkan membawa makanan basah/segar dan jangan bawa susu (putih yang berunsur seperti rupa dadah)-Ditakuti lama ditahan semasa pemeriksaan. Namun ada rakan yang terselamat tanpa diperiksa. Itu semua bergantung pada rezeki. Bagi saya, precautions adalah lebih baik. Kastam NZ sangat tegas dalam hal ini, dan sebaik-baiknya semua barang makanan di letakkan di dalam 1 beg khusus dan siap dengan senarai ingredients (in English), especially keropok dan ikan bilis (berplastik dan kering)-asingkan dari beg pakaian. Ini memudahkan kerja-kerja mereka memeriksa. Semua rempah-rempah kari, serbuk-serbuk, pastikan mudah dibaca-ingredients. Sewaktu di dalam kapal terbang, anda akan diberi sehelai borang clarification barang-barang yang anda bawa. Sila tulis dengan jujur dan nyatakan semua barang yang anda bawa. Jangan sorok satu pun. Penalti akan dikenakan jika berbohong atau menyembunyikan apa-apa. Ubat-ubatan boleh dibawa dengan syarat, bawa bersama surat Doktor yang ditulis di dalam English. Ini kerana ubat-ubatan di NZ, sangatlah mahal.

Sebaik-baiknya untuk memulakan kehidupan baru bawa sepasang kasut sneakers (kerana disini anda akan kerap berjalan kaki berbanding di Malaysia), sehelai jaket ringan yang sesuai dipakai (cuaca di NZ tidak menentu-kadangkala sejuk-sesejuknya, esoknya cerah dan panas!), beg galas belakang, ubat-ubatan (minyak gamat, minyak cap kapak, plaster, ubat yoko-yoko, panadol), peralatan tulis yang mencukupi dari Malaysia (di sini agak mahal). Maggi tak perlu bawa-disini ada banyak Maggi, Brand Mee Sedap pun ada! (Asian food Market), Al-Quran, buku-buku doa, Surah Yasin, CD Al-Quran, Sejadah, Kopiah, Telekung (untuk yang beragama Islam), stokin yang banyak dan keperluan belajar (laptop, mouse, cd kosong banyak, pen drive, removable hard disk, kalkulator-beli siap2! Sini mahal!).

Bangsa kaum di New Zealand
Rata-ratanya adalah masyarakat NZ (Kiwi dan Maori). Anda akan kagum sebaik sahaja tiba di NZ, melihatkan orang-orang Maori seperti orang Melayu! Susuk tubuh mereka mungkin agak lebih besar dan tegap, tetapi rupa dan warna kulit seperti orang Melayu. Bahasa yang digunakan mereka adalah English dan Maori. Bahasa Maori agak unik. Dari masa ke semasa, anda akan mendengar sendiri bahasa native mereka ini. Orang asal NZ adalah peramah dan mudah mesra, especially orang Maori. Mereka akan seronok jika kita berpeluang menegur mereka dengan ramah dan sopan. Tetapi jika anda menegur dan mereka seolah-olah seperti sombong, kemungkinan besar itu bukanlah org pure New Zealanders. Mungkin orang-orang dari benua Eropah. Selain daripada itu, anda akan terperanjat melihat betapa ramainya bangsa Jepun dan Korea di Auckland City. Rata-rata adalah pelajar-pelajar International dan yang telah bertukar kerakyatan. Sangat ramai! Terutama sekali di kawasan universiti (Symonds St) atau di tengah-tengah bandar (Queen St), bahasa Jepun dan Korea mudah didengari.

Keindahan New Zealand
Tidak mudah digambarkan dengan kata-kata. Jika anda penggemar alam semulajadi, dan jika anda gilakan fotografi dan aktiviti lasak-New Zealand lah tempatnya! Saya bercakap dari konteks saya pernah melihat keindahan UK dan Paris, bagi saya New Zealand adalah tercantik! Setiap tempat yang saya lawati, kalimah SubhanAllah sentiasa terlepas dari bibir. Kerana sememangnya New Zealand sangat cantik dan sangat aman.

Setakat ini coretan saya-yang saya rasakan penting-sementara teringat..
Jika ada persoalan, feel free to ask.
Terima Kasih

=)

Maori--The beauty of the culture

2011-04-02T21:34:00.000-07:00

Maori House--Unique, fulls with nature engagement and tradition--sense of simplicity and modest design..
I always love tradition and culture of different parts of people in the world

1,2 and 3 = Main features in Maori House

Top: Maori House in 1950s, Bottom Left and Right: Maori Lady and Maori Man with tattoo (symbol of bravery)

(all pictures are courtesy wikipedia and NZ Tourism)

Cooking is cool!

2011-03-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am a PhD scholar, but I'm still a full-time wife to my dear husband. Yes, I am a full-time researcher and a lecturer but at the same time, I need to have balance in my life. Alhamdullilah, -- this is how I do it..Through cooking and exploring the wonderful colours of foods =) A mind-therapy for a stressful brain.
This is what I call a woman power! You can work, you can do your PhD and at the same time you can do house chores! Alhamdullilah, praise to Allah for giving me this great health and creativity in making my husband happy.

[I'm not intended to share recipes here, probably because this is actually an academic blog--but just for a day, I want to show you--that no matter hard your life is (mine, of course my PhD-- at the moment), always remember this---"If there is a will,there is a way"..through everything!
Cheers
and happy viewing!

Lots of Love
All the way from Auckland City =)

Mindhi Rice (Nasi Arab) with Grilled Chicken

Preparation for sushi

My sushi

Craving for chocolate

Spicy Clam

Daging Masak Lomak Cili Api (Beef Cooked With Coconut Milk and Chillies)+ Hot Rice + Papadom

My own version of Fish and Chip + served with Corn Salad

Gulai Kupang (Cooked by my husband-actually) + Rice + Telur Dadar

My Pie

My version of Auckland's Breakfast -- Pasta Meatball+Jacket Potato

I love Kimchi--Korean's Pickled Cabbage--Thus I make my version of Kimchi fried Rice

Ayam Goreng Rempah (Herbs Fried Chicken)

Potato Pie

Steam Chocolate Cake

Crab

Malaysian Traditional savoury--Kuih Cik Mek Molek (Kelantanese savoury)

Meat Pie with Bread Pastry

Fried Prawn

Chocolate Dorayaki (Japanese savoury)

Bread Pudding with Apricots

Mee Kuah (Noodles)

My Supervisor, Prof Dr Hugh Byrd

2011-03-07T17:56:00.000-08:00

The University of Auckland

National Institute of Creative Arts

and Industries

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

School of Architecture and Planning academic staff

Dr Hugh Byrd,

Senior Lecturer

Academic qualifications and professional associations

BA(Hons) Dip Arch Birm., PhD, NZIA, RIBA

Teaching and research interests

Low energy buildings in temperate and tropical countries

Energy systems and policy

Climate change and the built environment

Urban form and energy
Environmental performance of buildings

Renewable energy systems in the built environment

Housing in developing countries

Post-occupancy evaluation

Energy for the future

2011-03-07T15:27:00.000-08:00

The world's first commercial solar tower plant gives a breathtaking glimpse of the future of power generation. What's stopping the technology's widespread adoption?

spain-solar-towers video

Located in the Andalusian countryside in the municipality of Sanlucar la Mayor, the 40-storey concrete tower collects sunlight reflected by a field of 624 huge mirrors. The light is so intense that it lights up dust and water vapour in the air. The project has been widely described as looking like something out of a sci-fi movie

It will collect more sun energy, because the solar tower/sun tower's wall mirror (1) reflect sun energy to the other sun panels, which are in the ground (2) / floor, than they collect from the sun direct too? And efficient / stronger sun energy goes to the top? (3) (sources: http://current.com/green/88811653_put-mirrors-to-the-solar-towers-wall-more-potential-more-capacity.htm)

A field of 600 mirrors reflects the rays of the sun to a heat exchanger at the top the tower. The heat exchanger converts the solar energy into steam. The steam drives the turbines to produce electricity. 6000 homes are being powered through this tower. Amazing!!!

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems use very different technology than photovoltaic systems. CSP systems use the sun as the "thermal heat" source as opposed to the photon energy of the sun as PV systems do. Most electric power plants use some form of fossil fuel as the thermal heat source to boil water into steam. The steam then spins a large turbine, which drives a generator to produce electricity. The three main types of CSP systems are parabolic trough, power tower, and dish Sterling engine systems. All use the thermal energy from the sun to generate electricity. CSP systems are marketed mainly to utilities as they take up a fair amount of land and require mechanical maintenance. The parabolic trough technology is very mature and accounts for about 90% of the installed CSP base.

Sources:

http://solarcellcentral.com/csp_page.html

Renewable Energy: Which one is better for Malaysia?

2011-01-27T00:07:00.000-08:00

My dear students and fellow friends..

Do you know that, while we are so happy driving our cars and watching television at home with our given subsidized power supply, the world is actually facing a serious and major problem on oil depleting issues.

ExxonMobil (2004) has stated that global rates of oil discovery have been falling since the early 1960s. All of the 100 or so supergiant fields that are collectively responsible for about half of current world production were discovered in the 1940s, '50s, '60s, and '70s. No fields of comparable size have been found since then; instead, exploration during recent years has turned up only much smaller fields that deplete relatively quickly. The result is that today only one new barrel of oil is being discovered for every five or six that are extracted and used (http://www.oildepletionprotocol.org/getinformed/faq).

This is happening now to our world. Just look at this figure.

Sources:

(http://blog.derestricted.com/category/peakoil/page/3/)

Human tends to produce more oil, due to the global energy demand. Unfortunately, the discovery of new oil fields are decreasing every day.

What will happen in the future if there are no fossil fuels left, I am not so sure..

Sources:

(http://blog.derestricted.com/category/peakoil/page/3/)

What shall we do? Are we gonna just wait and see?

Source:

(http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/r/renewable_resources.asp)

So, what is the best solution so far? Well, many researchers believed that the answer to this situation is by implementing Renewable Energy (RE).

What is Renewable Energy?

Source: (http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/08/australia-breaks-its-own-record-in-renewable-energy-goals/)

Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). International Energy Agency explains:

"Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources."

The main objectives to implement RE are to provide green energy, which is environmental-friendly, reliable, clean and prolongs sustainable development for the future.

I always believed that Solar Energy is the best solution for Malaysia. Basically, because our country is geographically located at the equator and we receives sun 12 hours a day.

Sources: (http://tooons.blogspot.com/2009/09/cartoon-solar-energy.html)

Solar energy with its radiant light and heat from the sun manage to give Malaysia a reliable supply of power.

Something that is sooo..true about solar power..=) Nobody owns it except the Almighty.

Sources: http://weblog.sinteur.com/index.php/2007/12/

There are two types of solar technologies; either passive solar or active solar. It is all depending on the way the solar radiant is capture, convert and distribute to solar energy.

Type 1:

Active solar techniques: include the use of photovoltaic panels (PV) and solar thermal collectors (concentrating solar power-CSP) to harness the energy.

Type 2:

Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air. This is more reflects towards building design in architectural study.

My focus on my PhD research is more on Type 1. So, what is Type 1 of Solar Power?

Solar power is divided into two main technologies, which are Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Thermal Power.

(i) Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. Below are the pictures that show the coolness of this system and how we can adapt to residential houses in Malaysia:-

Sources: http://www.solar-green-wind.com/archives/tag/photovoltaic-panels/page/2

(ii) Solar Thermal Power

Source: http://www.volker-quaschning.de/articles/fundamentals2/index.php

This is how solar thermal power works.

Source: http://www.worldenergy.org/publications/survey_of_energy_resources_2007/solar/724.asp

Sources: http://www.izmitsolar.com/images/tarla/

We really need a solar farm in Malaysia if we intended to implement this type of system.

Source: http://www.volker-quaschning.de/articles/fundamentals2/index.php

Source: http://www.gadgetroad.com/spain-uses-worlds-first-solar-thermal-power-plant-367/

Picture above shows a solar power plant which is located near Seville, in Spain, and can be described as an architectural landmark and an industry marvel. The Spain engineers have constructed a 40 storeys high tower surrounded with 600 mirrors that reflect sun’s rays on top of the tower. Heat from sun is used to steam water, that in turn powers turbines producing electricity with zero gas emissions making for the perfect environmental friendly power plant (http://www.gadgetroad.com/spain-uses-worlds-first-solar-thermal-power-plant-367/). This is the major different from PV system.

Something to ponder on.. So far, with the advancement of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV), Malaysia only focuses on BIPV for commercial and urban residential areas. How about rural and remote areas in Malaysia? Yes, we do have some successful PV projects in islands in Malaysia, but the progress is a bit slow compared to Thailand (our nearest neighbour). What are the best initiative? I personally don't think BIPV is suitable to be implemented to Malaysian 'kampung' houses. Do we really think that only urban people deserves to have all the excitement in life via electronic entertainment? So, the 'kampung' people will only sleep early at night in the future?This will definitely affected the society development in Malaysia for the future.

So, which one is better for Malaysia??

For a beautiful world in the future...

Sources:

http://www.virginiaenergy.org/home/2010/08/23/zoning-change-clears-way-for-solar-energy-in-eastern-shore/

Finally, I would like to recommend to all of you to be wise in energy consumption. Be wise and save it!

Source: (http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/videos/energy/2008_11_energy_cartoon_en.htm)

Buildings in Auckland City

2011-01-14T02:12:00.000-08:00

BRITOMART TRANSPORT CENTRE, AUCKLAND CITY, NEW ZEALAND

This is my 1st Edition on beautiful state-of-the-art buildings in Auckland City that really catch my eyes.

I learn to know that the history of Britomart began over decades ago, where this area has transformed tremendously over hundreds of years, which consists of many history of the land and reflected on how Kiwi got the name of 'Britomart'.

The Britomart area was originally part of the Waitemata Harbour and located at the seashore of Commercial Bay. The location of this building is between Britomart Point, Britomart Place and the Hobson Street ridge. To know more information on this history, kindly visit this website http://www.britomart.co.nz/history1.html

Map below show the location of Britomart, in the heart of Auckland city

Map sources from: http://www.lotolux.com/NZ/Auckland.html (edited by Pani)

.

Britomart is the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by a local authority in NZ. The purposes for Britomart is a transport centre linking train, bus and ferry services and is an important strategy in developing Auckland's $1.2 billion passenger transport network. Britomart is also an urban renewal project that preserves adjoining heritage buildings and creates a low-level heritage precinct with new public spaces (http://www.scribd.com/doc/7427236/Britomart-Transport-Center).

What I fond the most is the minimalist glass building design of this center.The building itself is a very vast glass sculpture which towering at the middle of a very large area and give a unique statement within its contemporary surroundings. It’s hard to tell where the best views are seen from this contemporary-modern building.

This award winning design building portrays a futuristic structure which made from louvred glass panels that drench it with natural lighting system. Thus, its optimizes natural sunlight entry from outside into this building in order to minimize the need for an artificial lighting. What a great mechanism for energy-efficiency purposes! Plus, Auckland's weather is of course more comfortable and cool compared to Malaysia, thus heat island problem is very minimal for this city. Whilst, outside, an outdoor terrace borders the pedestrian area, presenting panoramic view of Auckland beautiful and bright skyline.

Inside of Britomart Train System

Sama kan macam Komuter Malaysia? =)

Today, Alhamdullilah, the Auckland summer-sky is bright and the weather is warm but yet windy, made joy for me for photo-capturing =)

The waterfront sculpture trail at the front of Britomart Transport Centre is often overlooked. Very nice and simple.

My husband (there) sitting with his blue-coloured shirt =)

Auckland is beautiful; everywhere I see...

-The 1st edition of Buildings in Auckland-

Conferences: Here and There

2011-01-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

Too many seminars and conferences had been attended, but only few photos were safely saved in my portable hard disc =).

Seminar on Knowledge Sharing in Construction Industry 2009 (Poster Presentation)

Seminar on Environment and Architecture (SENVAR) 2009 (Venue: Sulawesi, Indonesia)

My Book

2011-01-09T16:50:00.000-08:00

Building Services is of course my mainstream..
Alhamdullilah, my first dream to have my own book in this area had accomplished in May, 2009.

Title: Building Services Installation in Suspended Ceiling and Raised Floor
Year: 2009
ISBN: 978-3-639-13758-3

My passion in Innovation

2011-01-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

Innovation can be described as the process that renews something that exists and not, as is commonly assumed, the introduction of something new..For me, my innovations are of course, prone to my nature of teaching in UiTM Perak - building services and environmental technology - two most lovable scope of Nur Azfahani's research!

My first starting gear is when I've been rewarded a Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) by MOHE in the year of 2007. The research-which was related with traditional and vernacular housing in Malaysia - completed in 2008. My first attempt in innovation is in the year of 2008 with several UKM and UM friends for UM Innovation Expo, and Alhamdullilah our project had won Bronze Medal. This success felts like a personal combat to me, as if I am in the military operations winning a strategic victory. haha..

This award had encouraged me to go more further.

Innovation can be seen as a change in the thought of process for doing something, or the useful application of new inventions or discoveries..So, in the year 2009, me and my group try to develop a ranking system to evaluate cross-ventilation in tropical houses using a computer software..

Alhamdullilah! who had ever wonder that this project won 5 awards so far since 2009 to 2010.

Thank you my team!! For a wonderful effort!

2009
Best Poster (UiTM Perak Innovation Expo 2009)
Gold Award (UiTM Perak Innovation Expo 2009)
The Best Innovation Award (UiTM Perak Innovation Expo 2009)

2010
Gold Award (Innovation, Invention & Desigh (IID) 2010, UiTM Malaysia)
Silver Award (Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2010, PWTC, K.Lumpur)

Ever since that, I had also encouraged and supervised my students to participate in numerous Innovation competition. Recently, 2 groups of students had won awards in two events. Alhamdullilah..

Amir Asyura and Taufiq Ismail
Bronze Medal
ENVEX 2010 (Venue: Univ Malaysia Perlis)

Faisal Hafiz Anuar, Mohammud Nazirul Mohd Noh and Mohammad Helmi Nadzri
Silver Medal
IID SE 2010 (Venue: UiTM Malaysia)

Winning team of Faculty Architecture, Planning and Surveying in IID 2010

Me and Khairulliza, our group system analyst (IID 2010)

Celebrating the winning team of my students project, together with our Dean, Prof Madya Dr Wan Mohd Naim Wan Mohd

My students and their project (as young as Semester 03 Diploma students) competing with PhD students - They got Silver Award for this project. Well done guys!

Another group of students (celebrating their victory of Bronze Medal in ENVEX 2010) held at UniMAP

The entrance of the Exhibition - joyous moment for me, because back from this competition, I got another good news! I managed to get a MOHE/UiTM scholarships for my PhD in Auckland! Alhamdullilah..

Another exhibition- this time is Malaysia Technology Expo held in PWTC

Our booth at PWTC (MTE 2010)

Gala Dinner - announcing the winners (MTE 2010)

Me and my research team - Cik Nazhatulzalkis (MTE 2010)

Moment of thruth - IID 2010 UiTM Shah Alam (awarding stage)

Glorious moment (three awards in a row for our CVRS project) -

Me; at the centre (leader of my team), with Nazhatulzalkis Jamaludin dan Khairulliza Ahmad Saleh

Thank You UiTM Perak! For everything!!
Especially to TP PJI, Prof Madya Dr Ismail Shamsuddin and PJI Team in UiTM Perak.

" Is all about passion and enthusiasm.."

Happy New Year 2011 Auckland City!

2010-12-31T12:26:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2011
May the future be as bright as it can be..

Auckland City: From the view of my apartment

12 pm: 1.1.2011..stunningly flourished from the Sky Tower

Alhamdullilah...

~Usia semakin meningkat~

Auckland City: The Mixture of Modern Skyscrapers and Post-Colonial Buildings

2010-12-24T15:15:00.000-08:00

Here and there..you can see the varieties tones of life in the bubbly and colourful Auckland City..The building, the surrounding, the nature..

This city is so exciting, holding the attention of my sight.

This city is young and vibrant and at the same time remains a set of customs and traditions which unite several cultures throughout the world..

Yes, a great mix of culture..This city is a little part of westerners, a little part of asian, and of course most of it are Kiwis..

I love the buildings, I love the beaches, I love the parks, I love the foods (definitely-Halal food!), I love the weather..Yes, I love almost everything about this city..

Wherever you stay in Auckland, you're never far from breathtaking scenery and invigorating walks

“An attractive place doesn’t have to be a big city, but it has to be cosmopolitan—a place where anyone can find a peer group to be comfortable with, and also find other groups to be stimulated by; a place seething with the interplay of cultures and ideas; a place where outsiders can quickly become insiders.”

Richard Florida, Director of Martin Prosperity Institute, Professor of Business and Creativity, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, in The Rise of the Creative Class, 2003.

Kia Ora!
Auckland City..
"the love that unites humanity" (Germaine Greer).

The modern architecture..

Colours of the city

Art everywhere..

The facilities

Glass everywhere..

The Post-Colonial buildings

The parks

The harbour and the tower

My University

The parks

The apartments and its surroundings

The beaches and sea-side

My entertainment here (Dining, of course ~ Halal! and Cinema)..

Auckland City ~ The city of colours..=)

All pictures are private collection of Nur Azfahani Ahmad

Mother Nature wonders..SubhanAllah..

2010-12-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

Alhamdullilah, praise to Allah..For giving me the chance and opportunities to see the wonders of His creation..
I've been to Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland in Rotorua recently (2 hours drive from Auckland), during my summer holiday with husband and friends..I was totally blown away by the magnificient views, mineral colors and earth form around me..
For me, this park is so beautiful..We can walk at our own pace for the long-ish walk (around 1 hour) and view a wide range features of mother nature; for instance glasier eruption, mud pool, volcanic craters and many more..
SubhanaAllah..Maha Suci Allah..The view starting from the entrance is spectacular and amazing!!
You can feel the earth is literally alive!!
Everywhere you look there wil be vents of steams from the volcanic crater..
I remembered that tears flowing down from my eyes seeing and believing all of this come from one Creator-Allah!

For me, this is a wonderful experience and the knowledge to treasure..

The entrance

Bubble of steamy mud

Scenic thermal pool

Glasier eruption

Beware the temperature!

Nature's experiences

Volcanic wonders

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

2010-12-08T16:15:00.000-08:00

Environmentalism is a broad and very abstract philosophy regarding on each individuals (Lincoln, C, 2009). We need strong social movement (like organisation, society, government policies and many more) that give greater concerns regarding on environmental improvement, energy- efficiency, climate changing factors, global warming issues and issue on depleting of main energy sources (e.g ; oil, natural gas and coal) .

Source: http://www.airdex.com/environmental.html

UN has set-up a well-known protocol which known as Kyoto Protocol on 11 Dec 1997 at Kyoto, Japan, to address and solve various issues on environment. Kyoto Protocol is a protocol that aimed to fight global warming issue. There are 37 countries in the world that volunteer themselves to a reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG). One of it is our country, Malaysia. (http://unfccc.int/files/kyoto_protocol/status_of_ratification/application/pdf/kp_ratification.pdf, 2009)

So, what is greenhouse ?

IPCC (2008) has defined that a greenhouse phenomenon happens due to the existence of greenhouse gas (sometimes abbreviated GHG), where these gases (in an atmosphere) absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_green_house_effect.svg

Thus, this effect will rise the temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energy from the sun. Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average temperature would be about 60ºF colder (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html, 2010). This has also contribute towards climate changing problems in our world today and created global warming issues.

The concept of Carbon Print

Greenhouses effect has directly linked to the concept and problems of carbon print issue.The concept name of the carbon footprint originates from ecological footprint discussion which reflected towards a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems [Safire, William (2008-02-17), Footprint". The New York Times].

A carbon footprint can be defined as "the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event, product or person" (UK Carbon Trust. Retrieved 2009-07-24). It is often elaborated in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted to the world.This measures your impact on the environment based on how much carbon dioxide you produce to support your daily activities.

Source: caglecartoons.com/

The term “carbon footprint” has become a very trendy and recognizable phrase in the last decade. Indeed, this concept is very related to my PhD research on solar technology (PVs technology). Government of Malaysia had announced in the Plan of Malaysia 7th, 8th and 9th which stated that a big incentive for installing or considering solar power for nation buildings. This is by any chance to contribute towards the prospect of reducing carbon footprint, so the discussion of what exactly a carbon footprint is and what it actually measures might be important and wise thing to do.

Lets see what types of activities in daily lives contribute to GHG emissions.

Source: http://1bog.org/blog/what-is-a-carbon-footprint/

See also this cartoon, it might give you some idea on what happens to our world today..

Source: http://www.chrismadden.co.uk/

Or, maybe this cartoon will give you greater ideas on why carbon-footprint is related to global warming..Industrialisation-transportation-human activities

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/08/the_carbon_foot.php

And I do hope that one day, we will not facing this...

Source: http://www.internationalrivers.org

People throughout the world especially great leaders from many countries are always creating new policies, new laws, plans, blah..blahh..blahh, meeting, discussion..but where are the actions?

Here’s a list of things to create more energy efficient and sustainable life:

Groceries : Use reusable water bottles, buy items with less packaging, buy locally grown foods (so, less transportation and CO2 emission-less carbon prints-voila!), eat less meat (heat-heat-heat contribution) .
Buy second-hand (so, less production, manufacturing, industries..errr..it is so damn hard, right!).
Use e-mails, instead of paper mail, newspapers
Travel-: Take public transportation (less of oil and gas will be used - remember depleting issues, less car manufacturing, err..what will happen to Japan then?), Ride your bike and walk (good for your metabolism),Teleconference instead of flying, Inflate your tires, avoid/less using air-conditioning for your car (my friends yelled at me ~ are You insane???!!). hahaha
Electrical appliances : Unplug seldom-used appliances (especially when you are sleeping or not at home), switch to Energy Star or other energy efficient appliances.
Plantation : Plant native trees (so, no transportation will be used for importing/exporting overseas plants, lots of lots of plants
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Buy renewable energy (Yes, Go Solar! Photovoltaics Solar System)

By applying most of this suggestion, less carbon foot-prints are achievable! Not only by me and you (who ever read this article, but hopefully many countries can applys these suggestion..).We have been polluting our world too much. Yes, we have tried to do something about it. People have tried to come up with a new, renewable energy source that is easily obtained. We have already figured out several non-polluting techniques: wind, water and solar power. I will write in another chapter about Renewable Energy.

Thanks to my favourite blog for the utmost input and data
http://1bog.org/blog/what-is-a-carbon-footprint/

Auckland and its surrounding..

2010-12-05T21:48:00.000-08:00

Around Auckland, buildings were designed with minimalist and modern architecture..
Whilst, the parks are strongly-influenced by Maori culture and heritage..

Lots of lots of apartments here in Auckland city..

Old railway station..

Vector Arena Stadium

Unit of houses..

Street lighting with the approach of Maori design..

Maori symbols can be easily seen everywhere and anywhere..

Maori symbol..

Modern minimalist housing concept..with watery landscape features at front of the housing..

The maori symbol ~The Koru depicts new beginnings, growth and harmony, taken from the symbolism of a unfurled silver fern leaf. New Zealand has some of the most beautiful ferns in the world.

The watery landscape as the main cooling features for the housing area..Definitely for the high-class family income area..

This Maori symbol can be interpreted as ~ The circle of life which includes the path of life ever ongoing, with no beginnings and no end

New Zealand's symbol- leaves of New Zealand attach together..

love the skylights..cool pedestrian walkway..

They love using glass as the main facade` of the building here in Auckland, although it is not very energy-efficient..

i love the way they build up the facade..of course with another approach of Kiwi's leaves..

unique sculpture...but I still cannot figure it out what it is?

name one of the apartment near the dock.

"The power of imagination...the sky is the limit.."

Apakah Thermal Comfort? UNTUK PELAJAR/PENSYARAH

2010-12-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

Salam, setiap semester, saya selalu berhadapan dengan soalan yang sama berulang kali dari pelajar-pelajar (tidak kira dari kampus UiTM Perak/Shah Alam) yang bakal/akan membuat thesis/dissertasi. Alhamdullilah, ada juga yang telah pun menjadi pensyarah juga seperti saya dan membentangkan kertas-kertas penyelidikan mereka di persidangan-persidangan dalam negara. =)

Thermal Transmittance and Convection
Picture sources:
http://www.somfy-architecture.com/index.cfm?page=/buildings/home/bioclimatic_facades/natural_ventilation

Indoor Thermal Comfort
Picture sources: http://www.battlemccarthy.demon.co.uk/projects/rare.htm

Outdoor Thermal Comfort
Picture sources: http://www.battlemccarthy.demon.co.uk/projects/rare.htm

Pastinya mereka yang bertanya akan membuat kajian terhadap bidang yang menjadi kecendurangan saya selama ini. Iaitu "Environment Technology and Services". Saya cukup menggemari skop penyelidikan dan inovasi di dalam bidang ini.

Mereka sering bertanya perkara yang sama iaitu berkaitan Keselesaan Therma (Thermal Comfort). Mungkin, barangkali, kerana saya sendiri memang cenderung ke arah penyelidikan yang berkaitan Teknologi Persekitaran (Environmental Technology).

Satu yang saya ingin selalu tekankan bahawa anda perlu mengkaji maksud dan definisi sebenar sesuatu perkara sebelum membuat kajian. Penyelia akan sentiasa memberi panduan tetapi kamu yang harus memahami maksud sebenar sesuatu perkataan.

Thermal Comfort (Keselesaan Terma) bukanlah satu istilah yang mewakili HANYA satu perkara. Skop Keselesaan Terma sangat luas. Ia boleh sahaja berlaku untuk bangunan dan juga untuk manusia.

Jika kamu tahu tentang suhu (Dry-Bulb and Wet-Bulb Temp), kelajuan angin (wind velocity), kelembapan relatif (RH), wap air (water vapor) dan pelbagai lagi elemen, ia sebenarnya semua di bawah skop Thermal Comfort.

Apakah maksud Thermal Comfort?
ASHRAE telah menggariskan bahawa Thermal Comfort sangat berkait rapat dengan keselesaan terma pada manusia. Kerana objektif utama adalah untuk memberi keselesaan pada manusia. Saya amat pasti selepas ini, nota saya ini akan digunakan oleh majoriti pelajar saya untuk tujuan assignment/dissertasi, saya tidak kisah. Ambil dengan syarat 'cite' nama saya (Nur Azfahani, 2010) dan baiki bahasa kamu. Kerana yang pastinya tujuan saya menulis di sini adalah sekadar memberi tunjuk ajar di dalam bahasa rojak! Untuk memudahkan pemahaman.

ASHRAE menyatakan dalam Perkara 55, keselesaan terma sangat dipengaruhi oleh tahap keselesaan yang diekspressikan sebagai selesa oleh manusia di mana ianya disumbangkan oleh faktor-faktor persekitaran. Jadi Thermal Comfort ini sebenarnya terlalu abstrak kerana ianya bergantung pada setiap individu. Lain orang, lain tahap keselesaan mereka. Kalau kamu gemuk, tahap keselesaan berbeza dengan orang yang kurus (Saya amat pasti ramai yang masih mengingati perbandingan yang saya selalu buat sewaktu di kelas).

Jadi, apakah faktor-faktor persekitaran?
Sangat banyak!
Suhu, solar radiation, hujan, angin, kelembapan, faktor hadangan, topograhy, dan banyak lagi amat mempengaruhi keselesaan terma. Metabolisma badan juga antara faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi.
Jadi fikir masak-masak, adakah skop Thermal Comfort yang kamu ingin buat?
Atau sebenarnya kamu ingin fokus pada satu skop kecil di bawah Thermal Comfort?

Thermal comfort dipengaruhi dengan kadar haba dialirkan, disebarkan, diserap, dihadangkan oleh pelbagai faktor dan elemen ( heat conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporative heat loss).
Faktor-faktor Thermal Comfort sendiri dibahagikan kepada tiga faktor besar iaitu:-
1. Human (Metabolism, Pakaian, Saiz badan, Faktor Lemak, Activity yang dilakukan)
2. Internal (Material bangunan di dalam, Suhu lantai, susunatur perabut, Kedudukan bukaan pintu tingkap)
3. External (Solar radiation, faktor-faktor hadangan, topography, Angin dll)

Jadi, kamu harus memahami apakah istilah 'thermal equilibrium', thermal conductivity, thermal resistant, thermal transmittance di mana yang pastinya setiap kajian HARUS disertakan dengan formula-formula! Dan pastinya menggunakan instrumen/alatan yang berkaitan. [Haa..saya rasa untuk bercerita pasal formula dan peralatan, saya kena buka bab lain! Itu pun kalau ada permintaan..]

Jika penyelidikan kamu tidak mempunyai kajian numerikal/quantitative (formula), bagaimana kamu ingin katakan yang bangunan kamu selesa? Renung-renungkan.

Kemudian, kamu ingat K-Value, U-Value, R-Value? Ya, jangan lupa kaitkan ini di dalam dissertasi kamu, jika Thermal Comfort yang ingin kamu buat.

Seterusnya jangan lupa untuk membuka kitab-kitab Thermal Comfort yang paling popular sekali di dunia (Yes, I Really mean it..Di dunia..) iaitu ASHRAE STANDARD AND CIBSE STANDARD! Hukumnya WAJIB!
Dan pastinya kajian yang dibuat di Malaysia, harus juga dirujuk dengan UBBL 1984!
Baru kajian kamu efektif dan mencapai nawaitu sebenar Thermal Comfort.

Justeru itu, saya amat-amat berharap, kepada pelajar-pelajar dan juga bakal Penyelia, tolong fahami istilah 'Thermal Comfort'. Saya selalu memeriksa dissertasi pelajar-pelajar sebelum ini, maaf.. ramai yang tidak memahami maksud Thermal Comfort dan kadangkala membuat penyelidikan berkaitan udara SAHAJA tetapi tajuk di luarnya adalah Thermal Comfort. Anda boleh membuat kajian berkaitan dengan syarat menulis seperti contohnya "Thermal Comfort : In Focus of Temperature". Itu dibenarkan..

Sekian, Terima Kasih

"Sharing is Charing"
Bahasa di atas adalah semua ilham sebenar dari saya sendiri..

Nur Azfahani, 2010

Auckland

What I see almost everyday; from home to the university..

2010-11-25T10:44:00.000-08:00

It is almost 4 weeks now since my first arrival in Auckland city, New Zealand.
My magnificient experience everyday..

Colourful birds

Beautiful flora and fauna

Billboard, signboard and signage

Various Facilities..

My pathway everyday..

25th November 2010..
Each and everyone of the doctoral students in my faculty will be given a shared 2 person-office for research purposes. Alhamdullilah, mine is at the 5th floor in this building and only 4 doors away from my cool supervisor, Pak Hugh's office.

This is what I see everyday..from my office's window..

Ive shared this room with a Germany scholar..
Rak bukuku yang masih kosong. Eventually, in time, I will utilised this space..=) In time..InsyaAllah..

My Jacket~gantung situ..

My Pre-PhD phase: Photovoltaic Tree! Cool!!

2010-11-24T21:11:00.000-08:00

It is the right time now for Malaysia to make full effort on the gift Allah granted us the most ~ Sunshine - Solar radiation~since our country's strategic location in this universe is in the Equatorial region. Why must we still rely on the sources of oil and gas? Our earth is facing crucial duration now especially on the climate changing and global warming issue.

Map of Malaysia (Equatorial region)

Renewal Energy (RE) is a must in every country in this world due to our lack of sources for gas and oil now. We should seek for other alternatives, because the sources of oil and gas are depleting. Solar technology is the most effective option this earth have; it is clean, environmental-friendly energy, less-maintenance and stable.

See efforts that made by several countries throughout the world (UK-London, Milan, Vienna, Germany, etc)

"Photovoltaic Trees"

For me, these are really-really cool and neat stuffs!!

London Tourism Centre

Vienna (Hardscape)

Sun -shading system for Parking area - which utilised the sun!

Milan

Artistic sculpture with purpose!

Photovoltaic trees are wonderfully used for various of reasons (landscaping, sun shading, parking areas, sculpture and many more)

Source:

http://www.google.co.nz/images?q=Photovoltaics+tree&um=1&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-nz:IE-SearchBox&tbs=isch:1&ei=gertTOeYMYn6swOonLigDA&sa=N&start=147&ndsp=21

last accessed 25th November 2010

Courses after courses...

2010-11-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

22nd November 2010

Having EndNote Part 1 and Part 2 courses today..Dah dipelajari berulang kali di UiTM, but I need to refreshed my memory..
The PCs here were neat with larger monitors, the internet connection was fast..

16th November 2010 - PhD Induction Day

Having a wonderful and meaningful PhD Induction Talk series today..The talk were great, the ambient were calm and easy, my groups were fun to know, meet few friends from Korea, China, Germany and of course Malaysia! hehe

Santai ~ itulah istilah yang tepat untuk induction day ku..dan hanya mengambil masa selama satu hari sahaja, ringkas tepat dan padat..

Auckland is so beautiful..

2010-11-17T15:06:00.000-08:00

6th Nov 2010

Auckland City just as same as the town of Seri Iskandar, Perak which is so calm and peaceful..Of course, bukan pada kemajuan bangunan nya, itu berbeza..Sangat-sangat ketara..[Aku rindu UiTM Perak ku!! ]
Auckland bandar yg aman dan penduduknya cool, sempoi dan relaks aje not like Edinburgh, tmpt aku study during MSc..Betul ckp Hugh, my supervisor, if you was thinking Edinburgh is serene and peaceful, please come to Auckland..Sy percaya sekarang Pak Hugh!!..(haha, kalau lah dia tahu aku menggelarkannya Pak Hugh..) =D

See my pictures..
a wonderful day in Parnell town-during spring..

BUSBAR TRUNKING SYSTEM

2010-11-16T13:18:00.000-08:00

What is BUSBAR? (extracted from http://www.wikipedia.com/)

A busbar in electrical power distribution refers to thick strips of copper or aluminium that conduct electricity within a switchboard, distribution board, substation, or other electrical apparatus. The size of the busbar is important in determining the maximum amount of current that can be safely carried. Busbars can have a cross-sectional area of as little as 10 mm² but electrical substations may use metal tubes of 50 mm in diameter (1,000 mm²) or more as busbars. Busbars are typically either flat strips or hollow tubes as these shapes allow heat to dissipate more efficiently due to their high surface area to cross-sectional area ratio. The skin effect makes 50-60 Hz AC busbars more than about 8 mm (1/3 in) thick inefficient, so hollow or flat shapes are prevalent in higher current applications. A hollow section has higher stiffness than a solid rod, which allows a greater span between busbar supports in outdoor switchyards. A busbar may either be supported on insulators, or else insulation may completely surround it. Busbars are protected from accidental contact either by a metal enclosure or by elevation out of normal reach. Neutral busbars may also be insulated. Earth busbars are typically bolted directly onto any metal chassis of their enclosure. Busbars may be enclosed in a metal housing, in the form of bus duct or busway, segregated-phase bus, or isolated-phase bus. Busbars may be connected to each other and to electrical apparatus by bolted or clamp connections. Often joints between high-current bus sections have matching surfaces that are silver-plated to reduce the contact resistance. At extra-high voltages (more than 300 kV) in outdoor buses, corona around the connections becomes a source of radio-frequency interference and power loss, so connection fittings designed for these voltages are used.

"Strictly for academic purpose only"

Our sweet little hommie..UNILODGE

2010-11-16T13:15:00.000-08:00

Not so little, but yet so high in the sky..my little hommie here in Auckland with hubby terchinta berada di Tingkat 13 bangunan ini yang dikenali sebagai UNILODGE. Nice view especially during the nite. I can see Sky Tower just in front of my apartment. Alhamdullilah..

Hanya 10 minit sahaja berjalan kaki ke universitiku dan 5 minit ke pasaraya Asia yang menjual barangan dari Asia, iaitu Tai Ping. Tak sangka di sini pun ada Taiping..=)

Boleh beli semua produk-produk dari Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan seperti sos cili, kicap cap kipas udang, beras, santan kotak, etc.

My new broadband..Alhamdullilah..

2010-11-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

3hb Nov 2010

Dah biasa di Malaysia mempunyai line streamyx sendiri di rumah, jadi apabila menjejakkan kaki di bumi Auckland ini, jadi kekok dan seperti tiada perkembangan dunia luar apabila tidak mempunyai internet sendiri di rumah walaupun baru 4 hari menjejakkan kaki di sini..
Akhirnya, aku nekad, mencari broadband yang dikenali sebagai Woosh sendiri untuk rumahku. Menaiki bas ke satu destinasi asing yang dikenali sebagai NewMarket. Atas tunjuk ajar seorang adik PhD di sini. Berjalan kaki sedikit dari hentian bas, menuju ke belakang bangunan Warehouse, terus berjumpa ibu pejabat Woosh.
Hilang penat berjalan apabila disapa mesra oleh Receptionist Woosh.

Alhamdullilah, di New Zealand untuk mencari talian internet atau broadband sendiri untuk rumah tiada masalah. Prosesnya mudah. Janji ada akaun bank sendiri kerana mereka akan membuat potongan bil direct-debit dari akaun bank kiwi ku. Bukan tiada talian internet di work station ku di Uni, tetapi kemudahan di rumah, perlu juga..

Yang lebih menggembirakan, apabila suamiku membawa router wifi kami sendiri dari Malaysia. Sudah 'save-budget' di situ dari mengambil router wifi Woosh yang sudah tentunya memerlukan wang yang lagi lebih. Barangan buatan China, of-course mana-mana tempat di seluruh dunia boleh digunakan. =) Terima kasih Low Yat, KL!!

Tetapi broadband di New Zealand ini agak 'old-skoll' sedikit berbanding di Malaysia yang memang lebih high-tech. Jika di Malaysia, broadband kita hanya seperti pen drive, tetapi di sini, saiznya agak besar seperti modem internet TM di Malaysia. Tidak kisahlah, janji ada dan boleh ku melayari FB kegemaranku..Hehe..

Award for Quality : Active Lecturer for Publication Category 2009 (UiTM Perak)

2010-11-16T12:37:00.000-08:00

Alhamdullilah, thanks to Allah..

There are no such words to describe but Alhamdullilah, syukran Ya Allah for my wonderful career and life.

I never want to be recognized for my work, I just put my whole effort and focus into it.

Students Participation in Innovation Competition

2010-11-16T12:27:00.000-08:00

Alhamdullilah,thanks to Allah. Two students' projects from Building Surveying Department, UiTM Perak managed to won Silver and Bronze medal in various Innovation Competition in universities in Malaysia. The project is known as Domestic Water Tank Cleaning System which related with green technology and energy-efficiency concept.
Congratulations you guys for the great effort and team work.
I am so proud of you guys!

Picture 1: Bronze Medal (ENVEX 2010, Universiti Malaysia Perlis) Team: Amir Asyura and Taufiq

Picture 2: Silver Medal (IID SE 2010, UiTM Malaysia) Team: Faisal Hafiz Anuar, Mohammud Nazirul and Mohd Helmi)

Picture 3: From left (me-as the supervisor), the team, our Faculty's Dean, Deputy Dean (Innovation), my friend Sallehan (who also won) and his supervisor PM Dr Zaiton

Exhibition of Invention, Innovation and Design (IID) 2010

2010-11-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

14th January 2010 (Venue: Mara University of Technology, Shah Alam, Malaysia)
Alhamdullilah, our group won the Gold Medal in this exhibition for our CVRS research funded by FRGS.
This project was designed for sustainability and passive design for Modern and Traditional houses in Malaysia.

Keep it up, Team!!
Gambatte Kudasai..

Auckland: Satu Hijrah

2010-11-14T03:58:00.000-08:00

30 Okt 2010.. dengan lambaian dan iringan doa, aku dan suamiku terbang jauh meninggalkan bumi Malaysia yang ku cintai. Setelah setahun berhempas pulas mengatur langkah dengan pelbagai persiapan, akhirnya hari ini aku terbang jauh meninggalkan tanahair untuk menjejakkan kaki ke bumi Kiwi.

Segala-galanya bermula kira-kira setahun lalu, apabila permohonan PhD ku diterima oleh pihak pengurusan UiTM. Maka pelbagai prosedur dijalankan, bermula dengan dua peringkat temuduga yang perlu ku hadapi, di kampus cawangan dan di kampus induk, UiTM Shah Alam. Temuduga untuk menapis sejauhmana tahap kemampuan seseorang calon. Aku bersyukur kerana selama aku berkhidmat di UiTM Perak, banyak anugerah telah ku perolehi. Secara tidak langsung, peluang untuk ke luar negara adalah lebih cerah. Bukan untuk menabik dada, tetapi sebenarnya aku merasa puas dan berbaloi atas segala hasil usaha dan ketekunan ku bekerja selama ini.Penghargaan yang bukan kepalang aku letakkan kepada Ketua Jabatanku dan Dekan FSPU yang banyak menolong memberi sokongan yang tidak berbelah bahagi. Syukur, alhamdullilah..Hanya Allah yang boleh membalasnya.

Aku juga bersyukur mempunyai suami yang selalu memberikan sokongan moral terutama sekali dalam proses penyiapan visa perjalanan kami berdua yang pastinya rumit dan memeningkan kepala. Tetapi aku selalu berpegang pada prinsip ~ "Go with the Flow.." Yang penting, siap semuanya dan hati pun tenang. Dalam masa yang sama, tugasan hakiki ku tetap jalankan dengan sebaik mungkin.

Teringat hari pertama aku membuka surat tawaran PhD dari Bahagian Biasiswa UiTM. Hati berdegup kencang. Sudahlah kepenatan, kerana aku baru sahaja tiba dari Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) kerana membawa pelajar-pelajarku menyertai pertandingan Inovasi. Alhamdullilah, aku berjaya menyambung pelajaran ke luar negara. Yang lebih memeranjatkan ku, hanya 3 orang sahaja dari Fakulti Senibina, Perancangan dan Ukur (FSPU)seluruh kampus UiTM yang mendapat tawaran PhD ke luar negara dan aku salah seorang daripadanya. Alhamdullilah..leganya hatiku..Di rumah, terus aku sujud syukur kepadaNYA. Syukur kerana sebenarnya ini impian aku sejak dahulu dan ini keinginan aku untuk menggembirakan orang tuaku.

31 Okt 2010..tarikh keramat yang akan diingati sampai bila-bila..
Bermulanya pengembaraanku ke bumi Kiwi dalam mengejar seribu impian bagi membina sebuah masa hadapan. Alhamdullilah, berkat doa dan sokongan ibu-bapa, suami, rakan-rakan dan pelajar-pelajar kesayangan, aku menjejakkan kaki ke Auckland, New Zealand.

Bermulalah episod baru dalam hidupku yang kini kembali bergelar seorang pelajar.
InsyaAllah, tidak akan aku sia-siakan peluang yang telah diberikan oleh UiTM kepadaku.

1 Nov 2010.. MashaAllah, aku mendaftar hari ini sebagai seorang pelajar PhD di sebuah universiti yang ternama. The University of Auckland. Terasa seperti di dalam mimpi. Syukran Ya Allah..Alhamdullilah di atas segala-galanya..Dan yang lebih bermakna, supervisorku walaupun berbangsa British yang telah menetap di Auckland, beliau adalah seorang muslim. MashaAllah...SubhanaAllah..Hanya itu mampu ku lafazkan di dalam hati ini..
Terasa begitu asing di sekelilingku, namun aku lega kerana pemergianku ditemani seorang sahabat baik yang bernama suami =)

Passive cooling effects of courtyards

2010-09-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

H. Safarzadeh and M.N. Bahadori
School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Blvd., Tehran, Iran
Received 9 August 2003;
revised 7 October 2003;
accepted 30 April 2004.
Available online 26 August 2004.

Abstract

The passive cooling effects of a courtyard of a small building were determined numerically, employing an energy-analysis software developed for that purpose. The passive cooling features considered were the shading effects of courtyard walls and two large trees (of various shapes) planted immediately next to the south wall of the building, the presence of a pool, a lawn and flowers in the yard, and the wind shading effects of the walls and trees. It was found that these features alone cannot maintain thermal comfort during the hot summer hours in Tehran, but reduce the cooling energy requirements of the building to some extent. They have an adverse effect of increasing the heating energy requirements of the building slightly. The same savings in cooling energy needs of the building can be obtained through many features such as wall and roof insulation, double-glazed windows, Persian Blinds, and special sealing tapes to reduce infiltration. They all save on heating energy requirements as well.

Keywords: Courtyard; Passive cooling; Building energy analysis
Article Outline

1.
Introduction

2.
Description of the building

3.
Development of an energy-analysis software
3.1. Consideration of thermal- and flow-networks for the building
3.2. Development of the governing equations for the energy analysis of the building
3.3. Heat transfer through ground in courtyard and the basement
3.4. Determination of the shaded areas in the courtyard and on the south wall of the building
3.5. Determination of the heat transfer coefficients
3.6. Determination of air flow rate through the building due to wind effects
3.7. Estimation of the hourly ambient air temperature and solar radiation

4.
Solution of the governing equations to estimate the energy needs of the building

5.
The result of the energy simulation for the Green Building
5.1. Description of the energy conservation and the passive cooling features of the courtyard

6.
Conclusions

Acknowledgements

References

Building and Environment
Volume 40, Issue 1, January 2005, Pages 89-104

Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2010

2010-03-27T04:41:00.000-07:00

Cross Ventilation Ranking System is an innovation from group of researcher of UiTM Perak ~ collaboration works under Department of Building Surveying and Department of Computer Science.
This research is fully funded by government under FRGS grant, and the project duration started from 2007 and accomplished on 2009.
Alhamdullilah, this project had won several awards in several exhibitions.

Our third exhibition is at PWTC Kuala Lumpur (4-6th February 2010)where
Participants are from severals public universities in Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, Republic of Chezh, NGO and private sectors.
This time we won silver medal only..
Anyway, Alhamdullilah..

Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang 2007

2010-03-27T04:37:00.000-07:00

Alhamdullilah.
Memberi pemangkin untuk terus berusaha ke arah kejayaan.

Invention and Innovation Expo 2009, UiTM Perak

2010-03-27T03:56:00.000-07:00

Alhamdullilah, pray to Allah..my research in Cross Ventilation had won several awards since 2009 - 2010..
Thanks to my strong, charismatic group members whom had faith in our works..
Nazhatulzalkis Jamaludin and Khairulliza Ahmad Salleh

This is my starting point ~ The first exhibition..
Innovation and Invention Expo, UiTM Perak
14th of October 2009
Best Overall Awards
Gold Medal
Best Poster

Our research is fully funded by Government under Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) for Science and Technology section. This is all about sustainability and comfort living for tropical houses in Asia.

This award had qualified me and the team to act as a representative of UiTM Perak for Invention, Innovation and Design (IID 7th) in UiTM Malaysia.

Highest gratitude to PM Dr Mohd Sabrizaa and PM Sr Hj Fisal Ishak for 'lending' their house for our project.

MALAYSIA BS JAMBOREE 2009

2009-08-12T04:58:00.000-07:00

Layari website http://bsjamboree09.blogspot.com

untuk perkembangan himpunan warga Ukur Bangunan pertama dan terulung tahun ini!

Keberkesanan pengudaraan silang bagi rumah kediaman: melalui pengaplikasian peralatan ’Velocicalc Plus Meter’ dan formula pengudaraan

2009-04-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Nur Azfahani Ahmad dan Nazhatulzalkis Jamaludin
Pensyarah Jabatan Ukur Bangunan
Fakulti Senibina, Perancangan dan Ukur, UiTM Perak

PEMBENTANGAN DI CONFERENCE OF SCIENCE & SOCIAL RESEARCH (CSSR) 2009 DI AYER KEROH MELAKA

ABSTRAK

Krisis keselesaan terma dalam perumahan moden kerapkali timbul kerana kurangnya kepentingan terhadap keperluan rekabentuk yang mementingkan faktor-faktor persekitaran. Bagi negara beriklim tropika seperti Malaysia yang mengalami panas dan lembap sepanjang tahun, faktor bahangan haba merupakan penyumbang utama bagi ketidakselesaan di dalam bangunan.

Kajian keberkesanan dari aspek pengudaraan silang bagi rumah-rumah di Malaysia yang terdiri daripada rumah tradisional Melayu dan perumahan moden adalah merupakan kajian ilmiah yang sangat signifikan dalam konteks alam bina pada masa kini. Kajian ini sangat penting untuk dikaji memandangkan tahap keselesaan penghuni bangunan di dalam persekitaran iklim panas dan lembap seperti di Malaysia mempunyai pelbagai pemboleh ubah. Satu daripada pembolehubah yang penting adalah keberkesanan pengudaraan silang di dalam bangunan.

Bangunan kediaman perlu berfungsi sebagai medium yang memberikan keselesaan fizikal dan psikologi kepada penghuni bangunan. Aspek-aspek iklim seperti pengudaraan silang merupakan salah satu mekanisma semulajadi yang berkait rapat dengan ketentuan keselesaan ini. Pengudaraan silang amat berkait-rapat dengan faktor susunan bukaan pintu dan tingkap di dalam sesebuah bangunan bagi mencapai tahap keselesaan penghuni bangunan tersebut. Rumah tradisional Melayu yang kebanyakannya ditemui di kawasan kampung menyediakan ruang dalaman kediaman yang serasi dengan persekitaran iklim tropika. Bilangan pintu, tingkap dan bukaan-bukaan kecil yang berkerawang yang banyak terdapat pada rumah tradisional banyak membantu membenarkan udara keluar dan masuk dengan bebas untuk mengeluarkan haba lebihan daripada bangunan berbanding rumah moden. Rumah-rumah moden pada masa kini yang dibina dengan seragam kurang mementingkan faktor-faktor alam sekitar barangkali didorongi oleh faktor-faktor permintaan semasa yang cepat dan kepadatan penduduk di bandar yang semakin tinggi.

Kajian keberkesanan ini dibuat menggunakan peralatan saintifik untuk mendapatkan data di kawasan kajian yang telah dipilih. Pengaplikasian peralatan pengujian pengudaraan seperti ’VelociCalc Plus Meter’ adalah wajar untuk mencari kejituan bacaan pengudaraan silang ini. Data dianalisis menggunakan persamaan matematik yang digunapakai dalam piawaian-piawaian daripada Undang-Undang Kecil Bangunan Seragam (UBBL) (1984), Organisasi Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO), ‘Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers’ (CIBSE) dan juga ’American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ (ASHRAE).

Kata kunci: Pengudaraan Silang, Pengudaraan Semulajadi, Rumah Tradisional Melayu, Rumah Moden

Building Surveying Consultant in Asia

2009-04-21T17:55:00.001-07:00

(a) MALAYSIA

(i)BSC Building Surveyors & Consultants

BSC Building Surveyors & Consultants is a registered consultancy practice firm based in Malaysia. Operating as a building surveyor for all types of residential and commercial buildings, we provide independent building survey services for building owners, building buyers, tenants as well as contractors and developers.

The partners of the company are Members of The Institution of Surveyors, Malaysia (ISM). The ISM is the professional institution representing the surveying profession in Malaysia. It is only Surveyors who have acquired a practical knowledge of surveying and reached the recognized standards of academic and professional competency that are admitted to the ISM.

The partners are also the Members of The Association of Building Engineers (ABE), and the Incorporated Member of The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), United Kingdom. ABE and CIOB are known as the professional bodies for those specializing in the technology of building.

The company is bound by and operates according to the Code of Professional Conduct of the Associations, including the rules from the local Professional Institutions requiring the partners to conduct their operations with the high level of professional skill, knowledge, integrity and professionalism.

Our independent building survey services including dilapidation surveys (or pre-construction & post-construction condition surveys), building condition and defects surveys, water seepage/ leakage problem surveys, pre-purchase surveys/ due diligence surveys, waterproofing tests / water pressure tests, pre-leasing condition surveys, landlord and tenant matters, property damage surveys and etc.

BSC Building Surveyors & Consultants will act at all times in a professional manner giving due consideration, not only to the instructions and requirements of the client or employer, but also to the interests of the community at large.

(ii) BUILDING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (BUDI)

In Malay is stated as : Institut Pembangunan Bandar & Bangunan is an institution that involves in education, research, building services and maintenance as well as entrepreneurial development based on the excellence of knowledge, training, research and consultancy works.
Therefore BUDI has focused it activities towards building and urban development as its core business, i.e. as has been emphasised by the government.

Early Info
BUDI was established in September 2001 with the objectives to encourage every sector in building and development to pursuit their progress potential through enhancement of knowledge, services and research. More improvement can be made for people and organization through knowledge, services and continuous research. Thus, BUDI was established to offer its expertise to be utilized by people and companies in this field. To achieve these objectives, a number of experts have been invited to associate their expertise in our services. They have many years of experience in their special fields especially in research, education and they have produced many graduates at undergraduate and post-graduate level

Building & Urban Development Institute (BUDI) with the cooperation of Jasa Sendi (M) Sdn. Bhd. is now doing building condition survey works for the Pathology Department. BUDI will provides technical support and advice especially in the usage of inspection tools, analysis and technical report.Our scope of works will include in the following sectors:

Measured Drawing
Condition Survey
Structure Survey
Estimate and Preparation of specification
Project management
Approval Services

(a) SINGAPORE

(i)RG Building Surveyors Pte Ltd

RG Building Surveyors Pte Ltd is a leading independent Chartered Building Surveying Consultancy based in Singapore.

The company was established in February 2005 to provide dedicated Building Surveying Services to public and private sector

clients, such as Management Corporations, Developers, Contractors, Companies, Private Individuals, Government Bodies etc.
The Company is registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in the UK which is internationally recognised and
highly respected worldwide.

COMPANY PHILOSOPHY

The Company philosophy is to provide a high quality services and to maintain long-term relationships with clients and their representatives.

They believe in providing clients with the highest standard of professionalism and service. They guarantee that all expert witness commissions undertaken by the company will be carried out by our director and Chartered Building Surveyor Mr Roger
Goshawk BSc(Hons), MRICS, MBEng, ICIOB.

(c) HONG KONG

Knight Frank's Building Consultancy

Knight Frank's Building Consultancy team is committed to maintaining and enhancing its respected position by meeting clients' objectives through the provision of high-quality, innovative and cost-effective services in a changing market. Private and public-sector clients include building owners and occupiers, financial institutions, REITS, investment funds, government departments, developers and contractors.

Our extensive expertise is focused on clients' individual requirements, whatever their interest or involvement. This expertise includes forming and leading multi-disciplinary teams of architects surveyors and engineers, capable of providing balanced, independent advice and a full range of building consultancy services.

Key services provided by our in-house team of architects, building surveyors, engineers, project managers and authorized persons cover both new and existing buildings and include:

• Due-diligence reviews (pre-acquisition and listing)
• Condition surveys (pre- and post-construction)
• Defect investigations (water leakage, cracks, spalling concrete, de-bonded finishes etc)
• Project monitoring and auditing
• Master planning advice
• Reinstatement assessments for insurance
• Project co-ordination and management (alterations and additions, fitting-out, renovation, repairs and maintenance)
• Feasibility studies
• Building-plan submissions to the Buildings and Fire Services Departments
• Fire-safety fire engineering inspections and reports [Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Fire Engineer Ordinance & Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance]
• Expert-witness service (court and Lands Tribunal)
• Handover inspections for landlords and tenants
• Measurement surveys (saleable area etc)
• As-built drawings, assignment plans and preparation of DMC plans
• Licence applications (restaurants, DG stores etc)
• Facilities management
• Development consultancy support

"For academic purposes only"
Thank you for all participating consultants.

Very inspiring words..

2009-03-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

"To be really good in this field one must understand the building or house from the building materials to the insulation, from airflow to heating and cooling design, and much more. A wide range of very accurate testing equipment and knowledge of numerous testing procedures is also required.

I am a jack of all trades and a master of only a few.."

extracted from http://www.bldgperformance.com/

Traditional Malay Houses in Malaysia

2009-01-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman
(extracted from www.badanwarisan.org.my)

Restored at No 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Badan Warisan Malaysia.

This Rumah Penghulu used to be a local headman's house. It was originally located in Kampung Sungai Kechil, a small village in Mukim Bagan Samak, Bandar Baharu, Kedah.

From the mid 1920s to the early 1930s, Penghulu Abu Seman bin Nayan completed the ensemble of buildings which make up the house. When he died, his son Ibrahim bin Abu Seman inherited both the title and the ownership of the house. Unfortunately Penghulu Ibrahim had no son to succeed him and the house was eventually left vacant.

The three main sections of the house, the balai hall, rumah ibu main house and dapur/ruang makan kitchen/ dining room were constructed at different times and their origins differ. The rumah ibu was originally built for a Tok Taib who was a person of note in Kampung Paya Takong. When the latter passed away, this structure was sold to Penghulu Abu Seman who dismantled and moved it to kampung Sungai Kechil in 1924. The balai was probably added in the 1930s.

MALAYSIA'S CONSERVATION BODIES
CONTACTS AND USEFUL ADDRESSES (last updated 10 Mac 2001)

Conservation bodies in Malaysia can be divided into three groups which are:
1. Official Conservation Committees
2. Private Societies
3. Charitable Trust

1. OFFICIAL CONSERVATION COMMITTEES:

Conservation and Urban Design Unit of Kuala Lumpur City Hall
Unit Pengekalan Seni Bandar, Bangunan DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut, 50350 Kuala Lumpur
Known as Unit Pengekalan Dan Seni Bandar, the Unit was founded by Kuala Lumpur City Hall in early 1988 for the purposes of carrying out research, providing guidelines and implementing regulations for its urban environment and conservation areas. Since its establishment, the Unit has expanded its work to matters related to urban conservation work. The Unit is considered as the pioneer among all official conservation committees set up by the local authorities in Malaysia. The Unit provides other services including preparing plans for any new development in the conservation areas, formulating planning principles and development guidelines, carrying out programmes which encourage public awareness and appreciation of better urban environment; and evaluating planning applications as well as giving advice to property owners, developers and government agencies.

Penang Conservation Unit
Jabatan Perancang Bandar dan Pemajuan, Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang, KOMTAR, 10000 Georgetown, Penang
The Unit was formed by penang City Council in early 1991 for the purpose of preserving old buildings and streetscapes, retaining th eunique character of Georgetown; and revitalising old areas without having to destroy old fabric. Some of its conservation works include indentifying buildings and sites for conservation zoning, controlling and considering any new development planned in the conservation areas, formulating guidelines as well as development policies for the conservation areas

Melaka Conservation Unit
Conservation Unit, Urban Planning and Building Control Department, Melaka Municipal Council, Malacca. Tel: 06-2326411 or Fax: 06-2325716

2. PRIVATE SOCIETIES:

Penang Heritage Trust
26-A Lorong Stewart, 10200 Georgetown Penang. Tel/fax:04-2642631 e-mail: phtrust@po.jaring.my
Founded in 1987 by architect Dato' Lim Cheong Keat, the Trust is a voluntary society which seeks to preserve and enhance Penang's heritage. It cooperates with the Penang Conservation Unit through good planning and activities to advance the goals of conservation. The Trust also organises public seminars on building conservation and invites representatives from different local authorities, private agencies, museums and the Public Works Department. It is prominent in publicity and intervenes in local and regional development proposals.

Acheh Mosque Heritage Group
47, Lebuh Acheh, 10200 Georgetown, Penang. Tel:04-2611994
Known as Badan Warisan Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh, the group was formed in December 1992 by the local community and former residents of the Acheen Street Mosque areas in Georgetown, Penang. The main objectives of the group include to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the mosque and it's surrounding properties, to collate and document information relating to the Acheen Street Mosque, to promote the permanent preservation of all historic buildings for the benefit and education of the public, to consider and support any new development to improve the socio-economic conditions of the area; and to enhance good relationships among community members through regular meetings and cooperations.

3. CHARITABLE TRUST:

Badan Warisan Malaysia (Heritage of Malaysia Trust)
No. 2, Jalan Stonor, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2449273 Fax: 03-2457884

Badan Warisan Malaysia began officially in 1983 as a charity trust. It was set up by a group of volunteers who were keen to preserve Malaysia's built heritage and areas of architectural interest in all parts of the country. In 1984, a society called Sahabat Warisan Malaysia (The Friends of the Heritage of Malaysia Trust) was set up to support the Badan Warisan Malaysia in its objectives, primarily in the areas of fundraising, education and public awareness of heritage preservation. However, the society was dissolved in 1995 and its membership was merged with the Badan Warisan Malaysia in order to strengthen and unify the heritage movement. The objectives of the Badan Warisan Malaysia include to promote the permanent preservation for the benefit and education of the people of Malaysia of all historic buildings, to preserve the setting of historic buildings and where aoopropriate their historic content, to preserve the character of groups of attractive buildings which enhance a street, a town or a village; ans to preserve sites of archaeological or pre-historic interest. The Badan Warisan Malaysia also organises talks, exhibitions, visits and competitions.

Rumah Kutai, Perak
(extracted from www.muziumperak.com.my)

Rumah Kutai Negeri Perak dipulihkan kembali dan ditempatkan di Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak yang terletak di sepanjang Sg.Perak.

Sejarah Ringkas Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak

Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak terletak kira-kira 80 kilometer dari Bandaraya Ipoh. Ianya telah dibuka dengan rasminya oleh D.Y.T.M. Raja Muda Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah pada 26 Mei 1990 dan dirasmikan sepenuhnya oleh DYMM Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbudin Shah pada 5 Julai 2004. Kompleks ini merupakan satu memorial penting kepada sejarah terbilang Pasir Salak dan rakyat negeri Perak.

Konsep asal penubuhannya merupakan satu bentuk rakaman sejarah yang memperingati betapa pentingnya peristiwa berdarah Pasir Salak yang dianggap sebagai asas permulaan sistem demokrasi berparlimen bagi Malaysia. Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak juga akan dijadikan sebagai sebuah pusat yang menyediakan sumber-sumber rujukan mengenai sejarah dan kebudayaan negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan.

Pembinaan Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak ini bertujuan untuk memperingati generasi-generasi muda akan peristiwa Pasir Salak pada tahun 1875 yang merupakan kemuncak dalam gerakan orang Melayu menentang penjajah Inggeris di Perak serta mengenang jasa dan pengorbanan para pahlawan yang mempertahankan maruah bangsa dan negara. Ia juga didirikan sebagai pusat pengumpulan bahan-bahan sejarah yang terdapat di Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak ini. Sejarah penentangan dan perjuangan ini dipamerkan dalam bentuk diorama.

Bahan Sejarah Yang Terdapat di Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak

Bahan-Bahan Sejarah Di Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak
• Rumah Dato’ Maharaja Lela
• Tugu Peringatan Pahlawan
• Perak Kubur Si Puntum
• Kubu Dato’ Maharaja Lela
• Tugu Lela Rentaka I dan II
• Pentas Belotah
• Balai Penghulu
• Tapak Birch Dibunuh
• Sampan Perak
• Rumah Kutai I • Rumah Kutai II
• Rumah Kutai III
• Rumah Kutai Anjang Pelita
• Terowong Sejarah
• Sekolah Tok Pelita
• Tugu Peringatan Birch
• Galeri Menteri-Menteri Besar
• Masjid Pasir Salak
• Perahu Naga

Bahan- Bahan Pameran Di Rumah Kutai I Dan II Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak
Sejarah Peristiwa Pasir Salak
Senjata (Keris,Golok,Pedang, Senapang, dll)
Alat-Alat Pengangkutan.
Perabut Rumah.
Alat-Alat Tembaga.
Pakaian.
Peralatan Pertanian.
Tekatan.
Alat-Alat Bunyian.
Manuskrip.
Model Bangunan.

Latar Belakang Rumah Kutai Perak

Rumah ini adalah dari jenis bumbung panjang. Keistimewaan reka bentuknya adalah kerana ia lebih etnik dan ringkas. Reka bentuk ini juga dikenali sebagai rumah kutai. Rumah ini masih terdapat di negeri Perak dan telah berusia lebih 100 tahun. Antaranya di Kampung Sayong Lembah, Kuala Kangsar, Kampung Kota Lama Kanan dan Kampung Bota Kanan, Parit.

Rumah ini menggunakan sepenuhnya bahan binaan semula jadi yang terdapat di sekeliling kampung. Struktur asas adalah kayu keras manakala atap dibuat dari daun rumbia dan dinding pelupuh dari anyaman buluh atau rotan.

Rumah ini mempunyai bumbung yang agak tinggi, tetapi terdapat sedikit keunikan dari segi keterbukaan rumah ini. Ia seolah-olah tidak mempunyai pengudaraan yang baik dan mencukupi. Dinding rumah mencapai ke paras rabung atap tanpa diselangi kerawang atau seumpamanya. Ini disebabkan dinding itu sendiri tembus angin, maka ianya tidak perlu hiasan kerawang dan sikap rendah diri penghuni rumah ini.

Keringkasan reka bentuk menunjukkan yang rumah kutai adalah untuk orang biasa berbanding rekaan lain yang lebih moden dan canggih seperti bumbung limas dan bumbung Perak. Rumah ini menyaksikan beberapa unsur seni struktur yang agak menarik, ringkas dan mempunyai fungsinya tersendiri.

Rumah ibu dipisahkan dari rumah dapur dengan selang yang terbuka. Rumah ibu mempunyai tingkap menghala ke rumah dapur. Di penghujung rumah dapur terdapat pelantar untuk kegunaan penyediaan makanan atau ruang letak untuk hasil dari kebun dan sungai. Rumah ini mempunyai beberapa unsur seni struktur yang agak menarik, ringkas dan mempunyai fungsinya tersendiri

RUMAH Kutai seperti kebanyakan rumah tradisional Melayu memaparkan kehebatan warisan seni bina Melayu, tetapi Kutai yang bermaksud tua memaparkan kehebatan pemikiran orang Melayu melalui penerapan unsur Islam yang amat mendalam.[/size][/font]

Tiiada siapa tahu usia sebenar rumah Kutai, tetapi rumah ini sudah wujud ketika Kesultanan Perak diasaskan pada awal abad ke-16.

Reka bentuk rumah Kutai di sepanjang Sungai Perak, Ribu dan Kangsar di Perak, mempunyai hubungan erat dengan Undang-Undang 99 yang menetapkan batasan hubungan antara lelaki dan wanita bukan muhrim.

Jika pembinaan rumah moden tertakluk kepada pelbagai syarat mengikut agensi kerajaan seperti Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan dan Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat, rumah Kutai lebih hebat kerana aspek estetika, struktural dan fungsi, banyak dipengaruhi oleh unsur kesopanan yang digariskan kitab suci al-Quran.

RUMAH Kutai di Kampung Kepayang, Simpang Pulai,
masih mengekalkan seni bina asal.
Penemuan ini adalah antara hasil kajian pensyarah seni bina Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Profesor Madya Dr Anuar Talib, yang berpandangan bahawa pemikiran orang Melayu ketika itu dibendung oleh al-Quran hingga pembinaan rumah banyak menerapkan unsur Islam.

Katanya, pembinaan rumah Kutai memberi penghormatan kepada wanita dengan amat menjaga maruah mereka, terutama yang belum berkahwin atau anak dara.

“Rumah Kutai mempunyai satu bilik dan bilik itu untuk anak dara. Jika ada lima anak dara di rumah itu, semua akan tidur sebilik.

“Kerahsiaan bilik anak dara dapat dilihat apabila mengikut Undang-Undang 99, pasangan yang baru berkahwin disuruh menziarahi rumah saudara-mara, tetapi apabila bermalam, tempat mereka ialah di luar. Bilik tetap milik anak dara,” katanya.

Keluasan rumah Kutai tiang 12 hanya 422 kaki persegi berbanding rumah kos rendah, antara 480 hingga 500 kaki persegi. Rumah tiang 16, 850 kaki persegi, berbanding rumah teres dua tingkat (empat bilik), 2,000 kaki persegi

Bagaimanapun, ini tidak menjadi masalah kerana rumah Kutai mempunyai banyak tiang yang membolehkan antara empat hingga tujuh bilik dibuat pada waktu malam dengan mengikat kain antara tiang.

Dr Anuar berkata, rumah Kutai tiang 12 dengan mudah menempatkan lapan orang tinggal dengan selesa.

Selain itu, rumah Kutai mempunyai tangga depan dan belakang, memisahkan golongan lelaki yang masuk menggunakan tangga depan dan wanita melalui tangga belakang, sekali gus menempatkan lelaki di serambi depan dan wanita di serambi belakang.

WALAUPUN diubah suai, rumah Kutai di Pasir Salak,
kekal dengan hanya satu bilik.Katanya, pemikiran ke hadapan orang Melayu untuk memelihara maruah wanita, terutama anak dara dapat dilihat dalam Undang-Undang 99 yang menyatakan:

Apabila hendak memasuki rumah orang, jika tiada muhrim, tetamu lelaki perlu duduk di bahagian kanan tangga depan.

Beliau berkata, kedudukan itu menyebabkan lelaki bukan muhrim yang berada di bahagian kanan tangga tidak boleh nampak atau mengintai secara langsung bilik anak dara yang terletak di bahagian kanan rumah.

Antara ciri rumah Kutai ialah tingkap kecil menyebabkan keadaan dalam rumah agak gelap dan ini menghairankan Dr Anuar, tetapi hasil penerangan tukang yang membuat rumah Kutai, reka bentuk ini memang disengajakan.

Katanya, keadaan lebih ekstrim di rumah Batak yang langsung tidak mempunyai tingkap menyebabkan hanya sedikit cahaya memasuki dalam rumah kerana masyarakat Batak berpegang kepada falsafah kerahsiaan dalam kegelapan.

“Di rumah Kutai, apabila tetamu datang dari tempat terang (luar rumah) dan masuk ke dalam rumah, kekurangan cahaya adalah pendekatan psikologi yang sangat bijak kerana mata tetamu perlu mengambil sedikit masa untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan kegelapan.

“Ini memberi cukup masa kepada wanita yang tidak memakai tudung menutup rambut, manakala anak dara sempat masuk bilik. Reka bentuk rumah memberikan kerahsiaan kepada wanita dalam rumah,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, ikatan kuat antara rumah Kutai dan Undang-Undang 99 dapat dilihat berdasarkan kedudukan bilik menghala hulu sungai.

Katanya, undang-undang mensyaratkan bahawa rumah mesti dibina di hilir rumah yang lebih awal dibina di kampung itu dan dengan kedudukan bilik menghala ke hulu menyebabkan anak dara yang menghuni bilik tidak dapat dilihat.

Dr Anuar memberi penghormatan kepada tukang rumah perintis yang berilmu tinggi dan mengkaji al-Quran.

Katanya, kitab suci yang menjadi panduan umat Islam menyatakan secara umum mengenai pembinaan rumah seperti sebagai tempat sementara, ringan serta boleh dipindahkan dan tukang rumah peka terhadap perkara ini.

RUMAH Kutai yang sudah diubah suai
masih mengekalkan ciri tradisi.
[font=Arial][size=2]
“Rumah Kutai dibina untuk boleh dibuka dan dipasang semula. Dalam tempoh antara lapan hingga sembilan hari, tiang, gelegar dan rasuk boleh disusun dan rumah dibina semula. Ini dipermudahkan kerana rumah tidak dipaku, tetapi menggunakan baji dan selak.

“Tiang tidak dimasuk dalam tanah, tetapi diletakkan di atas alas untuk memudahkan pemindahan,” katanya.

Memperincikan kehebatan tukang rumah, katanya penerapan unsur Islam dilihat berdasarkan pemahaman terhadap kejadian manusia yang dijadikan berpasangan.

Katanya, rumah Kutai mempunyai banyak unsur berpasangan seperti serambi depan-serambi belakang, kasau (kayu melintang pada bumbung) jantan-kasau betina, ibu tangga-anak tangga dan tiang panjang-tiang pendek.

Katanya, ukiran pada tebal layar rumah yang mempunyai lambang bulan dan bintang mempunyai makna kosmologi, iaitu keagungan Allah mencipta bulan dan bintang serta mengatur ketertiban perjalanan alam semesta.

“Tukang rumah berasa bahawa rumah adalah simbol seluruh alam dan manusia dibendung alam, kuasa dan ayat Allah. Makna simbol ini diketahui masyarakat Melayu tradisional, tetapi tidak lagi oleh masyarakat moden,” katanya.

Di Padang Rengas, katanya tebal layar sebuah rumah Kutai mempunyai corak lapan jalur cahaya matahari di kiri dan lapan di kanan, manakala ada satu jalur di tengah.

Katanya, orang biasa mungkin melihat corak itu tidak mempunyai apa-apa makna, tetapi makna sebenar ialah adalah 8 (kiri) + 1 (tengah) = 81 dan 1 (tengah) + 8 (kanan) = 18. Apabila 81 + 18 = 99, bermaksud 99 nama Allah.

Selain itu, katanya ada corak membahagikan 36 jaluran kepada dua bahagian atau 18 jaluran, tetapi disengajakan pembahagian tidak begitu tepat untuk menunjukkan Allah mencipta manusia berpasangan dan hanya Allah yang sempurna.[/size][/font]

Pembinaan rumah moden lebih bersifat individualistik, bertentangan dan memusnahkan alam sekitar

SUDAH tiba masa perancang bandar dan arkitek memikirkan semula secara serius untuk menerapkan konsep mesra alam dalam pembinaan rumah.

Perkara ini semakin mendapat perhatian di negara maju, terutama Eropah yang mula menyedari bahawa teknologi moden dalam pelbagai bidang memberi kesan negatif terhadap alam.

Antara bidang yang mendapat perhatian serius ialah industri pemotoran Eropah yang mengenakan syarat lebih ketat kepada pengeluaran kenderaan supaya tidak mencemarkan alam. Kenderaan hibrid dan hidrogen mula diterokai untuk dikeluarkan secara komersil.

PENERAPAN konsep mesra
alam dalam pembinaan
rumah Kutai.

Begitu juga dalam pembinaan rumah yang kini mula disedari perlu lebih mesra alam seperti memanfaatkan komponen bangunan yang semula jadi dan mesra alam serta unsur cahaya dan pengaliran udara semula jadi untuk mengurangkan penggunaan tenaga elektrik.

Konsep mesra alam sebenarnya sudah lama dipraktikkan tukang rumah Melayu yang membina rumah tradisional, terutama Kutai.

Pensyarah seni bina Univesiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Profesor Madya Dr Anuar Talib, berkata tukang rumah Melayu tradisional mengambil teladan dari al-Quran, lantas menjadikan pembinaan rumah bersifat sementara dan diadun bersama alam.

Katanya, keadaan ini tidak berlaku dalam pembinaan rumah moden yang bersifat individualistik, bertentangan dan memusnahkan alam.

"Kita merugikan tenaga dengan penghawa dingin serta menggunakan besi dan aluminium untuk membina rumah. Aluminium dihasilkan menggunakan banyak tenaga dan jika rosak, di mana hendak dibuang? Aluminium mengambil masa ribuan tahun untuk hancur dan pupus," katanya.

Tukang rumah Melayu dan daerah nusantara lain pula menggunakan bahan yang bukan saja tidak mencemarkan alam, malah sebati dengan alam. Sebagai contoh, kepingan lantai kayu mengambil masa antara 40 hingga 60 tahun untuk reput dan kemudian menjadi sebahagian alam.

Malah, katanya tukang rumah zaman dulu menghormati alam kerana jika hendak menebang pokok besar sebagai bahan binaan untuk membuat rumah dan mendapati ada kesan cakaran harimau pada pokok, mereka akan mencari pokok lain.

"Tukang tidak akan usik kerana harimau juga mempunyai pokok sebagai kawasan yang dikuasai haiwan itu. Sekarang nampak saja pokok cantik, hendak ditebang. Ini yang amat dikesali kerana masyarakat moden tidak menghormati alam yang Tuhan jadikan sangat istimewa, simbolik dan penuh rahsia" katanya.

Dari segi penggunaan ruang, katanya rumah teres dua tingkat dengan keluasan 2,000 kaki persegi (600 meter persegi) masih dirasakan kecil kerana rumah dibahagikan kepada ruang khusus, iaitu empat bilik, ruang tamu, makan dan dapur, sedangkan bilik hanya digunakan bagi tempoh antara 10 malam hingga 6 pagi.

Katanya, rumah banglo yang besar mungkin tidak menghadapi masalah ruang, tetapi konsep ruang keterbukaan rumah Kutai boleh diterapkan dalam pembinaan rumah kos rendah dan rumah pangsa kerana rumah tiang 12 lebih luas walaupun bersaiz lebih kecil, antara 422 kaki (126.6 meter) hingga 600 kaki persegi (180 meter persegi).

Keluasan rumah Kutai tiang 12 di Sayong, Kuala Kangsar, hanya 126.6 meter persegi berbanding rumah kos rendah, antara 144 hingga 180 meter persegi. Sebuah rumah Kutai tiang 16 di Kampung Kepayang, Simpang Pulai berukuran 150.6 meter persegi, berbanding rumah teres dua tingkat (empat bilik), 600 meter persegi

Bagaimanapun, ini tidak menjadi masalah kerana rumah Kutai mempunyai banyak tiang (12 atau 16 tiang) yang membolehkan antara empat hingga tujuh bilik dibuat pada waktu malam dengan mengikat kain antara tiang.

Dr Anuar berkata, rumah Kutai tiang 12 dengan mudah menempatkan lapan orang tinggal dengan selesa.

Beliau berkata, konsep rumah moden adalah terlalu privasi menyebabkan banyak berlaku perbuatan tidak baik yang orang lain tidak nampak.

"Rumah Melayu tradisional walaupun mempunyai satu bilik tetap, jarang berlaku perbuatan sumbang mahram. Zaman sekarang yang mempunyai tiga atau empat bilik, macam-macam boleh berlaku apabila bilik berkunci. Secara simbolik apabila berada dalam ruang terbuka, adab dan cara bercakap diawasi ramai orang," katanya.

FAKTA
Rumah Kutai

Kutai bermaksud tua atau purba

Bahagian struktur utama rumah menggunakan kayu keras seperti cengal dan merbau, manakala bahagian kemasan lantai dan dinding menggunakan meranti dan anyaman buluh.

Paku tidak digunakan. Tukang memilih selak dan baji kerana memudahkan rumah dibuka dan dipasang semula.

Rumah Kutai mempunyai dua jenis, rumah Kutai tiang 12 dan tiang 16.

Rumah Kutai mempunyai dua tangga, depan untuk lelaki dan belakang untuk perempuan.

Serambi depan untuk lelaki dan serambi belakang untuk perempuan.

Serambi depan juga digunakan untuk pelbagai tujuan seperti ruang kanak-kanak mengaji al-Quran, tempat tuan rumah berbual dengan tetamu lelaki. Ruang tetamu lelaki tidur, manakala tetamu perempuan tidur di ruang tengah.

Ruang tengah juga digunakan sebagai tempat solat dan menempatkan orang sakit

Hanya mempunyai satu bilik yang khusus untuk anak dara dan kelahiran bayi.

Saiz rumah tiang 12 paling kecil ialah kira-kira 422 kaki persegi dan rumah tiang 16, kira-kira 502 kaki persegi.

Rumah Kutai tiang 16 mempunyai 16 tiang terkeluar dari lantai untuk menanggung beban bumbung dan antara empat hingga tujuh bilik sementara boleh dibuat dengan mengikat kain antara tiang.

Orang kaya dan pembesar Perak (hingga 1850-an) tinggal di rumah Kutai tiang 16 walaupun mampu tinggal di rumah lebih besar. Tidak ada rumah yang mempunyai lebih banyak tiang. Reka bentuk rumah orang kaya dan pembesar Perak dengan orang biasa kelihatan sama dari jauh.

Perbezaan antara rumah orang kaya dan pembesar Perak dengan orang biasa adalah berdasarkan ukiran yang hanya ketara apabila diamati dari jarak dekat. Upah satu panel tingkap berukir (2 X 2 kaki) ialah seekor kerbau.

Orang kaya dan pembesar menggunakan kayu panel sebagai dinding bahagian bawah rumah. Kayu panel dibuat daripada kayu keras seperti cengal dan merbau yang dibelah dan ditarah kira-kira dua inci. Orang biasa menggunakan dinding kelerai yang dibuat daripada anyaman buluh yang tahan antara 10-15 tahun.

Perbezaan lain ialah corak anyaman, terutama bahagian dinding bumbung atau tebar layar yang berfungsi sebagai alamat atau identiti rumah.

Berbeza dengan ukiran rumah tradisional Melayu Kelantan dan Terengganu yang menggunakan ayat al-Quran, rumah Kutai menerapkan unsur alam dalam anyaman dinding seperti bunga cengkih dan kelawang. Haiwan seperti ayam berlaga dan kepala cicak turut digunakan, tetapi kelihatan seperti bentuk abstrak.

Motif alam mempunyai makna mendalam. Ukiran ayam berlaga bermaksud mengingatkan tuan rumah supaya tidak berjudi kerana rumah boleh tergadai.

Rumah Kutai asal dibuat oleh tukang Melayu. Segelintir pekerja lombong bijih timah Cina yang melarikan diri dari pertelagahan Ghee Hin dan Hai San, bekerja dengan tukang Melayu dan mempelajari membuat rumah Kutai.

Tukang Melayu menggunakan kaedah pembinaan yang membolehkan rumah dibuka dan dipasang semula. Ini dilakukan dengan cara satu rasuk panjang dimasukkan ke dalam empat tiang.

Walaupun bentuk rumah sama, tukang Cina memasukkan rasuk ke dalam dua tiang kerana mahu cepat dan menjimatkan kos. Kaedah ini tidak membolehkan rumah dibuka dan dipasang semula.

Tukang Melayu menggunakan sistem ukuran jengkal dan jari. Inci mula digunakan dengan pemerintahan Inggeris dan kehadiran tukang Cina.

Cool and marvellous building design

2008-12-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

La Grande Arche, Paris, France. Rectangular hollow shape. This 110m height of scuplture is actually an office, can U imagine?

TM Tower, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Designed by the greatest architect and sifoo to all architects in Malaysia, Hijjas Kasturi. Proud to be Malaysian! Inspired from 'Pucuk Rebung' leaves..

Mesiniaga Tower, Petaling Jaya-Subang, Malaysia - Another magnificent building in Malaysia, located in the centre of Klang Valley, beside Federal Highway. Design to meet environmental aspect from the surroundings. Recognized as a Bio-climatic Architecture building with energy-efficiency approach.

Munich Airport, Germany. Cool!! Among the best airport in Europe.

Canton Trade Fair, Guangzhou, China - Bending steel structure and metal deck.
Beyond Expectations !

"the power of mind....sky is the limit"

BANGUNAN SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD

2008-12-14T05:17:00.000-08:00

Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad ini terletak di Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, di tengah-tengah bandaraya Kuala Lumpur di mana ianya merupakan mercu tanda yang paling penting bagi Malaysia. Ianya yang telah dibina oleh pihak British, yang mengadap ke arah Dataran Merdeka telah mengadaptasi seni bina Moorish dan telah siap dibina pada 1897, menjadi pejabat beberapa jabatan penting semasa pentadbiran British. Bangunan ini berhadapan dengan Dataran Merdeka, Kelab Diraja Selangor dan telah diwartakan oleh Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur sebagai sebuah bangunan bersejarah yang semestinya perlu dipelihara.

Pada mula pembinaannya di kenali sebagai �Bangunan Baru Kerajaan� (the new Government Offices), kemudian sebagai �Sekretariat Persekutuan�, (Federal Secretariat), di guna bersama dengan Kerajaan Negeri Selangor sebelum berpindah ke Shah Alam pada tahun 1974. Asalnya hanya disebut sebagai �Bangunan� sebelum ditukar kepada nama Sultan Abdul Samad yang memerintah semenjak 1857 - 1898.

Pembinaan Bangunan ini adalah kemuncak pembangunan yang di dirikan di Kuala Lumpur pada akhir abad ke 19 malah berupa kejayaan program �Bangunan Tersergam� (Massive Building programme), di bawah pengendaliaan Maxwell/Spooner sebagai perancang dan akitek Bangunan Kerajaan di Kuala Lumpur ketika itu. Kos binaan setelah siap April 1897 berjumlah $152,824 (anggaran awal $152,000) memakan masa pembinaan selama 2 tahun 7 bulan selepas perletakan batu asas yang di lakukan oleh H.E. Sir Charles B.H. Mitchell K.C.M.G (Gabenor Negeri � negeri Selat) pada 6hb Oktober 1894. Antara faktor menarik disebalik sejarah pembinaan Bangunan Awam Kerajaan yang pertama di bawah pentadbiran Kerajaan Negeri � Negeri Melayu Bersekutu (F.M.S) ini melibatkan penubuhan sebuah kilang bertempat di Brickfield bagi membekalkan bahan binaan seperti 4 juta batu bata, 2,500 tong simen, 18,000 pikul kapur, 5,000 lb tembaga, 50 tan besi keluli dan 30,000 kaki padu kayu.

Tujuan pembinaan awal adalah sebagai Bangunan Kerajaan Baru untuk menempatkan semua Jabatan pentadbiran Negeri � Negeri Melayu Bersekutu (F.M.S) di bawah satu Bangunan pentadbiran berpusat: menempatkan Sekretariat Kerajaan (G.S.O); bilik mesyuarat Majlis Negeri (Council Chamber); Pejabat Pos; Lembaga Kebersihan (Sanitary Board); Pejabat Kehakiman (Judicial Commissioner); Public Works Department (PWD); Audit dan Perbendaharaan; Pejabat Tanah; Jabatan Galian dan Pejabat Daerah Jabatan Kerja Raya (P.W.D. District Office).

Pemilihan stail senibina Islam �Moorish� atau �Mahometan Style� pengaruh bangunan awam di India menjadi pilihan kepada struktur senibina Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad. Bangunan ini menonjolkan dua stail yang unik: kehebatan pembahagian (grand proportion) dan pertembungan simetri yang klasik (classical symmetry), gaya bangunan bersejarah Eropah dengan menitik berat aspek dekorasi yang berciri �the Raj style� mencerminkan fungsi utama pembinaanya di rantau ini.

Bangunan dua tingkat ini mempunyai keunikan struktur yang menonjol berupa Menara Jam setinggi 41.5m di tengah � tengah binaan berbentuk huruf �F� penampilan identiti dan mercu tanda tersendiri. Ia juga merupakan Bangunan awam pertama yang berdiri megah di tapak berbentuk segi tiga terletak di antara Jalan Raja dan Jalan Belanda (Jalan Mahkamah Persekutuan) yang melengkari ke arah barat sepanjang Sungai Gombak dan Sungai Klang serta menghadap (Clarke St), Jalan Mahkamah Tinggi.

Sebagai Bangunan yang menjadi �pemula� dalam waktu pembinaanya 1894 � 1897, hasil senibinanya pula lengkap dengan ciri � ciri keistimewaan dari aspek komposisi karektor seperti: stail, ragam hias dan pemilihan unsur � unsur Islam pada gerbang tingkap, bentuk separuh lengkong (arch), kubah potong bawang (dome) dan struktur berbentuk minaret yang kebiasaannya terdapat pada senibina Masjid. Kesemua elemen � elemen tersebut menambah nilai estetika yang hebat dan kemudian menjadi contoh ikutan dan penentu aliran kecenderungan dalam pembinaan bangunan awam (civic building).

Antara pegawai � pegawai yang bertanggungjawab terdiri dari Arthur Charles Alfred Norman selaku Akitek Kerajaan, Charles Edwin Spooner selaku Jurutera Negeri dan Pengarah PWD, R.A.J. Bidwell dan A.B. Hubback yang menyediakan pelan, dan lukisan, sehingga membolehkan Bangunan ini di rasmikan oleh Sir Frank Swettenham K.C.M.G. (Residen Jeneral) pada 4hb. April 1897.Di sinilah tempat di mana bendera Union Jack telah diturunkan pada 31 Ogos 1957 dan Jalur Gemilang dikibarkan. Peristiwa ini menunjukkan satu tanda berlalulah satu era dan lahirlah satu masyarakat yang merdeka.

Bangunan dua tingkat ini didirikan di atas kawasan seluas 10200 meter persegi dan tingginya ialah 57 meter. Ia mempunyai 3 kubah dan sebuah menara jam setinggi 40 meter yang masih berfungsi sehingga sekarang.

Bangunan ini pernah dilanda banjir pada tahun 1971 apabila hujan lebat berlaku di seluruh negara. Jumlah hujan yang lebat itu ditambah pula dengan sistem saliran yang tidak begitu memuaskan di sekitar Kuala Lumpur pada waktu itu. Pengubahsuaian pada tahun 1978 mengambil masa enam tahun, menelan belanja sebanyak RM 17.2 juta ringgit.

Nama bangunan ini diambil sempena nama Sultan Selangor yang memerintah ketika itu. Bangunan ini dirasmikan pada tahun 1896.

Bangunan ini menjadi saksi perarakan kemerdekaan Malaysia setiap tahun pada tarikh 31 Ogos 1957.

Diekstrak dari web rasmi Jabatan Warisan Negara (http://daftarwarisan.gov.my/)

Wonders of The World (Tempat-Tempat Luar Biasa Di Dunia)

2008-12-14T04:51:00.000-08:00

Places to See Before They Disappear
Consider visiting these rare cultural, historic, and natural sites before they are irrevocably altered or gone forever

Taj Mahal

If the plan to close the Taj Mahal goes into effect, it would reduce this over-the-top mausoleum — built by Shah Jahan (fifth emperor of the Mughal dynasty) to mourn his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal — to a mere postcard silhouette instead of the spiritual experience it can be.

Even a recent rise in admission prices doesn't deter floods of tourists from shuffling through the Taj Mahal — three to four million tourists every year. Between the crowds and the air pollution that's eating away its white stone facade, tourism officials are considering closing this 17th-century landmark to the public, leaving its fabulous domed symmetry — that graceful center onion dome, the four smaller surrounding domes, the slender punctuating minarets, the serene reflecting pool — visible only from afar.

Shah Jahan placed this memorial beside the Yamuna River, despite the constant risk of flooding, because it was next to the bustling market of the Tajganj, where it is said he first saw Mumtaz selling jewels in a market stall. Work started in 1641, and it took 20,000 laborers (not to mention oxen and elephants) 22 years to complete; its marble came from Rajasthan, the precious stones from all over Asia. In the late 19th century, the badly deteriorated Taj Mahal was extensively restored by British viceroy Lord Curzon; what will today's Indian government do to preserve this treasure?

Lord Howe Island

More than half of the original recorded species of birds on this island are extinct due to hunting; non-native predators such as black rats, cats, and owls; and overgrazing by farm animals. Now that Lord Howe Island is protected and managed, the most serious threats are oil and chemical water pollution, and groundwater pollution from sewage management.

Possibly Australia's best birding site, Lord Howe Island is a carefully preserved nature sanctuary, where only 400 tourists are allowed at a time. Seventy-five percent of the island, including much of the southern mountains and northern hills, is a permanent protected nature reserve. The island is home to more than 130 bird species, between residents and migratory visitors. Walking trails along the island's ragged east coast provide great views of seabirds, star among them is one of the world's rarest birds, the Providence petrel, which nests near the summit of Mount Gower. This sturdy-looking seabird is so trustful of humans that it can even be called out of the air — and might even decide to rest in your lap.

For impressive aerial feats, look to the skies, especially over the tropical forests of the northern hills, and you'll see the beautiful red-tailed tropic bird, with its elegant red tail streamers. When courting, it will fly backwards, in circles, and, for good measure, throw in some vertical displays. It's a splendid sight, and one few birders ever get to see.

Pyramids of Giza

Of all the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only one is still standing: the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Granted, its pinnacle was lopped off, and the polished white limestone that once faced its sloping sides was scavenged ages ago. But there it is in the Egyptian desert, the largest in a trio of stupendous royal tombs, with a quirky monument called the Sphinx alongside. It's quite a sight to see — if only you could see it.

Today, aggressive throngs of souvenir vendors, tour touts, and taxi drivers crowd the entrance to the Pyramids of Giza. Though camel rides and horseback tours are now banned from the monument area, visitors still clamber unchecked over the ancient landmarks. The haphazard sprawl and pollution of Cairo comes right to the edge of the archaeological zone, yet Egyptian officials seem unconcerned about protecting the site.

It's difficult now to get that iconic long-distance view of the three pyramids looming in the desert; you can't really see them until you're too close. Oriented precisely to the points of the compass, they were built for three Pharaohs of the 4th Dynasty (about 27th c. B.C.) — the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the slightly smaller Second Pyramid of Chephren, and the much smaller red-granite Third Pyramid of Mycerinus — and designed to imitate the rays of the sun shining down from its zenith. Most tourists expect a visit to the famed pyramids to be a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, not a tawdry letdown. It's the only Ancient Wonder we have left — what a pity it's come to this.

Gu Gong (Forbidden City)

This vast complex is half a millennium old — the emperors lived in the Forbidden City from 1420 to 1923, beginning long before Columbus sailed to the Americas and ending right before Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic — and the heavy traffic is taking its toll.

It may have been forbidden once, but nowadays nearly seven million visitors a year cross the threshold of this imperial palace, home to an unbroken line of 24 Chinese emperors. Limiting access would be a ticklish proposition for the Chinese government since most of the visitors are Chinese citizens getting in touch with their heritage. Many sections may be closed when you visit, due to a massive renovation lasting through 2020.

There's no one must-see section — it's the scale and harmony of the whole that's so impressive, an irrefutable statement of Chinese imperial might. It was originally built by an army of workers in only 14 years, although after various ransackings and fires, most of what you see today was built in the 17th century. Check out the largest gate, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, where Mao Tse Tung made his dramatic announcement founding the People's Republic in October 1949. The nearby Gate of Supreme Harmony leads into the perfectly symmetrical outer court, and then into an inner court and increasingly private — at least in the emperor's time — pavilions and structures.

Little Green Street

Little Green Street off Highgate Road in Kentish Town is one of only a few intact Georgian streets in London.

Most of the dozen houses were built in the 1780s, are Grade ll listed, and both survived the Blitz and more than two hundred years of wear and tear from the generations who have raised their children in the narrow cobbled terrace.

The street, only 2.5m wide remains a very real threat of being turned into a truck route which would see a vehicle pass within inches of the front doors of these homes every three minutes, all day every day for up to four years down this delicate cul-de-sac.

Although, after eight years of campaigning by more than fifteen thousand people, many visitors to this site, planning permission has lapsed, Camden Council are still vascillating about whether the construction work on a gated community with an underground car park should continue.

Little Green Street isn't in the center of London, but maybe that's why it survived so long — it's one of only a few intact Georgian streets left in the whole metropolis. These two-story brick houses may have survived the Blitz in World War II, but the inexorable march of gentrification is another thing altogether. It's not even a full neighborhood, just a one-block-long street, a narrow cobblestoned lane lined on both sides with perhaps a dozen modest 18th-century terraced houses.

The houses themselves being knocked down, it's the street itself that lies in danger. A developer seeking to build nearby can only access the plot of land through the 2.5m (8 feet) wide street. Lorries and backhoes would barely scrape through this lane, coming within inches of the terrace's neatly painted front doors and bow windows. No studies had been done to test how much the constant rumbling and vibrations of that traffic would affect the foundations of these 225-year-old buildings, given a projected construction period of 4 years.

Little Green Street looks like a perfect slice of Regency London; it's been celebrated in the poetry of that quintessentially British poet John Betjeman, and used as the setting for music videos and photo shoots. The campaign to save Little Green Street has not only knit together the dozen families who live there, it has attracted actors, writers, musicians, and others concerned with preserving London's historic character. On February 28, 2008, the Camden Town Council denied the developers construction access to Little Green Street, but the appeals process continues.

Extracted from http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests

Taken from Frommer's 500 Places to See Before They Disappear.

Kesan penilaian alam sekitar patut dipatuhi

2008-12-10T02:57:00.000-08:00

Oleh NUR AZFAHANI AHMAD
(seperti yang diterbitkan di akhbar Utusan Malaysia, tarikh 10 Disember 2008, m/s 10, bahagian Rencana)

PADA 1993, Malaysia digemparkan dengan tragedi menyayat hati di mana berlakunya insiden yang mengorbankan 48 nyawa di runtuhan bangunan kondominium di Highland Towers. Puncanya adalah pergerakan tanah di lereng bukit yang menyebabkan berlakunya tanah runtuh dan menumbangkan bangunan kondominium di kawasan tersebut. Hari ini, kejadian yang sama berulang kembali. Ironinya di sini, lokasi kejadian hanyalah 1.5 km dari lokasi runtuhnya kondominium Highland Towers dahulu. Persoalannya di sini, mengapakah episod yang menyayatkan hati itu berulang kembali?

Seperti sedia maklum, iklim Khatulistiwa yang dialami oleh negara tropika seperti Malaysia, merupakan iklim yang mempunyai taburan hujan tahunan yang tinggi terutama sekali pada musim-musim tengkujuh iaitu di sekitar bulan November dan Disember. Ini secara tidak langsung akan menyebabkan berlakunya tahap kelembapan relatif yang tinggi, justeru turut mempengaruhi tahap kelembapan tanah, kekuatan struktur tanah, keseimbangan kandungan bendalir di dalam tanah dan pelbagai lagi perkara yang berkaitan.

Namun begitu, kita bertuah kerana Malaysia dikelilingi Hutan Hujan Khatulistiwa yang padat memenuhi Banjaran Titiwangsa dengan daunnya yang lebar serta berakar tunjang, sekali gus mampu menampung dan menerima taburan hujan yang lebat dan bertindak sebagai pemangkin kepada tanah.

Namun begitu, apabila pembangunan semakin dituntut, kebanyakan pemangkin tanah ini terpaksa ditebang untuk memenuhi tuntutan arus permodenan. Bermula dari faktor inilah, maka bencana-bencana alam seperti banjir kilat dan tanah runtuh semakin kerap terjadi.

Dalam merungkaikan permasalahan ini, pelbagai persoalan telah timbul. Haruskah pembangunan dihentikan? Siapakah yang harus dipertanggungjawabkan dalam situasi ini?

Melihat kepada sejarah pembangunan di Malaysia, didapati 35 - 40 peratus pembangunan diadakan di kawasan-kawasan tanah tinggi dan lereng-lereng bukit yang memerlukan bukit-bukit ditarah, dibersihkan ataupun diratakan untuk memberi laluan kepada proses pembangunan. Ada di antaranya bersifat komersial seperti pembinaan resort-resort percutian, ada yang bertujuan untuk memenuhi kehendak prasarana awam dan ada juga projek-projek hakmilik persendirian.

Kelulusan

Namun begitu, semuanya perlu melalui proses kelulusan dan pematuhan dasar yang sama mengikut keperluan Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT). Menurut Garis Panduan Pembangunan Tanah Tinggi 2002 dan 2005, aktiviti-aktiviti pembangunan bagi kawasan kediaman adalah dilarang sama sekali didirikan pada kawasan yang merangkumi 300 meter ke atas ataupun berkecerunan 35 darjah.

Ini sekali gus menunjukkan keprihatinan kerajaan dalam menangani masalah-masalah ini dari berlaku. Namun begitu, masih terdapat segelintir pihak pemaju yang begitu tegar dan sanggup melanggar garis panduan ini demi mencapai keuntungan wang ringgit.

Dalam melaksanakan dasar-dasar kerajaan, PBT seharusnya bersifat lebih tegas dalam memastikan pihak-pihak pemaju mematuhi peraturan-peraturan yang telah ditetapkan. Antara pra syarat pembangunan yang seharusnya diperketatkan adalah pelaksanaan Kajian Kesan Penilaian Alam Sekitar (EIA) dan Kajian Feasibiliti sebelum mana-mana projek boleh diteruskan.

Pematuhan perkara ini amat penting, kerana melalui kajian ini sahajalah penilaian bagi kesan pembangunan jangka panjang terhadap alam sekitar boleh diperhalusi dan pelbagai langkah pencegahan boleh diutarakan melalui kajian yang dinamik.

Ini selaras dengan kehendak kerajaan yang ingin memelihara alam sekitar seterusnya mencapai kestabilan rantaian flora dan fauna.

PBT juga seharusnya memastikan laporan hasil penilaian alam sekitar ini dipantau sepenuhnya oleh pihak-pihak profesional yang terdiri daripada jurutera, juruukur bangunan, arkitek dan profesion lain yang berkaitan bagi memastikan laporan yang dihasilkan adalah meliputi pelbagai tuntutan Proses Sebelum Bina.

Pihak pemaju seharusnya ditapis melalui saluran yang betul, dinilai dan dikaji melalui keputusan laporan EIA yang dihasilkan dengan melalui prosedur-prosedur yang ketat.

Proses pembangunan tanah di lereng-lereng bukit seharusnya melalui fasa penyiasatan tanah dan impak struktur yang dikoordinasikan oleh jurutera bertauliah. Bagi fasa cadangan penyelenggaraan fasiliti secara berkala dan kemudahan prasarana pembangunan, ia seharusnya diselia oleh juruukur bangunan bertauliah, manakala fasa kehendak dan keperluan reka bentuk dipantau sepenuhnya oleh arkitek bertauliah.

Cadangan-cadangan awalan bagi mengelakkan tanah runtuh seperti penanaman tumbuh-tumbuhan litup bumi, pembinaan tembok penahan atau pengaplikasian sistem pengaliran air yang efektif bukan sekadar menghiasi kertas kerja cadangan projek tetapi seharusnya benar-benar dilaksanakan.

Sistem teknologi moden seperti pengesanan pergerakan tanah melalui sistem gelombang atau radar harus dipantau secara berkala, bagi mengesan pergerakan tanah yang aktif terutama sekali menjelang musim hujan.

Gabungan tenaga kerja antara pihak pemaju, Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS), JKR, IKRAM dan profesion-profesion ini penting bagi menjamin bangunan yang dibina adalah selamat diduduki dan kejadian tanah runtuh ini tidak akan berlaku lagi.

Walaupun Malaysia tidak termasuk dalam lingkaran gunung berapi atau gempa bumi, impak di atas kejadian tanah runtuh turut meragut banyak nyawa dan menjejaskan aset pembangunan negara.

Negara-negara yang sinonim dengan bencana-bencana alam seperti gempa bumi, sentiasa menyediakan pelan pembinaan yang amat menitik-beratkan kajian EIA. Antara yang sesuai dijadikan rujukan ialah Jepun yang terkenal dengan dasar-dasar kelulusan yang ketat semasa Proses Sebelum Bina. Kerajaan seharusnya peka dalam menangani permasalahan ini dengan melihat pelaksanaan-pelaksanaan dasar dari pelbagai negara maju.

Yang pasti, pendekatan dan pelaksanaan dasar yang sistematik perlu diaplikasikan dalam menangani permasalahan ini. Tindakan PBT haruslah tegas agar tidak dilabelkan 'seperti melepaskan batuk di tepi tangga', kerana kita semestinya tidak mahu tragedi ini berulang kembali.

Tallest building in the world " A must-see video! "

2008-11-14T02:28:00.000-08:00

Burj Tower, Dubai, UAE The tallest building in the world

sources from www.YouTube.com

Burj Dubai is currently under construction.

Burj Dubai (Arabic: برج دبي‎ "Dubai Tower") is a supertall skyscraper under construction in the Business Bay district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the tallest man-made structure ever built, despite being incomplete. Construction began on September 21, 2004 and is expected to be completed and ready for occupation in September 2009.[1]

The building is part of the 2 km2 (0.8 sq mi) development called "Downtown Dubai", at the "First Interchange" (aka "Defence Roundabout") along Sheikh Zayed Road at Doha Street. The tower's architect is Adrian Smith[4] who worked with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) until 2006.[5] The architecture and engineering firm SOM is in charge of the project.[4] The primary builders are Samsung Engineering & Construction and Besix along with Arabtec.[6] Turner Construction Company was chosen as the construction manager.[7]

The total budget for the Burj Dubai project is about US$4.1 billion[8] and for the entire new 'Downtown Dubai', US$20 billion. Mohamed Ali Alabbar, the CEO of Emaar Properties, speaking at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat 8th World Congress, said that the price of office space at Burj Dubai had reached $4,000 per sq ft (over $43,000 per sq m) and that the Armani Residences, also in Burj Dubai, were selling for $3,500 per sq ft (over $37,500 per sq m).[9]

Projected height

Projected height of the completed Burj Dubai, compared to the height of some other well-known tall structures.The projected final height of Burj Dubai is officially being kept a secret due to competition from other buildings under construction or proposed; however, figures released by a contractor on the project have suggested a height of around 818 m (2,684 ft).[20] Based on this height, the total number of habitable floors is expected to be around 162. However, Burj Dubai's construction manager, Greg Sang, has said only that the final height would be greater than 700 m (2,297 ft), a height already exceeded, and that it would be the world's tallest free-standing structure when completed.[21]

Picture: sources from www.jaradite.com

History of height increases

A small comparison of the Burj Dubai's height between surrounding buildings at dusk.Though unconfirmed, Burj Dubai has been rumoured to have undergone several planned height increases since its inception. Originally proposed as a virtual clone of the 560 m (1,837 ft) Grollo Tower proposal for Melbourne, Australia's Docklands waterfront development, the tower was redesigned with an original design by Skidmore Owings and Merrill seen above and discussed below. Contradictory information abounds regarding the official height of the building, which is to be expected, considering the building seeks to acquire the designation as the world's tallest structure upon completion in 2009.

The design architect, Adrian Smith, felt that the upper-most section of the building did not culminate elegantly with the rest of the structure, so he sought and received approval to increase it to the currently planned height. It has been explicitly stated that this change did not include any added floors,[22] which is fitting with Smith's attempts to make the crown more slender. However, the top of the tower has a steel frame structure, unlike the lower portion's reinforced concrete. The developer, Emaar, has stated this steel section may be extended to beat any other tower to the title of tallest; however, once the tower is complete, height increases will not be recognised.

Construction

Burj Dubai aerial closeup in March 2008.The tower is being constructed by a South Korean company, Samsung Engineering & Construction[29] which also built the Petronas Twin Towers and the Taipei 101. Samsung Engineering & Construction is building the tower in a joint venture with Besix from Belgium and Arabtec from UAE. Turner is the Project Manager on the main construction contract.

The primary structural system of Burj Dubai is reinforced concrete. Over 45,000 m3 (58,900 cu yd) of concrete, weighing more than 110,000 tonnes (120,000 ST/110,000 LT) were used to construct the concrete and steel foundation, which features 192 piles buried more than 50 m (164 ft) deep.[1] When completed, Burj Dubai's construction will have used 330,000 m3 (431,600 cu yd) of concrete and 39,000 tonnes (43,000 ST/38,000 LT) of steel rebar (enough to extend over a quarter of the way around the world if laid end-to-end); and construction will have taken 22 million man hours.[4]

As construction of the tower progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to vertically pump the thousands of cubic metres of concrete that are required. The previous record for pumping concrete on any project was set during the extension of the Riva del Garda Hydroelectric Power Plant in Italy in 1994, when concrete was pumped to a height of 532 m (1,745 ft). Burj Dubai now holds this record as of August 19, 2007, as it has a height of 536.1 m (1,759 ft), to hold the record for concrete pumping on any project; and as of November 8, 2007 concrete was pumped to a delivery height of 601 m (1,972 ft).[30]

Special mixes of concrete are made to withstand the extreme pressures of the massive weight of the tower; as typical with reinforced concrete construction, each batch of concrete is tested and checked to see whether it can withstand certain pressures. The head of Concrete Quality Checking on the Burj Dubai project is Alam Feroze, who is in charge of concrete on the whole project. The concrete pumps, pipelines and booms are provided by Putzmeister, of Aichtal, Germany.

The consistency of the concrete on the project is essential. It was difficult to create a concrete that could withstand the thousands of tonnes bearing down on it and also withstand Gulf temperatures that can reach 50 °C (122 °F). To combat this problem, the concrete is not poured during the day. Instead, ice is added to the mixture and it is poured at night when it is cooler and the humidity is higher. A cooler concrete mixture cures evenly throughout and therefore is less likely to set too quickly and crack. Any significant cracks could put the whole project in jeopardy.

The unique design and engineering challenges of building Burj Dubai have been featured in a number of TV documentaries, including the Big, Bigger, Biggest series on the National Geographic and Five channels; and the Mega Builders series on the Discovery Channel.

extracted from: wikipedia official website (www.wikipedia.com)
This article is strongly recommended for academic purpose only.

Mara University of Technology (UiTM)

2008-11-12T00:50:00.000-08:00

UiTM
(article are extracted from wikipedia official website)

UiTM is closely linked to the development of the independent Malaysian nation. It began in 1956 as Dewan Latehan RIDA (Rural and Industrial Development Authority Training Center) in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The school became known as Maktab MARA (MARA College) in 1965.

The name change meant that the college no longer operated under RIDA and instead became the most important unit of the MARA Training Division. MARA stands for Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Council of Trust for the Indigenous People) under the charismatic and dynamic leardership of Tan Sri Arshad Ayub.

In 1967, the school was renamed as Institut Teknologi MARA. Its establishment came as a response to a need in Malaysia for trained professionals, especially among Bumiputeras.

ITM's development took three major stages: From 1967 to 1976, ITM was an autonomous body with its own 300 acre (1.2 km²) campus in Shah Alam, operating under the Ministry of Rural Development. From 1976 to 1996, ITM advanced as an institution of higher learning and not only a professional training institute, operating directly under the Ministry of Education.

In 1996, an amendment to the ITM Act of 1976 put ITM on a par with all the universities in Malaysia, but its historical name was retained until 1999. Then it became Universiti Teknologi MARA. It is called "UiTM" to differentiate it from UTM, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, which is a wholly separate university, based in Johor

University admission is open to Bumiputras only. Graduates to date number more than 110,000 with professional certificates, diplomas, BSc, MSc and PhD in various disciplines.

The university's faculties comprise about 4,000 academics, scholars and researchers. Faculty members need not to be Bumiputras. They include Malaysians of non-bumiputra origin as well as other nationalities (eg. from Iran, Mauritius and etc).

There are 25 faculties, 3 learning centeres and more than 200 academic programs.

There are several accomodations and facilities provided in the campus, such as free transportation, wifi, dining area and college accomodations.

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY (HWU)

2008-10-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

Heriot-Watt University, Ricarrton, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Pengajian di HWU sangat sesuai untuk pelajar-pelajar Ukur Bangunan yang berminat untuk meneruskan pengajian mereka ke peringkat yang lebih tinggi. Di HWU, terdapat fakulti Alam Bina (School of Built Environment) yang mempunyai program-program pembelajaran di peringkat Sarjana Muda (Kepujian) di dalam program Ukur Bangunan (Building Surveying). Pengajian di HWU adalah di antara 3-4 tahun bergantung kepada program diploma yang pernah diambil sebelum ini dan pengecualian kredit mata pelajaran. Bagi peringkat Sarjana pula, pelbagai program yang berkaitan dengan skop Ukur Bangunan boleh dipohon. Tempoh pengajian adalah di antara 1 tahun ke 1 tahun setengah dan di dalam mod pengajian penyelidikan dan pembelajaran atau mod penyelidikan semata-mata. Ini adalah bergantung kepada keperluan kursus yang dipilih. Antara skop yang berkaitan adalah di dalam Pengurusan Fasiliti (Facilities Mgmt), Penyenggaraan Aset (Asset Maintenance), Kejuruteraan Kemudahan Bangunan (Building Services Engineering), Pengurusan Kemudahan Bangunan (Building Services Mgmt) dan banyak lagi. Program PhD (Built Environment)di HWU adalah program terbaik di antara 5 universiti-universiti terbaik dan terkenal di United Kingdom. Fasiliti makmal dan peralatan pengujian yang sangat moden dan terkini, lebih-lebih lagi bagi pelajar jurusan 'building services' iaitu yang meliputi skop penyelenggaraan perkhidmatan bangunan iaitu sistem lif, sistem bunyi, sistem penyaman udara, pengudaraan, hidraulik, termodinamik, pencahayaaan dan pelbagai lagi. Pelajar-pelajar didedahkan dengan ilmu 'di depan mata' yang boleh dipelajari secara teori dan praktikal. Contohnya, jika ingin mengetahui bagaimana gema berlaku, terdapat sebuah bilik kalis bunyi yang menghasilkan 'echo' (gema). Pelajar didedahkan secara realiti tentang sesuatu proses.

Kedudukan HWU ini adalah di barat bandar Edinburgh, di sebuah daerah sub-urban yang bernama Ricarrton di Scotland. Scotland yang terletak di utara United Kingdom merupakan sebuah negara yang beriklim sangat sejuk jika dibandingkan dengan Kota London. Sepanjang pengajian penulis di Edinburgh, penulis berpeluang merasai suhu sehingga -18 darjah celcius dan merasai nikmat demam di musim sejuk bersalji Edinburgh :) Bandar Edinburgh (sebutan 'Edinbre') merupakan sebuah kota kosmopolitan dan tumpuan pelancongan terkenal di UK yang masih mengekalkan bangunan-bangunan bersejarah yang berusia lebih 500 tahun.

Manakala, HWU adalah sebuah universiti yang mempunyai keluasan yang besar berbanding universiti-universiti yang lain di UK. Dengan lanskap yang indah serta menghijau, flora-flora liar dan habitat seperti rusa dan arnab dibiarkan bebas di kawasan hijau HWU. Terdapat juga sebuah tasik semulajadi yang sentiasa dipenuhi bangau, itik dan flamingo di bahagian barat daya universiti. Kawasan yang tenang ini secara tidak langsung, memudahkan mood pembelajaran di sini.

Sebaik sahaja menjejakkan kaki ke kawasan universiti, anda akan disambut dengan sebuah papan tanda yang mengalu-alukan kedatangan anda ke kawasan tersebut.

Menyusuri laluan pejalan kaki yang dipagari pokok-pokok serta lanskap bunga-bunga Daphodil akan membawa kepada bangunan "George" (George Wing) yang pada kebiasaannya merupakan laluan bas awam yang membawa pelajar ke bandar Edinburgh.

Dari jauh, anda akan dapat melihat sebuah tugu memorial 'James Watt' yang merupakan pengasas universiti ini yang berlatarkan pintu masuk utama ke universiti. Dari dahulu sehingga kini, penulis masih tertanya-tanya mengapakah tugu James Watt ini dibina di dalam posisi seolah-olah beliau bermalas-malasan. Barangkali ini adalah gambaran beliau sedang berfikir, mungkin..Tugu ini adalah setinggi kira-kira 5-6 meter di tengah-tengah halaman masuk universiti.

Pengalaman terindah penulis ialah apabila melihat bangunan HWU diselaputi salji pada musim sejuk. Keseluruhan kawasan kampus putih diselaputi salji. Pengalaman ini pastinya tidak akan dilupakan sampai bila-bila. Permukaan air di tasik juga membeku dan boleh kelihatan itik-itik berjalan di atas bekuan air tersebut.

Selain daripada musim sejuk, penulis juga berpeluang merasai musim luruh (Autumn), di mana pada waktu ini daun-daun kering akan banyak berguguran. Cuaca juga agak sejuk dan sentiasa hujan. Ini merupakan awalan sebelum bermulanya musim sejuk nanti.

Pelbagai kemudahan disediakan di universiti ini, di antaranya adalah kemudahan pengangkutan bas awam yang masuk setiap 30 min di hadapan pintu masuk universiti. Gambar di sebelah merupakan kawasan hentian bas bagi pelajar. Selain daripada itu kemudahan bilik komputer "PC Caledonian" dengan rangkaian internet yang sangat pantas, pastinya memudahkan pelajar-pelajar membuat sebarang tugasan. Kawasan percetakan juga disediakan secara bersepadu, di mana semua komputer mempunyai akses untuk mencetak. Khidmat mesin fotokopi pula adalah berdasarkan konsep DIY "Do It Yourself', dan terdapat 6 mesin fotokopi disediakan di perpustakaan HWU. Segala-galanya mudah di mana pelajar tidak perlu pergi ke mana-mana untuk mencari sumber.

Selain daripada itu, kemudahan kolej kediaman dengan pemandangan yang menghijau disediakan. Pemandangan sangat mendamaikan apabila tiba waktu matahari tenggelam (sunset) sekitar waktu senja (menjelang maghrib).

Yang paling menggembirakan ialah apabila anda berjaya pulang ke tanahair dengan membawa skrol yang diidam-idamkan.Itu adalah kegembiraan yang paling mutlak sekali walau di mana anda belajar!

Alhamdullilah!!
Syukur kepada Allah atas rezeki yang diberi.
Terima Kasih UiTM kerana memberikan peluang ini.

p/s: Gambar-gambar kenangan. Penulis tidak berniat untuk membangga-banggakan universiti luar negara. Sekadar berkongsi pengalaman dan cerita.