Difference Datum

This land owner want us to counter checked his land boundary because somebody told him that his land still has another 200 acres in the jungle. He very excited because there are many expensive log can be abstracted out if the boundary is really 200 acres. He could not sleep well because of this information. His man on the ground also excited because perhaps his boss will give extra BONUS for the "value" information.

The management team told me they personal saw the boundary line by the forest officer in the computer map. This is why the management team very confidence there are another 200 acres in the jungle and further more they passed me the coordinate to assist me. However, all the dreams and bonus disappeared when I found the first mark near the old drain.

The land owner and the management team always called me what was the progress of my survey but unluckily to them because all the boundary marks fall near to old drain about 4-5m and all the big log just stand behind of these boundary marks.
On the last of my survey, I told the management team that even GPS is an intelligent tool in detection position but when come on cadastral survey. It will another story because the GPS system have not yet implemented on title survey where JUPEM is trying to do currently.

The coordinate given by the forest officer is incorrectly because of difference datum and this is why they said the land in jungle. The management disagreed with the mark found on the ground and claimed perhaps somebody misplace it. I told them these marks were planted before Malaya independant where the survey was carried out in year 1927. During that period, they were using chain with theodolite and further more the area is hilly. Those day surveyor and his team really worked and the mark we found is the evidence.

Comparison reading with GPS and PDUK

6 GPS points were observed and a conversion coordinate from WGS84 to local cassini solder was carried out for each point before I went back to site to search for the boundary marks. Initially I assumed that these GPS reading were relevant with the PDUK info. The GPS reading could not convert into Geocentric cassini solder because the NDCDB is not available for this particular place thus we need to convert the GPS reading into old cassini Solder which based on the state origin.

On the first day, we found an old pipe near the bamboo patch but about 2m away from the computed point. Thus, I assumed that the old pipe in position and searched for the next boundary. A sound of crack on the next mark proved that the old pipe was re fixed correctly. A few boundary marks were found even after nearly 1km traverse and the conclusion from this experience is error of conversion between geographic coordinates (Æ, l, h) and Cartesian coordinates (X, Y, Z) due to difference datum. So, how good is our NDCDB? Still a big question mark to public including me. Friendly speaking, public only trust on the boundary mark and no the coordinate.

USB dongle driver vista-Comdlg32.ocx ERROR

Most the software are using USB dongle including the CSCS program. Even through I had installed the Sentinel System Driver into the Windows Vista system but the doogle still fail to function.

Finally, I managed to settle this problem after a few months. There was a message of "Comdlg32.ocx" error before I solved this problem.

Firstly, you need to download comdlg32 (need to extract because in zip file) then copy this file into c:\windows\system32.

This is for Windows Vista user. A lot of program need to go through administrator before we able to use the software.

After paste the comdlg32.ocx into the system32 folder then click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. ( ensure you click right-click when in command prompt)

Type the following command from Start, Run dialog:

regsvr32 %Systemroot%\System32\comdlg32.ocx

When you see above then you succeed in installation

Capital gains (go for growth)

Working as a land surveyor, I am exploded to land and property opportunity. Subsequently I also learn some skills from the my clients either from developer, land or property owners.

Recently one of my clients told me that he bought the piece of land I demarcated for him at Tengkera, Melaka only cost him RM300K for 9000 square feet. This amount of money to me is huge because this is a vacant land without any building. Perhaps to this young and rich guy is reasonable because he likes to stay at town area.

The lot located at the heart of Melaka town, 2 schools around this area and government clinic at the main entrance of the lot. Even there are still have some wooden houses at neighbor lot but there is new access due to development (housing project) of opposite lot and a lot of people can enjoy the new access without using the old and narrow road.

During our conversation while I did the survey, he did mention to me that somebody willing to offer him RM50 per square feet for this piece of land but he refused to sell. He easily can gain RM20 per square feet or RM180,000 if he sell the property. This young guy told me the main reason he invest in this piece of property because initially he want to buy the semi-detached just opposite this particular lot but the price is from range RM350K (min) to half a million where the area of the lot is less than 4000 square feet. Thus, instead of buying the semi-D, he bought this vacant land and build his dream bungalow on this lot.

This is why people (my clients) also told me that property usually increase in value because of rising demand as their areas become more popular and mature such like above case or because there is easy access to facilities and infrastructure provided is conducive.

Below are some factors to look out when buying for capital gains property :-

1. Look at surrounding values to determine potential

-Like above young guy, he saw the opportunity of this lot while he want to buy the semi-detached which maybe cost him half a million.

2. Limited supply

-Please bear in mind that prices will rise if the property is in great demand but there is limited supply.

-Sometime the value of the property is seem high but able to sell before start the construction. Normally this project is small less than 4 acres but with unique concept and targeted especially government servants. This group of investor are entitled government of RM200K with 4% interest loan.

-If you want to invest in shop house then the ratio of shop house to residential units should be not exceed 1 : 20. Anything less than 20 would indicate a possible oversupply situation. I noticed that a new development in Krubong, Melaka. This developer only built 2 rows of shop house in front of the frontage with majority bungalow residential. The sale is amazing according to the developer even located far from Melaka town.

3. More land

-According to House Price Index published by Napic, detached houses and semi-detached houses have registered the highest rate of capital growth while high rise properties have recorded the lowest. This information is telling us prefer land title rather than strata title if want capital appreciation.

4. Location

-Most of the people is emphasis on location. Good location usually with expensive rate. Rate of agriculture land normally based on acreage but in potential area such as Hang Tuah Jaya, Melaka. The land owner take this opportunity to raise the rate into square feet instead of acre for agriculture land.

Sometime location not a main factor in determine the value of property. I have a case that involve of a Malay land owner told me on previous years ago, his land value increased tremendously after a road acquisition occurred by state government. The area of the property became less but he happy because he receipted the compensation and the most he enjoy is the value of the land. He is a millionaire if he sell the property.

Contractor need Borang C for bungalow submittion to local council

This chinese contractor rang out to me couple weeks ago for demarcation survey for a bungalow lot. I charged a day fee for this particular job because it was simple and straight forward work which involve of 4 marks. However, he did not turn out for receiving his plan and payment to us until today. Thus, I called him and finally he came to our office.

When he open the plan and he requested for "Borang C " because he wants to submit to Majlis. ehh...Intially he just want to demarcation and now he request more what he pay. He told me that his previous freelance surveyor able to give him the form after demarcation. I told him what is the purpose of "Borang C". We as a licensed land surveyor can not simply issue a borang C without an asbuilt survey to ensure the building is built according to approval plan. After long discussion, I told him that I need to do as-built before issue the borang and the cost I absorb because of mis-conmmunication.

Please take note that Borang C is under AKTA JALAN PARIT DAN BANGUNAN 1974

UNDANG-UNDANG KECIL KERJA TANAH 1990 NOTIS SIAP KERJA

( UNDANG-UNDANG KECIL 4(5)).

This is example Borang C from Selangor and please kindly read the content before issue.

Malaysia survey Almanac 2010

Happy New Year to all the Malaysia surveyors. For 2010 I wish you a fantastic January, lovable February, Marvelous March, Luckiest April, Enjoyable May, Successful June, Wonderful July, Independent August, tastiest October, beautiful November and finally happiest December. Have a victorious year. Please kindly receive a free digital Malaysia Almanac 2010 from melakasurveyor.

Innovative website for Melaka investor

Melaka just declared as “Melaka Maju 2010” on 1 January 2010 and Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Desa, Melaka has taken a proactive move by created an useful and friendly website to the investor/ consultant/ developer and including me as a land surveyor.

What is the interesting of this website? Basically, in this application, user are able to view land use for a lot such like agriculture, industry or etc. If you have PA for the area then just key in the PA number. The website able to show the information including the surrounding area.

This is one of the example

Developer and land investor are the main person look for this kind of information. They want to know the surrounding development before they buy the property. Find out more information at Geoportal Melaka .

Precaution in GPS static observation

As discussion with my GPS consultant on the final result

Based on the GPS result and I did a comparison in distance with my total station. For every 1km, the propagation error is about 7cm by total station. The number of station in this traverse is 25 and each line contribute error of 7mm (short). The shortage of 7mm is correct when I compared with my EDM test on August 2009 and we noticed our instrument problem. Thus I can verify the distance by GPS is perfect calibrated. This is the main reason in the survey circular 2009 stated that traverse need to tie with CRM (Cadastral Reference Mark) or proven old mark for every 25 station or 1km(urban survey) or 2.5km (rural survey) which is early. In my case, my distance error contribute nearly 190mm for 2.5km.

While difference in bearing, I adopted GPS observation is correct since GPS is based on grid north while our cadastral sun observation is based on true north. I will do the sun observation to verify the GPS bearing when I in the field.

I have another 4 marks fail in processing and one of the reasons is due to no data connection from JUPEM during the observation. It causes the raw data of GPS observation can not apply the correction. This is one of disadvantage of using Static method. The best solution is using real time MyRTKnet.

Jungle position by Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)

Recently, I received a sms from one of the estate managers in Pahang. According to him, the boundary marks were found by PERHILITAN officer and below are the code.

VK 456 967 08    WMR 371 147 14

VK 458 127 41    WMR 367 618 46

This is the first time I see the such code and initially I do not what code it is then I refer to my GPS consultant.

Above the result of the secret code by PERHILITAN

VK is on the east portion and WMR on north portion

Now I just realised that our PERHILITAN is using RSO system to locate the location rather that using our cadastral coordinate. I do not how they (forestry officer) able to locate the marks by GPS with RSO system. Maybe I should dig more information from them.

Calculation of road reserve with vary width (by secant method)

Initially, we need to know the angle of B-A-C.

In this case, the angle is 140° 00’ 00” (a + b)

The formula:

Tan (a - b)/2 = (a-b)/(a+b) tan (a + b)/2
Tan (a - b)/2 = (20-10)/(20+10) tan (140°)/2
Tan (a - b)/2 = 10/30 tan 70°
Tan (a - b)/2 = 0.915825806

(a - b)/2 = 42° 29’ 3.32”------------------------(1)
(a + b)/2 = 70° 00’ 00” -------------------------(2)

Solve above equation

a - b = 84° 58’ 6.65”-----------------------(3)
a + b = 140° 00’ 00”-----------------------(4)

a = 84° 58’ 6.65” + b ---------------------(5)
a = 140° 00’ 00” - b -----------------------(6)

Replace a in (5) with a in (6)
84° 58’ 6.65” + b = 140° 00’ 00” - b

2b = 55° 01’ 53.35”
b = 27° 30’ 56.68”

With b = 27° 30’ 56.68”, solve a in (5)

a = 84° 58’ 6.65” + 27° 30’ 56.68”
a = 112° 29’ 3.33”

Bearing AD = Bearing AC + b
= 127° 00’ 00” + 27° 30’ 57”
= 154° 30’ 57”

Distance AD is

AD = b/ sin b
= 10/ sin 27° 30’ 56.68”
= 21.645

Or

AD = a/ sin a
= 20/ sin 112° 29’ 3.33”
=21.645