North-South Expressway Highway Map

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After one month plus working on gathering and organizing the data, finally, it is done. PLUS FM/ HIS (+) contains around 810 geographical features and facilities along the North South Highway (Malaysia).
Abbreviation explained:
PLUS FM- PLUS is the common name for the highway and FM stands for Facility (or Feature Map)
HIS (+)- Highway Information System (PLUS)

Both maps (inc. link below) are two takes on the geographical data that I have collected over the years on field and online research. Facilities/ Features shown are:

1. SOS (Emergency telephones)- not publicly available online
2. Rest Areas
3. Laybys
4. Motorcycle Sheds- not publicly available online
5. Points of Interest
6. Interchanges
7. Tolls
8. Named River Crossings- mostly not publicly available online

PLEASE ZOOM IN TO SEE MORE DETAILS (i.e. Facilities)

A link to another take on this map:
http://www.arcgis.com/explorer/?open=3548c8b8efae4077a8745f61581ec2e3&extent=11244978.3274989,513126.407464766,11261574.7459163,520428.345582528

Important Notes on the Map

Producer: Danesh Prakash Chacko (April-May 2013)

Source: Personal Field Collection/ GPS Collection, Panoramio, Wikipedia, PLUS (official website) Google Maps, Google Earth, Bing Maps, Foursquare.

Accuracy: Refer to accuracy statement found in each feature found in the map. Where it is left blank, it should be assumed as point positioned at 1 km viewing altitude in Google Earth or Navman GPS accuracy level (for SOS).Use the positional accuracy as a guide only, not for in-depth accurate mapping studies.

Currency: The map data as current of November 2012 (for rest areas and laybys, refer to date currency of PLUS website). However, the producer asks the users to use discretion when using the map and validate themselves on the highway.

Disclaimer: The producer has done his best to collect the information with relevant positional and attribute accuracy. His personal notes have been cross-referenced with other sources such as Panoramio and vice-versa. However, the producer disclaims himself for any mishaps or intentional/unintentional misuse of the data as a result using the map. Producer have omitted some of the data to preserve the general integrity of the data accuracy. In future, more data will be added to complete the map

Acknowledgement: I, the producer, would like to acknowledge fully all the online references (stated above) which were used for the completion of the project. I hereby ask all users to quote all the references mentioned above (or in the map) when the data is being utilized elsewhere. This is in spirit of recognition of other unknown contributors and respecting copyrights.

THE PRODUCER WILL INFORM THROUGH HIS BLOG FOR ANY UPDATES/ADDITIONS/OMISSIONS FOR THE MAP. ANY UNAUTHORIZED EDITS WITHOUT CONSENT OF THE PRODUCER WILL RESULT THE PRODUCER DISQUALIFY HIMSELF FROM ANY WRONG-DOINGS AND/OR ITS SUBSEQUENT CONSEQUENCES

MINOR NOTES (FAQ)

1) What is a viewing altitude mentioned in accuracy section?

Viewing altitude of Google Earth

You will encounter a statement saying called 'Google Earth 1.5 km viewing altitude'. The position of the facilities such as Fuel Stations were placemarked by me at 1.5 km (e.g.) height at Google Earth. The above image shows a red circle referring to viewing altitude. If I ever bring this across to an online Google Map/Earth, you can zoom in to this facility with great accuracy until hits 1.5 km viewing altitude

2) I find some of the information sections left empty for facilities. Why is this so?
For attributes (the description of the facilities), it means either this facility do not have particular attribute (laybys that do not sell fruits, so when you click the pin, fruit section is empty) or the accuracy statement was mysteriously have not been added. Over time, I may add the accuracy statement that were missing for selected facility categories (i.e. Emergency Telephones)

3) What do you mean 'digitized at 1:20000 in ArcGIS'?
Let's take an example- River Crossings. Most of the river crossings were place marked in Google Earth. They were subsequently imported to ArcGIS (mapping software). Over time, I realized that I missed two or three river crossings. To save time, I manually added them to the nearest .000 degrees (for latitude or longitude) in ArcGIS map at the scale of 1:20 000.

4) I noticed in reality, emergency telephones are not exactly correspond to the highway chainages listed in the map. Is there an error in your map?
Most of the emergency telephones I listed in the map have some highway chainage. For example, there is an SOS on Sungai Buloh exit ramp and its highway chainage is KM 453.9. In reality, the highway chainage listed is the one closest to this SOS. It doesn't mean this SOS is at KM 453.9. At rare instances, both the chainage and SOS location would correspond.

Fusing Your Passion with Maps

Today, I would like to present or promote another website. We hardly see people relating mapping with other passions they have. More so, from a sporting perspective. I have a contact, who was the Managing Cartographer of the World's Largest Atlas, The Earth. Now he works for ESRI in America which is one of global leaders and pioneers of the GIS industry. I know he is passionate in making maps and reading his website, equally passionate on Tennis. This blog I presenting shows the linkage of his passion in mapping science and Tennis.
http://gamesetmap.com/

-Unknown to much of the world, GPS and GIS is and could be used as powerful tools for Sporting events-

Free GIS Dataset site

While I am still working on Online Map of North-South Highway Facilities, I decided to present you a link that is an interest for all map-makers. We all need digital data, but they are not free. Below here is the link that can give you a heads-up for any of your project:
http://freegisdata.rtwilson.com/#home

If possible, do help out the person in charge of website to provide other potential free GIS data depots online or other means of helping too. I use the site on and off to get datasets for paper-map production.

You might note that Malaysia is not listed. I would like to take the opportunity that if you want to take my data from maps, You are allowed for non-commercial purposes/educational/personal/non-profit/presentation purposes. This is to be fair. This means you can attribute the source of data to my blog address.

Why Silence in April?

Currently what I am working on

                                     
Fellow readers, you might wonder why there is no updates on the blog? The above image would explain what I am currently working on. Over the past decade or so, I have collected various highway information in Malaysia in paper format (it remains incomplete). Apart of one highway publication, there was no complete effort to digitally store them and make them available. The amount of time required to upload the information on Google Earth is a lot. So does finding the useful platform. My final product (hopefully) would be an online map showing basic and detailed information on highway. Plus, I am looking to hear your comments what other information should I upload in future. Bear in mind, I am not in Malaysia at the moment.

Statistics of Facilities/ Features Shown for future online map

• GPS Referenced SOS: 214
• Non-GPS Referenced SOS: 98
• Motorcylce Sheds: 117
• Tolls: 67
• Interchanges/ Exit: 97
• Fuel Stations on Highway: 47
• Laybys (Hentian Sebelah): 43
• Rest Service Areas (R &  R): 23
• Points of Interests/ Tourist Sites: 15
• Named River/Canal Crossings: 89

Guess what, it is not complete...

My comment in OSM Malaysian forum hit above 1000 views

Prior creating this blog, I (dpc1991) was active contributor of data to Malaysian Map of OSM. Before Google released the location of all bus stops in Penang, I was collecting the locations over the years and uploading them on OSM. At that time, the Penang public and others did not have readily accessible information on this. I tried publicizing them through facebook, failed attempt on Malaysian Daily (STAR) and through the OSM forum. I posted the my comment that I am uploading the locations of the bus stops and bus routes on OSM (in September 2012) and updated my statement in November. In my updated statement, I told publicly that Google has successfully dashed my work by uploading all the locations on Google Maps on one stroke. Today, I made a random check on the forum list, I am currently ranked in the TOP TEN VIEWS for the OSM forum (for the bus stop comment).

*-Open Street Map (OSM) is free editable map whereby anyone can edit, contribute to the mapping work and subsequently download the data for free.

Thank you to my viewers! I'll try to contribute to OSM in future

Malaysian Railways

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Malaysian Railways has been there since 1885 (the proper one) and subsequently expanded and contracted over the history. The main purpose of the tool above is to give the users understanding the current distribution of the railway network and their status. A specialty of this map it highlights the upcoming railway project lines and old dismantled line. The new ongoing projects would be double tracking and electrification of the West Coast Line and the introduction of mass rapid transit in Klang Valley (shown in the map) The above map is prelude to a full-blown Malaysian Railway Web Application: http://www.arcgis.com/apps/Compare/storytelling_tabbed/index.html?appid=06b52f3e268b4be8b93e13dae9aeecee

I have noted my sources for the datasets and the information gathered for the map on both of the links. I would like to fully acknowledge FMS Railway site (http://history.malayarailway.com/home) on their effort in detailing the expansion of the railway network in Malay Peninsula. I would like to fully credit the KTM Railway Museum in Kuala Lumpur Station for pre WW2 Malayan Railway Network Map (utilized for the digitization of dismantled routes) and Wikipedia for upcoming projects and Sabah Railway Network. Finally, credits to the government and engineering company sites (i.e. Gamuda)
Comments:
User in Australia:  'this is awesome. something like transperth'
User in Canada: 'very nice''
User in Pahang: 'You must've struggled for hours doing this....keep it up man.We're all proud of you.'
User in Sabah:  'Wow this is a good map. I just had time to glance thru but from 1st impression, it looks impressive ..... I can't produced such a map ..... Good job .....'
User in KL: 'good job mate. I like it.''

Danesh Request:
Can you guys could research and fill any gaps for the completion years for some railway networks (i.e. Pasir Gudang Link)?
Can you guys tell me what other interesting railway features I must put in the map?

Malaysian Dams Portal (2)

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ArcGIS link for the malaysian dam portal
Faster Link: http://www.arcgis.com/explorer/?open=dafa5301fe734943a8c2d593c89dfd8e
Any form unauthorized edits would disqualify me of any inaccuracy charges and claims. Edits that I perform will be notified in the blog. Click on the map, then proceed to more details, then in the detail section, click open in arcGIS Explorer Online to see the full map. Or, go to the hyperlink above for the direct page.
New Update on the dashboard have been inserted on 13/3/2013
Wherever there is a request of information statement, I appeal to users to find the information from reliable sources (With evidence too) to fill the remaining gaps. This same applies if you can information on other dam locations not shown in the map.