Land Use Change Analysis for Port Operations and Shipping Decision-Making Using ArcGIS Assessment

Assessment

CLO3: Apply decision-making process in resolving shipping issues.

PLO3: Demonstrate practical skills in geospatial analysis and the application of technical tools to solve maritime/logistics problems.

Students are required to use ArcGIS to analyse land use changes within a selected port area for two different years (e.g., 2016 and 2020). Based on the results, students must apply decision-making to identify and resolve potential shipping or port operational issues.

Task 1: Data Preparation

• Download two satellite images of a selected Malaysian port (e.g., Port Klang, Penang Port, Kuantan Port) from USGS.
• Ensure both images are in the same coordinate system (recommended: WGS84 or appropriate UTM zone). 
• Import the images into ArcGIS and prepare your workspace.

Task 2: Land Use Classification

• Perform image classification using supervised methods. 
• Classify land into at least 3 - 5 categories, such as:
  • Built-up / Port Infrastructure 
  • Vegetation / Green Areas 
  • Water Body 
  • Open Land 
  • Industrial Area (optional)
• Produce classified land use maps for both years

Task 3: Change Detection Analysis

• Compare both classified maps to identify land use changes.
• Calculate the area change (in square meters or hectares) for each class.
• Create a Change Detection Table showing:
  • Classes that increased 
  • Classes that decreased 
  • Total area and percentage change
• Prepare a professional map layout in ArcGIS showing the change analysis

Task 4: Interpretation & Decision-Making

Based on the land use changes detected, students must: 

• Identify shipping or port operation issues that may occur due to the land use changes.
• Propose evidence-based decisions or solutions
• Examples of issues to analyse:
  • Port congestion 
  • Navigational risks (siltation, restricted manoeuvring space) 
  • Environmental concerns (vegetation loss, MARPOL compliance)
  • Expansion of port facilities 
  • Impact on truck circulation / road access

Brief Summary of Assessment Requirements

The assessment focuses on applying geospatial analysis and decision-making skills to address real-world maritime and port-related challenges. Aligned with CLO3 and PLO3, students are required to use ArcGIS to analyze land use changes within a selected Malaysian port across two different years (e.g., 2016 and 2020) and use the results to identify and resolve potential shipping or port operational issues.

Key pointers to be covered in the assessment include:

• Acquisition and preparation of satellite imagery from USGS
• Ensuring consistent coordinate systems and organized ArcGIS workspace
• Supervised land use classification into multiple categories
• Detection and quantification of land use changes
• Creation of professional maps and change detection tables
• Interpretation of spatial results to support evidence-based decision-making related to port and shipping operations

The assessment is divided into four tasks: Data Preparation, Land Use Classification, Change Detection Analysis, and Interpretation & Decision-Making.

Academic Mentor’s Step-by-Step Approach

The academic mentor guided the student through a structured and practical workflow, ensuring both technical accuracy and alignment with learning outcomes.

Step 1: Understanding the Assessment Objectives

The mentor first explained the purpose of the assessment linking geospatial analysis with maritime decision-making. Emphasis was placed on how land use changes directly affect port efficiency, shipping safety, and environmental compliance.

Step 2: Task 1 Data Preparation

• The mentor guided the student in selecting an appropriate Malaysian port based on data availability and relevance.
• Instructions were provided on downloading suitable satellite images from USGS for two different years.
• The mentor ensured the student correctly applied a consistent coordinate system (WGS84 or relevant UTM zone).
• The ArcGIS workspace was organized with proper layer naming and data management practices.

Step 3: Task 2 Land Use Classification

• The mentor introduced supervised classification techniques and explained their importance in accurate land use mapping.
• The student was guided in defining training samples for land use classes such as built-up areas, vegetation, water bodies, and open land.
• The mentor helped the student validate classification results and produce clear land use maps for both years.

Step 4: Task 3 Change Detection Analysis

• The mentor demonstrated how to compare classified maps to detect land use changes.
• The student was guided in calculating area changes for each land use class in hectares or square meters.
• Support was provided to create a well-structured change detection table showing increases, decreases, and percentage changes.
• The mentor emphasized professional cartographic standards while preparing the final map layout.

Step 5: Task 4 Interpretation and Decision-Making

• The mentor assisted the student in interpreting spatial results rather than just describing them.
• Guidance was given to identify potential port and shipping issues such as congestion, navigational risks, environmental impacts, and infrastructure expansion needs.
• The student was supported in proposing practical, evidence-based solutions grounded in the geospatial findings.

Outcome Achieved and Learning Objectives Covered

Final Outcome

• Accurate classified land use maps for two different years
• A comprehensive change detection table with quantified area changes
• Professional ArcGIS map layouts suitable for academic and practical use
• Clear identification of port operational and shipping issues supported by spatial evidence
• Well-reasoned, data-driven decision-making recommendations

Learning Objectives Achieved

• CLO3: Applied structured decision-making processes to resolve shipping and port-related issues
• PLO3: Demonstrated practical skills in ArcGIS, image classification, and spatial analysis
• Enhanced ability to interpret geospatial data for real-world maritime applications
• Improved technical proficiency in satellite image processing and map presentation
• Strengthened analytical thinking and problem-solving in logistics and port management contexts

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