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MIKE SHE Public Data Catalog

Malaysia

Version: 0.1 test template
Purpose: Country-specific public dataset catalog for building simple to advanced MIKE SHE models
Region: Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak)

Quick Start

Minimum Public Datasets for Recharge Modelling with MIKE SHE (Malaysia)

If your objective is to calculate distributed groundwater recharge (without simulating groundwater flow or rivers), only five dataset categories are required.

National topographic data (JUPEM) are restricted and require approval, so free global datasets form the core stack. Hydrological station data are held mainly by DID and MetMalaysia.

MIKE SHE Input Dataset Type Recommended Dataset Spatial Availability Why recommended
Topography (DEM) Gridded FABDEM Global Forest-removed 30 m DEM, important in rainforest and plantation areas. National JUPEM data require approval.
Land Cover Gridded ESA WorldCover Global 10 m land cover; distinguish oil palm, rubber, forest and peat swamp forest with national or plantation maps where available.
Soil Hydraulic Properties Gridded SoilGrids Global 250 m soil properties; van Genuchten parameters via pedotransfer functions. Peat (especially Sarawak) needs separate parameters.
Precipitation Gridded CHIRPS (daily)

GPM IMERG / GSMaP (sub-daily)		 Malaysia Complete coverage; bias-correct against DID and MetMalaysia gauges.
Time Series Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS/DID) rainfall stations (Public InfoBanjir for recent data)

MetMalaysia		 Nationwide Dense DID rainfall network. Historical data are obtained by request from DID; MetMalaysia data may be charged.
Meteorological Forcing / Potential ET Gridded ERA5-Land Global Hourly variables for FAO-56 reference ET.
Time Series MetMalaysia Principal stations Full climate variables at principal stations.

Optional Improvements

Dataset Purpose
Sentinel-1 SAR Flood and peat inundation mapping
Hansen Global Forest Change Forest loss
NAHRIM Climate projections and water research
GLEAM Actual ET validation
  1. Download FABDEM for the model domain.
  2. Delineate the model domain and prepare the terrain model.
  3. Download ESA WorldCover and assign MIKE SHE vegetation classes.
  4. Download SoilGrids and derive van Genuchten parameters using pedotransfer functions.
  5. Choose your meteorological forcing:
  6. Option A (recommended): Use CHIRPS or IMERG/GSMaP, bias-corrected with DID gauges, and ERA5-Land for other variables.
  7. Option B: Use DID and MetMalaysia station data directly.
  8. Let MIKE SHE calculate evapotranspiration internally using the selected vegetation and soil parameters.
  9. Check simulated actual ET against GLEAM or MODIS MOD16.
  10. Export the distributed groundwater recharge for use in MODFLOW, FEFLOW, or other groundwater models.

1. Introduction for advanced data sources

1.1 Purpose

This document summarizes public datasets that can be used to construct a physically based MIKE SHE model for Malaysia.

The catalog is organized according to the typical MIKE SHE model-building workflow. It covers terrain, land cover, meteorological forcing, ET, rivers, soils, hydrogeology, groundwater, water management, and calibration.

1.2 Intended Use

This catalog is intended for:

  • river basin water-balance models
  • monsoon flood studies
  • peatland hydrology (especially Sarawak)
  • water supply catchment studies
  • groundwater studies (e.g. Kelantan)
  • applied MIKE SHE model setup

1.3 General Notes for Malaysia

  • Water resources are largely a state matter under the Federal Constitution; each state has its own water authority and data holdings.
  • Coordinate system: GDM2000, with Peninsular and Borneo RSO projections, state Cassini grids, or UTM.
  • JUPEM topographic and elevation data are subject to security classification and require approval.

2. Hydrological Characteristics of Malaysia

2.1 Climate

  • equatorial climate with high rainfall (around 2,000–4,000 mm)
  • north-east monsoon (November–March) bringing heavy rain and floods to the east coast of the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak
  • south-west monsoon (May–September) with relatively drier conditions on the west coast
  • intense convective storms in inter-monsoon periods

2.2 Topography

  • Titiwangsa mountain range along Peninsular Malaysia
  • coastal plains and deltas
  • extensive peat swamps in Sarawak and parts of the peninsula
  • karst limestone hills (e.g. Kinta Valley)
  • Mount Kinabalu and mountainous interior of Borneo

2.3 Major Hydrological Challenges

  • east-coast monsoon floods (e.g. 2014) and urban floods (e.g. Klang Valley, 2021)
  • water supply security in Selangor and other states
  • peatland drainage and fire
  • land-use change to oil palm
  • sediment and water quality from land clearing
  • groundwater as a supply source in Kelantan and Sabah

2.4 Major Aquifer Systems

Important aquifer settings include:

  • Kelantan coastal alluvial aquifers (major public supply)
  • Langat and Klang basin alluvium
  • coastal sand aquifers
  • karst limestone aquifers
  • peat-covered aquifers in Sarawak

3. Recommended Dataset Stack

Component Recommended Dataset Alternative Dataset Importance
DEM FABDEM Copernicus GLO-30, JUPEM (restricted) ★★★★★
Land cover ESA WorldCover Dynamic World, state land-use maps ★★★★★
Precipitation CHIRPS GPM IMERG, GSMaP, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS/DID) ★★★★★
Climate forcing ERA5-Land MetMalaysia ★★★★★
Rivers MERIT Hydro HydroRIVERS / HydroBASINS, DID river network ★★★★☆
Soil SoilGrids Department of Agriculture soil maps ★★★★☆
Hydrogeology Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) WHYMAP ★★★★☆
Groundwater heads Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) State water authorities ★★★☆☆
Streamflow Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS/DID) GRDC ★★★★★
Actual ET GLEAM MODIS MOD16 ★★★☆☆

4. Terrain Model

4.1 Purpose in MIKE SHE

Terrain data are required for model surface elevation, overland-flow gradients, surface storage, catchment delineation, river network verification, and floodplain connectivity.

4.2 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Resolution MIKE SHE Suitability Advantages Limitations Recommendation
FABDEM Global 30 m Primary Canopy removed Licence terms ★★★★★
Copernicus GLO-30 Global 30 m Backup Consistent Canopy ★★★☆☆
JUPEM national DEM Malaysia Higher Detailed models Official Restricted ★★★★★

4.3 Typical Preprocessing

  • reproject to GDM2000 RSO or UTM
  • clip to model domain plus buffer
  • condition drainage and check against the river network
  • resample to model grid
  • smooth only where needed for numerical stability

4.4 Quality Checks

  • check flat peat and coastal lowlands
  • check plantation drainage networks

5. Surface Water

5.1 Rivers

Dataset Coverage MIKE SHE / MIKE 1D Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS/DID) river data Malaysia River network and gauges Official By request ★★★★★
MERIT Hydro Global Flow directions and widths Consistent 90 m ★★★★☆

5.2 Lakes, Reservoirs and Wetlands

Dataset Use Recommendation
JRC Global Surface Water Water occurrence ★★★★☆
Global Mangrove Watch Mangroves ★★★★☆
Sentinel-1 SAR Flood extent ★★★★★

5.3 Peatlands

  • Sarawak holds the largest peat area in Malaysia
  • drainage canals in plantations control water tables
  • peat water-table monitoring is held by plantations and research programmes

5.4 Typical Preprocessing

  • simplify river network
  • align river network with DEM
  • define channel geometry from surveys or estimated widths
  • represent floodplains and wetlands as overland-flow storage
  • assign river, reservoir and tidal boundary conditions

6. Land Cover and Vegetation

6.1 Purpose in MIKE SHE

Land cover and vegetation define interception, ET parameters, root depth, crop coefficients, Manning roughness, irrigation zones, and impervious areas.

6.2 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Resolution MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
ESA WorldCover Global 10 m Primary Detailed 2020–2021 only ★★★★☆
Dynamic World Global 10 m Recent change Near-real-time Cloud gaps ★★★☆☆
Hansen Global Forest Change Global 30 m Forest loss Annual Forest only ★★★★☆

6.3 Vegetation Datasets

Parameter Dataset Use Recommendation
LAI MODIS MCD15A3H Seasonal LAI ★★★★☆
NDVI Sentinel-2 / Landsat Crop calendars and phenology ★★★★☆
Crop coefficient FAO-56 Oil palm, rubber, rice ★★★★☆

6.4 Typical Preprocessing

  • separate oil palm, rubber, rice, forest, peat swamp forest and urban
  • represent rice irrigation schemes (e.g. MADA, KADA)
  • consider plantation age

7. Meteorological Forcing

7.1 Precipitation

Dataset Coverage Resolution Temporal Resolution MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
CHIRPS 50°S–50°N ~5 km Daily Long-term forcing Gauge-blended Daily only ★★★★★
GPM IMERG Global ~10 km 30 min Events Sub-daily Bias ★★★★☆
GSMaP Global ~10 km Hourly Events Good in Asia Bias ★★★★☆
Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS/DID) Malaysia Point Hourly to daily Bias correction Dense network By request ★★★★★

7.2 Climate Variables

Variable Recommended Dataset Alternatives MIKE SHE Use
Air temperature ERA5-Land MetMalaysia ET
Wind speed ERA5-Land MetMalaysia Penman-Monteith
Humidity ERA5-Land MetMalaysia Vapour-pressure deficit
Solar radiation ERA5-Land MetMalaysia, NASA POWER ET energy term
Reference ET FAO-56 from ERA5-Land TerraClimate PET forcing

7.3 Notes

  • use sub-daily forcing for urban floods
  • apply lapse rates in highlands (e.g. Cameron Highlands)

8. Soil Data

8.1 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Resolution MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
SoilGrids Global 250 m Primary Gridded Few local profiles ★★★★☆
Department of Agriculture soil maps Peninsular Malaysia Mapped units Refinement Local By request ★★★☆☆

8.2 Typical Preprocessing

  • use peat-specific parameters
  • derive tropical-soil parameters with suitable pedotransfer functions

9. Hydrogeology

9.1 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) Malaysia Geology and hydrogeology maps National Generalized ★★★★☆
WHYMAP Global Screening Consistent Coarse ★★☆☆☆

9.2 Conceptual Model Recommendations

  • alluvial aquifers connected to rivers
  • karst conduits
  • peat over mineral substrate
  • coastal saline interface

10. Groundwater Data

Dataset Coverage Use Recommendation
Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) monitoring Selected areas Heads and quality ★★★★☆
State water authorities (e.g. Kelantan) State Wellfield data ★★★★☆
IGRAC GGIS Global Supplementary ★★☆☆☆

11. Water Management

11.1 Relevant Processes

  • reservoirs for water supply
  • rice irrigation schemes
  • flood mitigation
  • plantation drainage
  • groundwater wellfields

11.2 Regulatory Framework

  • National Water Services Industry Act 2006 (service regulation in the peninsula)
  • state water resources enactments (e.g. Selangor Waters Management Authority Enactment 1999)
  • groundwater governed by state law

11.3 Key Institutions

Topic Institution
Rivers, drainage, hydrology Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS/DID)
Meteorology MetMalaysia
Geology and groundwater Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG)
Water research NAHRIM
Water services SPAN

12. Remote Sensing Products

Dataset Resolution Use Recommendation
Sentinel-1 SAR 10 m Flood mapping, InSAR subsidence, wetness under cloud ★★★★★
Sentinel-2 10 m Land cover, irrigation and crop calendars ★★★★☆
GLEAM ~25 km Actual ET ★★★☆☆
MODIS MOD16 500 m Actual ET ★★★☆☆
SMAP / ESA CCI Soil Moisture ~9–25 km Soil moisture ★★★☆☆
GRACE / GRACE-FO ~300 km Large-basin storage change ★★☆☆☆

13. Calibration Datasets

Target Dataset Use Recommendation
Discharge Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS/DID) Streamflow calibration ★★★★★
Water levels Public InfoBanjir Flood calibration ★★★★☆
Heads Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) SZ calibration ★★★☆☆
Inundation Sentinel-1 SAR Flood extent ★★★★☆

Recommended strategy: calibrate discharge and use Sentinel-1 flood extents for floodplains.

14. Typical MIKE SHE Workflow

  1. Define modelling objective and domain.
  2. Prepare the DEM from FABDEM.
  3. Build the river network from MERIT Hydro and DID data.
  4. Prepare land cover from ESA WorldCover.
  5. Assign vegetation parameters, rooting depths and crop calendars.
  6. Prepare precipitation from CHIRPS or IMERG/GSMaP with DID gauges.
  7. Prepare climate forcing and reference ET from ERA5-Land.
  8. Prepare soil properties from SoilGrids.
  9. Build hydrogeological layers from JMG maps.
  10. Add pumping and irrigation from state water authority records.
  11. Couple rivers and groundwater.
  12. Calibrate against DID discharge.
  13. Validate with Sentinel-1 flood extents and ET products.
  14. Document assumptions and uncertainties.

15. Minimum Dataset Package

Model Element Dataset
DEM FABDEM
Land cover ESA WorldCover
Precipitation CHIRPS
Climate ERA5-Land
Soils SoilGrids
Hydrogeology Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG)

16. Recommended Dataset Package

Model Element Dataset
DEM FABDEM + JUPEM (if approved)
Precipitation IMERG/GSMaP + DID gauges
Discharge DID
Peat Plantation and research data
Inundation Sentinel-1

17. Premium Dataset Package

Dataset Type Possible Source Purpose
LiDAR State and project surveys Terrain
Peat depth surveys Plantations, research Peat storage
Pumping tests Wellfield operators Aquifer parameters

18. Dataset Comparison Table Template

Dataset Coverage Spatial Resolution Temporal Resolution Time Period Format API / Access License MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
★☆☆☆☆

19. Data Preparation Checklist

Terrain

  • [ ] DEM downloaded (or requested) and licence checked
  • [ ] DEM projected and clipped
  • [ ] drainage checked against river network

Surface Water

  • [ ] river network prepared
  • [ ] reservoirs, wetlands and floodplains identified
  • [ ] boundary conditions assigned

Land Cover and Vegetation

  • [ ] land cover reclassified
  • [ ] irrigated areas and crop calendars defined
  • [ ] LAI and rooting depths assigned

Weather

  • [ ] precipitation prepared and compared with station data
  • [ ] climate forcing prepared
  • [ ] reference ET calculated

Soil

  • [ ] soil data downloaded or requested
  • [ ] hydraulic parameters derived

Groundwater

  • [ ] geology and hydrogeology collected
  • [ ] heads and pumping data requested
  • [ ] boundary conditions defined

Calibration and Validation

  • [ ] discharge data obtained
  • [ ] ET and remote-sensing validation data prepared
  • [ ] calibration and validation periods defined

Malaysia-specific

  • [ ] JUPEM approval requested if needed
  • [ ] DID data request made
  • [ ] peat areas parameterized

20. References and Official Data Portals

National and regional sources

Global sources

21. Notes on Uncertainty

  • satellite rainfall bias
  • DEM errors under canopy
  • peat properties and drainage
  • state-level data access
  • land-use change

A defensible model should document dataset choices, preprocessing assumptions, calibration strategy, validation results, and known limitations.