3D GIS Visualisation for Urban Flood Risk Assessment in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam

Abstract

Flooding has become a major urban issue in Malaysia, especially in high-density areas like Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam, which faced severe inundation during the 2021 monsoon The recurring nature of such events has highlighted critical weaknesses in traditional flood management strategies. Conventional flood maps often lack the spatial resolution needed to assess the impacts on individual buildings, limiting their utility for emergency preparedness and planning. This study addresses these limitations by proposing a framework for 3D flood visualisation utilising Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, enhanced by intelligent spatial analysis tools embedded within modern platforms such as ArcGIS Pro. The aim is to identify buildings most at risk from rising floodwaters by integration of Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data for flood simulation and building height analysis. A 3D interactive dashboard was created to visualise flood risks using extruded building footprints and simulated flood levels. While AI was not explicitly implemented in this study, the approach leveraged intelligent GIS functions such as automated rendering and spatial analysis available within ArcGIS Pro. AI serves a supportive, embedded component rather than a standalone feature. Preliminary results demonstrate the effectiveness of 3D visualisation in identifying vulnerable structures and supporting data-driven, timely decision-making. The findings indicate that low-rise residential buildings are significantly more affected compared to mid-rise structures. This research offers a practical approach aligned with the next generation of geospatial intelligence, highlighting the role of intelligent GIS in enhancing flood awareness, guiding infrastructure planning and improving disaster response preparedness in flood-prone urban environments.