River Ranger Index (RRI): a model for surface water monitoring

The Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam organised the "River Ranger Index (RRI): A Model for Surface Water Monitoring" programme at the Sungai Kayu Ara catchment area, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. Led by Ts. Dr. Azianabiha A. Halip, the programme involved 15 Master of Environmental Engineering students enrolled in the ECW746 Environmental Monitoring course. The programme adopted the River Ranger methodology developed by the Global Environment Centre (GEC), providing students with hands-on experience in river mapping, habitat observation, physical river assessment, and basic water quality monitoring. Invited facilitators from UiTM and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) guided the field activities and shared their expertise in river quality assessment. Through fieldwork, group discussions, and presentations, students strengthened their technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills while gaining a deeper understanding of sustainable river management and community-based environmental monitoring. The programme also supported the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, and SDG 15: Life on Land, reflecting UiTM's commitment to producing environmentally responsible graduates equipped with practical skills in sustainable water resource management.