AYER KEROH, July 28 – The Ubiquitous Broadband Access Network (U-BAN) Research Group, part of the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), recently conducted an official industry visit to PPK Technology Sdn. Bhd. in Melaka. This engagement between academia and industry was led by the research group leader, Ir Dr. Hazilah Mad Kaidi, and included four other esteemed members: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norliza Mohamed, Dr. Norulhusna Ahmad, Dr. Mohd Azri Mohd Izhar, and Dr. Fadhilah Abdul Razak.
The visit was facilitated by one of Dr. Norulhusna’s postgraduate students, who had previously collaborated with the company on an academic project. The primary goal of the visit was to explore potential collaboration opportunities in the field of smart traffic technologies, particularly those involving AI-based solutions and broadband-enabled intelligent transportation systems.
PPK Technology Sdn. Bhd., established in 1985, is recognized as a pioneer in Malaysia’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) sector. Headquartered in Batu Berendam, Melaka, PPK has transformed from a small traffic systems contractor into a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced traffic management technologies. Their extensive portfolio includes intelligent traffic controllers, modular traffic signal heads, wireless vehicle detectors, video-based vehicle classification systems, and cloud-integrated greenwave coordination platforms. The company also specializes in smart city integration, providing real-time dashboard systems that aggregate traffic, environmental, and weather data—essential for responsive and data-driven urban planning.
A key highlight of a recent visit was a presentation by Ts. Dr. Aminuddin Ahmad Kayani, the Director of PPK Technology Sdn. Bhd. In his detailed presentation, Ts. Dr. Aminuddin shared the company’s historical journey, research and development (R&D) roadmap, and strategic vision for expanding smart traffic solutions in Malaysia and beyond. He discussed PPK’s commitment to technological innovation, particularly in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into traffic control algorithms. His insights into future trends in adaptive signal systems, sustainable traffic infrastructure, and the scalability of smart cities provided the U-BAN researchers with a clear understanding of the critical challenges and opportunities in the field. Dr. Aminuddin’s session encouraged an engaging dialogue with the U-BAN team, covering topics such as the scalability of AI-based traffic systems, Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, and collaborative models between academia and industry.
Following the presentation, the U-BAN team received a comprehensive tour of the company’s production and R&D facilities. This included demonstrations of traffic signal controllers, sensor modules, system integration platforms, and environmental monitoring interfaces. Discussions between the U-BAN researchers and PPK engineers explored potential research synergies in areas such as broadband-enabled traffic data transmission, real-time analytics for congestion control, and the incorporation of AI algorithms into next-generation traffic signal timing mechanisms.
The engaging discussion revealed a strong alignment between PPK’s innovation capabilities and U-BAN’s research focus, particularly in areas such as broadband network infrastructure, ubiquitous computing, and the use of AI for societal applications. Both parties expressed enthusiasm for exploring joint initiatives in AI-driven adaptive traffic control, cloud-connected signal coordination, predictive traffic analytics, and multi-sensor smart city dashboards. These topics are not only academically important but also crucial to Malaysia’s broader goals of developing smart cities and promoting sustainable urban mobility.
This visit is expected to act as a catalyst for formal collaboration between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and PPK Technology Sdn. Bhd. To solidify their partnership, both parties expressed interest in initiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and planning a pilot collaborative research project, potentially involving a real-world traffic intersection. Additionally, they discussed opportunities for postgraduate student internships, joint supervision, and applying for grants from both national and international funding schemes.
In conclusion, the industry visit offered a valuable opportunity for academic-industry engagement, providing U-BAN researchers with meaningful exposure to real-world applications of AI and broadband networking in traffic management systems. The knowledge-sharing session led by Ts. Dr. Aminuddin Ahmad Kayani greatly enriched the visit by offering not only technical insights but also strategic perspectives on long-term innovation in intelligent transportation. The Faculty of Artificial Intelligence is hopeful that this visit will foster a mutually beneficial partnership that enhances research excellence and contributes significantly to the development of smart, sustainable urban infrastructures in Malaysia.