Five students from the Geology Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI), who are members of the TSUSI (Integrated Tsunami) Team, achieved proud achievements in an international earth science competition. The five of them, namely M. Badhar Gibran, Abigail Priskila, Marlina Tjendra, Rifqy Fadhillah Maulana, and Salsa Bila Putri Maharani won 1st place in the Youth Program Competition which was held on Monday (1/7/2024), at the Banyuwangi Polytechnic, East Java. The symbolic prize to the TSUSI Team was handed over directly by the Regent of Banyuwangi, Mrs. Ipuk Fiestiandani Azwar Anas, in the event The 5th International Geotourism Festival.
Youth Program Competition is a series of pre-activities The 5th Geotourism Festival & International Conference 2024, which collaborated with the Indonesian Geologists Association (IAGI). This competition was attended by 160 participants who came not only from universities in Indonesia, but also representatives from universities in Malaysia and France.
The team under the guidance of Twin Hosea W. Kristyanto, M.T., a lecturer in the Geology Study Program, designed a revolutionary innovation to strengthen disaster mitigation and management, especially volcanic tsunamis. The design of the innovation is entitled “Integrated Volcanic Tsunami Monitoring System Scheme of Krakatau Volcano for Disaster Mitigation in Geotourism Areas: A Proposal”.
“The idea for this design started from seeing the condition of one of the geoparks in Indonesia, namely the Ujung Kulon Geopark in Pandeglang Regency, Banten Province. This geopark has a high potential to experience a volcanic tsunami caused by Mount Anak Krakatau,” said the team leader, M. Badhar Gibran explaining the background of the idea.
Krakatoa Volcano and Ujung Kulon Geopark are two areas that are interconnected with each other. Geographically, Ujung Kulon Geopark is an area located northwest of Krakatoa, thus allowing direct influence from the eruption and volcanic activity that occurred in Krakatoa. This has been proven by the presence of volcanic tsunami deposits in the Ujung Kulon Geopark area. The relationship between Krakatoa and Ujung Kulon Geopark shows the importance of understanding and planning for volcanic tsunami disaster mitigation that may occur again.
For this reason, a new scheme is needed for an integrated volcanic tsunami monitoring system for Mount Krakatoa. One method that can be applied in creating the new scheme is remote sensing, namely by creating a disaster vulnerability identification map that will be combined with bathymetric condition data and the distribution of lava flow directions to prove the assumption that the Ujung Kulon Geopark is prone to tsunamis and/or volcanic tsunamis.
“There is a need to develop a more comprehensive volcanic tsunami monitoring system, on Mount Krakatoa. Therefore, this study aims to propose an integrated volcanic tsunami monitoring system,” he said.
This study uses a monitoring method by utilizing 6 parameters that will produce 3 vulnerability zone maps, namely: a bathymetric map derived from bathymetric condition data, a lava flow map derived from lava flow direction distribution data, and a tsunami-prone zone map derived from slope gradient data, height, distance from rivers, and coastlines.
The results of the study then gave birth to an idea for a volcanic tsunami hazard monitoring scheme for Mount Krakatau, which is expected to be an effort to preserve the Ujung Kulon Geopark. Furthermore, remote sensing data processing was also carried out to produce bathymetry maps, distribution of flow directions, and tsunami-prone zones. Data on slope, elevation, distance from rivers, and coastlines were then modeled using the AHP approach and produced a map showing the range of potential tsunami-prone zones consisting of very vulnerable, vulnerable, and non-vulnerable zones. Based on this map, zones with tsunami-prone potential were then given disaster mitigation recommendations.
Sementara itu, wilayah dengan tingkat potensi tsunami rendah, dikumpulkan ke dalam satu basis data kebencanaan (database). Skema tersebut kemudian diujicobakan di wilayah Gunung Krakatau dan Geopark Ujung Kulon yang kemudian menghasilkan peta kerawanan bahaya tsunami dilengkapi dengan informasi hasil pemantauan dari setiap parameter. Skema pemantauan ini diharapkan dapat menjadi bahan pertimbangan untuk dapat memperkuat mitigasi dan penanggulangan bencana tsunami vulkanik di Gunung Api Krakatau dan upaya mitigasi bencana tsunami di kawasan Geopark Ujung Kulon.
Prof. Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., Dean of FMIPA UI, gave his appreciation for the achievements of the TSUSI Team. He emphasized that the innovations introduced by the TSUSI Team not only focus on improving disaster preparedness, but also show the importance of integrating the latest monitoring technology with conservation efforts in geotourism areas.
“The Integrated Volcanic Tsunami Monitoring Innovation of the TSUSI team not only provides better protection for the community and tourists in the Ujung Kulon Geopark area, through efforts to improve disaster preparedness. But it also shows our commitment at FMIPA UI, to combine technological excellence, with a deep scientific understanding of the importance of safety aspects, and environmental preservation in the context of geotourism,” said Prof. Dede.
This appreciation from Prof. Dede Djuhana also underlines the importance of collaboration between natural science and technology to produce holistic solutions in facing disaster challenges and advancing the field of geotourism in a sustainable manner.
