Depok, September 8, 2025 — Geoscience plays a crucial role in supporting the development of sustainable and disaster-resilient urban areas. This was the main focus of the UI Geoscience Seminar X Starborn Mengajar themed “Geoscience as the Foundation for Urban Area Development”, held online by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), through the Department of Geosciences, on Monday (September 8).
The seminar featured Janner Nababan, S.T., M.T., a member of the Groundwater Conservation Team at the Groundwater Conservation Center – Geological Agency, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), as the speaker. In his presentation, Janner emphasized the importance of a geoscience-based scientific approach in urban spatial planning, particularly in addressing risks such as land subsidence and excessive groundwater exploitation.
“Sustainable urban development cannot be separated from the role of geoscience. Through scientific data and analysis, we can understand subsurface conditions that are normally unseen but play a crucial role in the livelihood of urban communities,” said Janner.
He explained that the phenomenon of land subsidence has occurred in several major cities on Java Island, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Pekalongan, Semarang, and Surabaya. Monitoring indicates a correlation between population density, high groundwater extraction, and the continued lowering of the ground surface.
“The greater the groundwater extraction, the faster the aquifer layers lose pressure to support the overlying load. This results in land subsidence that poses risks to infrastructure and the safety of coastal areas,” he added.
During the discussion session, participants actively asked questions regarding groundwater conservation strategies, the role of spatial planning policies, and concrete steps that communities can take. Janner emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, academics, and the public in building cities that are more resilient to environmental changes and geological hazards.
In addition, participants were introduced to the latest monitoring technologies, such as observation wells and the SIPASTI system (Integrated Groundwater and Subsidence Monitoring Information System), which allow stakeholders to monitor groundwater levels and quality in real time via the website geologi.esdm.go.id/sipasti.
The event concluded with a documentation session involving all participants. Through this seminar, FMIPA UI hopes to raise awareness of the importance of geoscience in urban development, particularly in the context of risk mitigation and sustainable natural resource management.
UI Geoscience Seminar X Starborn Mengajar is a seminar organized by the Department of Geosciences, FMIPA UI, in collaboration with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of PT Luas Birus Utama, called Starborn Mengajar. This activity aims to explore the role of geoscientists in the oil and gas industry and topics related to technological developments, such as machine learning, in the field of G&G (Geology and Geophysics).
