Issues of disasters and environmental degradation have once again come to the forefront amid the increasing frequency of natural disasters in Indonesia in recent years. This condition underscores the importance of strengthening the role of geoscience in supporting sustainable national development planning that is grounded in risk mitigation.
In response to these challenges, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI) a weekly seminar titled UI Geoscience Seminar x STARBORN Mengajar 2026, with the theme Environmental Geoscience for Sustainable Development. The event was held on Monday (April 27, 2026) at the Prof. Dr. G.A. Siwabessy Hall, FMIPA UI Campus, Depok, and was attended by students from the geology and geophysics study programs.
The seminar featured Dita Arif Yuwana, a Geological Investigator at the Groundwater and Environmental Geology Center, Geological Agency, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, as the keynote speaker. In the presentation, she highlighted Indonesia’s position within the Ring of Fire, which makes the country rich in natural resources while also highly vulnerable to geological hazards.
“Indonesia is located in a geologically dynamic region. Its natural resource potential is vast, but at the same time, the risk of disasters is also high. This must be managed through appropriate geoscience approaches,” said Dita Arif Yuwana.
She explained that disaster risk is not solely determined by the magnitude of the hazard, but is also influenced by the level of vulnerability and the capacity of the community.
“Risk is the result of the interaction between hazard, vulnerability, and capacity. If any one of these is not properly managed, the level of risk will increase. This is where science-based interventions become essential,” she stated.
Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of spatial planning regulations that integrate disaster mitigation aspects. Several case studies in Palu, Pangandaran, and Maluku Tengah demonstrate that each region has distinct risk characteristics.
Through methods such as microtremor analysis, geoelectrical surveys, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), as well as analyses based on Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), research teams are able to develop disaster risk maps that serve as a basis for spatial planning recommendations.
“From these analyses, it is possible to determine which zones are suitable for development and which should be avoided. In certain cases, relocation is even necessary to reduce future risks,” she added.
During the discussion session, participants also highlighted the phenomenon of land subsidence in the Cilincing River area. In response, Dita Arif Yuwana explained that the phenomenon is driven by a combination of natural geological factors and human activities, particularly excessive groundwater extraction.
“Land subsidence does not occur suddenly. Geological factors do play a role, but human activities such as massive groundwater extraction also accelerate the process,” she said.
She also explained the method for developing post-disaster risk maps using overlay techniques based on Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP).
“We integrate hazard, vulnerability, and capacity data into a single analytical system, allowing the resulting risk maps to serve as a more accurate basis for decision-making,” she stated.
Through this activity, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI) hopes that the application of geoscience in development planning will become increasingly optimal, while also raising awareness of the importance of disaster mitigation amid increasingly complex environmental dynamics.
