Permanent Professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (UI), in the field of geophysics, Mohammad Syamsu Rosid, emphasized that Indonesia’s geological stability is currently at a critical point due to a combination of natural dynamics and human activities.
The statement was delivered during his inaugural speech as a Permanent Professor of Geophysics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Balai Sidang Universitas Indonesia. The inauguration ceremony was led by the Rector of UI, Heri Hermansyah.
In a speech titled “Mitigation of Geological Disasters in Maintaining Natural Balance amid Human Activities and Development Policies”, he warned that a number of potential geological disasters are often overlooked, even though they have significant destructive power.
Hidden Threats Behind Megathrust
So far, public attention has largely been focused on the potential for megathrust earthquakes in western Sumatra and southern Java. However, according to Mohammad Syamsu Rosid, other threats are actually located closer to densely populated areas, namely in the back-arc basin region that stretches from Sumatra, northern Java, to East Nusa Tenggara.
He cited the activity of onshore faults such as the Kendeng Fault and the Baribis Fault, which have shallow hypocenters. Although their energy is smaller compared to megathrust earthquakes, the resulting damage can be far greater, as seen in the 2022 Cianjur earthquake.
In Jakarta, the presence of the Baribis Fault is said to still hold many uncertainties. Several active fault segments are believed to be buried beneath sediments, making them classified as blind thrust fault .
To identify these threats, Mohammad Syamsu Rosid encouraged the use of microgravity gradiometry or Vertical Gravity Gradient technology, which is capable of mapping variations in subsurface densit
Human Activities Exacerbate the Risk
In addition to tectonic factors, he also highlighted the contribution of human activities in exacerbating disaster risks. In Jakarta, for example, excessive groundwater extraction has led to land subsidence (land subsidence).land subsidence) of more than 10 centimeters per year in northern areas.
“The Earth does not negotiate. When its balance is disturbed, it will respond through disasters,” he said.
He compared the situation to cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, which are considered successful in controlling the rate of land subsidence through appropriate policies.
A similar phenomenon is also occurring in the Lake Toba area, where water levels have declined by an average of 24 millimeters per year over the past six decades, influenced by climate change and human activities.
Science-Based Solutions
As mitigation measures, Mohammad Syamsu Rosid proposed several approaches based on geophysical technology. These include the geoelectrical method to detect slip surfaces in landslide-prone areas, the application of geomechanics principles in geothermal energy management, as well as the use of the Vertical Gravity Gradient method for mapping fault structures in urban regions.
He emphasized that geological disasters are not merely natural phenomena, but also the result of interactions between humans and the environment.
“We cannot prevent earthquakes, but we can reduce the risks through science and development policies that are in harmony with natural balance,” said Mohammad Syamsu Rosid.
The speech also underscored the importance of strengthening research on seismic disaster mitigation, particularly in the back-arc basin regions, as well as the use of advanced gravity-based technologies to detect active faults that have long remained hidden.
