The Community Care Team (Kepmas) of the Geography Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, led by Septian Agung Waluyo (Geography 2019), held a digital survey and mapping training in Cikarang Village, Jampangkulon District, Sukabumi Regency, through a program titled “PHYLLAGE” (Geography for Village). The event ran for five days, from November 29 to December 4, 2021.

This program, which involves one accompanying lecturer, twelve students, residents, and village officials, aims to map the potential of Cikarang Village, Sukabumi in a participatory manner by involving officials, the community, and representatives of Cikarang Village.
The team leader explained that the background to the team’s presence in Cikarang Village was the unique topographical and geological conditions that make Cikarang Village have potential that needs to be known and developed.

“This village has a natural formation in the form of karst hills, so many natural caves are found containing cave ornaments such as stalactites, stalagmites, and even underground rivers,” said Septian to the FMIPA UI public relations team.

Furthermore, Septian continued, the geological conditions of Cikarang Village offer two potential areas: geotourism, such as waterfalls and views of the mountains and terraced valleys. However, it also poses a potential disaster risk, particularly landslides. Therefore, surveying and mapping training is essential to empower the village community to independently develop its potential.

Present as speakers at this event were Septian Agung Waluyo as the chief executive and Tjiong Giok Pin S.Si., M.Si., as the accompanying lecturer. Also in attendance were Asep Yudistira, S.IP., the head of Cikarang Village, Sukabumi Regency, and the village community as participants.

“I hope that our colleagues from the University of Indonesia can assist us and share their knowledge. Please take a look at what we can gain (and map the potential) from our village,” said Asep Yudistira, S.IP, Head of Cikarang Village, Sukabumi Regency, at the opening ceremony on Monday, November 29, 2021.

Surveying and Mapping Training

The training consisted of several activities, beginning with application installation and data collection. Data collection was conducted at several locations to identify potential locations for village development. Additionally, participatory mapping materials were presented by Tjiong Giok Pin, S.Si., M.Si., and cartographic principles by Siti Zachra Fadlia Nurrachmat and Daffa Yannuar Vitoarsa to deepen the community’s understanding of mapping concepts and rules.

Data processing training was also conducted using data sources obtained during the data collection training session. The training was delivered by Tristan Arminius as the guest speaker and other students as mentors. The training covered simple topics, from data input to layout in QGIS software. Septian Agung Waluyo concluded the training with a simpler approach to data processing using Google Earth Pro. The goal was to provide village communities with a wide range of data processing options, allowing them to adapt to their own capabilities.

The PHYLLAGE program concluded with a closing speech by the Jampangkulon Sub-district Secretary, the Cikarang Village Head, and a representative from the University of Indonesia. The event featured a symbolic presentation of a plaque by the Chief Executive to the Cikarang Village Head. A village mapping module book and two large A0-sized maps were also presented to the village.

The closing ceremony also included the inauguration of the Village Participatory Mapping Forum, ensuring the program’s continuity. Certificates were awarded to villagers who participated in the PHYLLAGE program. The closing session concluded with a group photo.

It is hoped that through this program, the community will be able to independently map their village’s potential. Furthermore, Cikarang Village can serve as a model for other villages, as stated at the closing ceremony. Additionally, the Cikarang Village Head and the Jampang Kulon Sub-district Secretary desire a mapping of administrative boundaries down to the hamlet level, including neighborhood units (RT/RW), and a visualization of the percentage of the village population that has been vaccinated.

“The current program is very important and useful, especially since villages still face challenges like map creation. The accompanying lecturer (Tjiong Giok Pin) also told me earlier that this program will help with independent data collection, which villages really need; we’re being chased to collect this and that data. Therefore, I hope the current activity in Cikarang Village can also serve as an example for other villages,” said Encep Muharom, Secretary of the Jampangkulon Sub-district Head, in a written statement on Saturday (December 4, 2021).