On Monday, September 4, 2023, the Geodesy Engineering Department at Diponegoro University organized an inspirational event titled “Guest Lectures & FOSS4G Meetup.” This event aimed to broaden students’ perspectives on geospatial technology and open-source solutions and motivate them.
The event started with a speech by Dr. L.M. Sabri, the Head of the Geodesy Engineering Department at Diponegoro University. In his address, Dr. Sabri stressed the importance of such events in improving students’ academic understanding and motivating them to pursue further growth. He also pointed out that this event would be a great opportunity for students to explore the latest developments in geospatial technology.
During the event, the first speaker was Mr. Benny Istanto, S.Si. He presented an intriguing topic titled “Geospatial and Climate Technologist in the Field of International Development: Experiences, Needs, and Challenges.” This topic focused on the connection between climate and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It showcased numerous examples of geospatial technology applications in sustainable development, such as regional development and flood monitoring, which can lead to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During the discussion, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) was highlighted, particularly the effectiveness of Sentinel-1 in identifying building damages and monitoring floods. Mr. Benny stressed the significance of having better spatial access, as it can positively impact various aspects such as household economics and health services, ultimately benefiting the community. He also discussed mixed transportation modeling, which considers road data and coverage parameters. Regarding drought monitoring, he shared how daily rainfall data is utilized. He emphasized the importance of specific skills for professionals pursuing a geospatial career, including data analysis, modeling, visualization, and computational abilities.
The second presenter, Mrs. Purwanti Juli Wardani, S.E. gave a presentation on the topic “Where Is My Voting Place? FOSS4G and the Development of Public Information Services for the Simultaneous Election 2024.” She discussed the complexities of distributing voting places and emphasized the importance of FOSS4G in achieving this task. Mrs. Purwanti explained how open-source technology (FOSS4G) can aid in creating public information services related to the 2024 simultaneous general election. This is especially relevant since simultaneous polls are a crucial moment in a democracy, and it is vital to have accurate and easily accessible information.
The “Guest Lectures & FOSS4G Meetup” event ended with a lively Q&A session, allowing participants to ask the speakers directly about the topics. Apart from being a useful learning experience for Geodesy Engineering students, this event also fostered a close partnership between Geodesy academics and practitioners and open-source technology enthusiasts.
Events such as this are crucial for students as they inspire them to explore the many exciting opportunities offered by geodesy science and motivate them to use their knowledge and skills to better the community. This highlights the Geodesy Engineering Department’s strong commitment to providing relevant, high-quality education that aligns with current developments at Diponegoro University. Lectures like this are expected to be continued, offering students ongoing chances to enhance their understanding and abilities in geodesy and the latest supporting technologies.
(Writer: Mareta Silviana/Translated by : Firman Hadi, with the help from ChatGPT and Grammarly).