IPB University Student Initiates Technology-Based Mine Monitoring System
IPB University students once again showed their concern for national issues through the Student Creativity Program for Constructive Ideas Video (PKM-VGK).
Akma Naufal Rabbani, a student of the Land Resource Management Study Program and team leader, developed an idea entitled EMASS (Empowered Mining Analytics Surveillance System): Intelligent Operations Center for Mining and Reclamation Monitoring in Indonesia.
According to Akma, the EMASS idea was born out of concerns over the weak mining surveillance system in Indonesia. “On one hand, the mining sector is vital to the economy. But on the other hand, we often hear about its adverse impacts, ranging from illegal mining, operations that violate regulations, to imperfect reclamation,” he said.
Akma revealed, currently the ratio of mining inspectors per mining business license reaches 1:39, far from the ideal 1:5-7 as standard by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
“The existing monitoring system is fragmented, relies on company reports, and tends to be reactive, meaning that it only acts after damage has occurred. EMASS is here to answer this fundamental problem,” he said.
Furthermore, EMASS is designed as an Intelligent Operations Center (IOC) or intelligent command center. All surveillance data-from satellite imagery, drones, public reports, to cross-agency data-will be analyzed in real-time in one control room.
“Imagine this IOC as a mine monitoring control room for the whole of Indonesia, so that the government can make quick and targeted decisions,” Akma explained.
In conceptualizing the video, his team adopted three strategies, namely building an emotional narrative by featuring a small family affected by mining, framing ideas in a simple talk show-like flow, and visualizing ideas through 3D animation.
“The goal is that even laypeople can immediately imagine how EMASS works,” he said.
Akma added that EMASS supports sustainable mining with a proactive monitoring paradigm. This idea is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Despite the challenges in the scientific and technical research of the four-minute video, he hopes EMASS can make a real contribution. “For the community, EMASS can be an empowerment channel. For the government, we hope this idea becomes a blueprint for mining governance reform. For academics, hopefully it will inspire other students to dare to raise big national issues,” he concluded.
The program was led by Akma Naufal Rabbani (Land Resource Management/MSL) and his team, namely Alifah Rizkyani (MSL), Aiman Bindillah (Sharia Economics), Muhammad Ajisaka Arsyi Taj (Computer Science), and Muhammad Eljalalludin Rummi (Computer Science). They were mentored by Ir Wahyu Purwakusuma, MSc, lecturer of MSL Department, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University. (Fj)
