(from left) Vice Governor of East Java, Dr H Emil Elestianto Dardak BBus MSc, with ITS Vice Rector IV, Prof Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD, during a discussion session

ITS Campus, ITS News — As part of its commitment to technological innovation, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has proposed the use of digital twins as a solution to urban planning challenges. The idea was discussed in a meeting held at the ITS Rectorate Building on Thursday (July 10), with the participation of the Vice Governor of East Java, representatives from the Jakarta Provincial Government, and the Indonesian Association of Urban Planners (IAP).

In his opening remarks, ITS Vice Rector IV for Research, Innovation, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs, Prof Agus Muhamad Hatta ST MSi PhD, stated that this discussion reflects ITS’s commitment to driving digital transformation. He emphasized that ITS must continue to innovate technology to address the challenges of the times, particularly in the application of digital twins for urban planning and infrastructure in East Java. “This meeting serves as a platform to broaden perspectives and explore future collaboration opportunities,” he said.

Continuing his remarks, the lecturer from the ITS Engineering Physics Department explained that a digital twin is a virtual replica of a city created using digital technology. It is a dynamic representation of the actual town. “Since it is created at the same scale and in real-time, the digital twin can monitor and analyze various aspects of the city accurately,” added the man commonly known as Hatta.

Meanwhile, East Java Vice Governor, Dr H Emil Elestianto Dardak BBus MSc, welcomed the discussion positively. He noted that technologies like Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) could serve as a solution for urban mapping. He explained that from LIDAR data, a digital twin of Surabaya City can be created. “With this digital twin, we can more easily conduct various analyses related to urban development policies,” he continued.

Assistant Deputy Governor for Spatial Planning of Jakarta, Ir Benni Agus Candra MSi, presenting the implementation of digital twins for Jakarta

Emil believes that the application of this technology has high potential for urban agglomeration areas in East Java. The primary priority area is the Gerbang Kertosusila region, which includes densely populated and interconnected areas such as Gresik, Bangkalan, Mojokerto, Surabaya, Sidoarjo, and Lamongan. “This aligns with infrastructure development plans such as the Surabaya Regional Railway Line (SRRL),” he said.

Additionally, Emil sees similar potential for digital twin development in conurbations like Malang, Kediri, and Madiun. As an initial step, he suggested focusing on integrated drainage mapping. “However, what matters most is not the sophistication of the technology, but how much it supports decision-making processes,” emphasized the former Regent of Trenggalek from 2016 to 2019.

In response, Deputy Governor for Spatial Planning of Jakarta, Ir Benni Agus Candra MSi, shared Jakarta’s approach to using digital twins functionally. Beyond mere visualization, this technology can be used to calculate the value of space and potential revenue from an area. “Jakarta uses it to assess the potential revenue from space, so development isn’t solely reliant on the regional budget,” he explained.

Deputy Governor for Spatial Planning of Jakarta, Ir Benni Agus Candra MSi, presenting the implementation of digital twins for Jakarta

Benni hopes this technology can be optimized more broadly in urban planning feasibility studies. He also encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, from computer science to urban planning. “This collaboration is the key to addressing the complexity of urban planning in the future,” he stated optimistically.

This discussion aligns closely with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities. This technology serves as an efficient decision-making tool for urban planning. Additionally, the collaboration between ITS and the East Java and Jakarta provincial governments aligns with SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Naurah Fitri
Translator: Lael Soebakir