Prof. Dr. Eng. Muhammad Zikra, ST, MSc, presented the results of his research in his scientific oration for his inauguration as the 229th Professor of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember

ITS Campus, ITS News — Indonesia’s coastal areas face various real threats that have an impact on sea level rise due to climate change, thus demanding technology to minimize environmental damage and ensure the safety of the surrounding community. In response to this need, the 229th Professor of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Prof. Dr. Eng. Muhammad Zikra, ST, MSc, developed an innovation for wave simulation and prediction based on wind data.

In his scientific oration titled, Understanding Coastal Hydrodynamics and its Utilization in Facing Coastal Environmental Challenges in Indonesia, the man who is familiarly called Zikra explained that his research was born from the strategy of developing science at the Coastal and Port Infrastructure Laboratory, ITS Department of Ocean Engineering. “This research is an answer to the challenge of coastal disasters that threaten the ecosystem as well as the lives of coastal communities,” he said.

Furthermore, this professor from DTK Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember explained that the innovation he developed focuses on using wind data from the Atmospheric Global Circular Model (AGCM) to predict sea wave conditions. This data is then processed using the Wave Model (WAM) to simulate the formation and movement of waves. “That way, predictions of wave height, direction, and period can be obtained until the year 2100 with a validated level of accuracy,” he explained.

A trial of the real-time coastal camera system by the 229th Professor of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Prof. Dr. Eng. Muhammad Zikra, ST, MSc, at Tambakrejo Beach, Blitar, East Java.

The hindcasting and forecasting methods are the key advantages of Zikra’s research. While traditional methods rely on direct measurements at sea, which are expensive and limited, this approach allows for the analysis of wave conditions decades in the past as well as projecting future conditions. “This is very important to support the planning of coastal infrastructure and disaster mitigation based on long-term data,” he added.

Not stopping at simulation, Zikra also developed a real-time coastal camera system that functions as a digital eye to monitor coastal dynamics. This camera is capable of recording changes in the coastline, sedimentation, and wave patterns, and can be integrated with an early disaster warning system. “Our system allows direct visual information to be sent to authorities or the public, so the response to disasters can be faster,” he explained.

A series of Raspberry Pi-based hardware and software used to operate the real-time coastal camera system

The presence of this technology is also aimed at providing broad benefits, for both the government and coastal communities. The government can use real-time data as a basis for decision-making, while the community gains access to direct information about sea conditions, so they can be safer when going out to sea or doing activities near the beach. In addition, camera recordings also function as a public education medium about the impacts of climate change and abrasion.

A trial of this technology was also conducted at Tambakrejo Beach, Blitar, East Java, through a collaboration with the Tambakrejo Fishing Port and the local Department of Marine and Fisheries. This alumnus of the doctoral program at Kyushu University, Japan, hopes for the availability of Indonesian coastal big data that can be used for research, adaptive planning, and even national policies related to coastal disaster mitigation.

Zikra’s inauguration as a Professor at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember not only adds to the ranks of outstanding academics but also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, point 13 on climate action and point 14 on life below water. “We hope that this technology can be implemented in more coastal locations in Indonesia, so it becomes a shared database for the government, academics, and the public,” Zikra concluded hopefully. (ITS PUBLIC RELATIONS)

Reporter: Lathifah Sahda