Implementation of Digital Twins in the Vision of Disaster Management Bhakti Stephan Onggo

Prof. Dr. Bhakti Stephan Onggo, PhD (second from left) converses with ITS Rector Prof. Dr. (HC) Ir. Bambang Pramujati, ST, MScEng, PhD (second from right) during a visit to the ITS Rector’s Office.

ITS Campus, ITS News — For Prof. Dr. Bhakti Stephan Onggo, Ph.D., technology is not just technical innovation, but a tool for humanity. Through digital twin innovations, this graduate of the Department of Computer Engineering at the Institute of Technology Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) presents a new perspective on disaster mitigation that is more adaptive, data-driven, and focused on protecting vulnerable populations.

Bhakti is currently pursuing a career as a professor at the University of Southampton, UK. He has built his reputation as an expert in simulation and business analytics. His work ethic and mindset were shaped long ago while pursuing higher education at the ITS Department of Computer Engineering (TC), which is now the Department of Computer Science.

Being a student in 1989 meant that Bhakti and his friends had to struggle with the limitations of the facilities at that time. They had to work harder to find resources to support their learning process. “However, that is what shaped our character to become independent, persistent, and resilient individuals,” said the man from Probolinggo.

ITS alumnus, Prof. Dr. Bhakti Stephan Onggo, PhD, who is currently one of the Indonesian diaspora working at the University of Southampton, England.

From a classroom in Surabaya, this man born in 1970 continued his master’s studies at Lancaster University, England, in the field of Operations Research. Bhakti then continued his doctoral studies with a scholarship at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, specializing in Computer Science.

To develop his research, this Indonesian diaspora returned to the UK to continue his post-doctoral studies before being appointed as an Assistant Professor. Bhakti then moved to Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, to become an Associate Professor. He finally continued his academic career at the University of Southampton, England, as a professor in the field of Business Analysis.

However, these global achievements did not distance him from Indonesia. This ITS diaspora actively contributes to his homeland and alma mater. In collaboration with the ITS Department of Geomatics Engineering and the ITS Center for Research on Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change (MKPI), the three worked together to develop digital twin technology for disaster applications. A digital twin, which is a real-time connected digital representation of a real-world system, enables dynamic and adaptive modeling, analysis, and decision-making in response to changing field conditions.

ITS alumnus, Prof. Dr. Bhakti Stephan Onggo, PhD, who is currently one of the Indonesian diaspora working at the University of Southampton, England.

Through the research conducted, digital twin technology was developed in two applications focused on disaster victim rescue and aid distribution. The academic expert explained that the uniqueness of the technology he developed would focus on rescuing vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and children. “We are trying to rescue as many disaster victims as possible, as quickly as possible,” he said.

As a simulation expert, Bhakti also explained that digital twins can change the paradigm of simulation-based modeling. In general, simulation modeling methodologies are static and do not accommodate real-time changes in the field. Through the integration of digital twins into simulation methodologies, stakeholders can quickly predict situations, evaluate various scenarios, and accurately optimize the allocation of resources such as emergency facilities in the face of various uncertainties.

This approach is important in the context of disasters, where timeliness and handling are key to successful disaster response and mitigation. Therefore, the integration of digital twins and simulation is a promising approach to improve the effectiveness, speed of response, and resilience of disaster management systems in the future.

Prof. Dr. Bhakti Stephan Onggo, PhD (center) converses with ITS Rector Prof. Dr. (HC) Ir. Bambang Pramujati, ST, MScEng, PhD (left) during a visit to the ITS Rector’s Office.

In addition, Bhakti also shared important lessons he learned during his studies at ITS. One of the skills he developed was the ability to think logically and systematically. The knowledge he gained also fostered critical thinking skills that can be applied in everyday life. “By analyzing everything critically, one of the benefits is avoiding hoaxes,” he said.

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Bhakti’s contributions align with supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 on Quality Education and Goal 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through the development of disaster technology. “Infrastructure is important, but ultimately, it is the quality of the students that will determine the outcome,” Bhakti reminded. (ITS Public Relations)