UNS – Behind many constructions in Indonesia, some people have provided their best idea. The alumni of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, as one of the excellent universities in Indonesia also took the role in the development, particularly the best alumni from the Faculty of Engineering (FT). These alumni are Suroto (Operational Director I PT. Hutama Karya), Prijasambada (President Director PT. Limajabat Jaya), Agus Karianto (Director PT. Adhi Karya), Harry Samudra (Cipta Disain Indonesia), Bambang Nurhadi W (Directorate General Bina Marga PUPR), Hananto Aji (Director PT. Wijaya Karya), Gunadi (Director PT. Waskita Karya), and Dr. Niken Silmi (Head of Civil Engineering Program FT UNS).
In Wedangan Alumni Association (IKA) UNS early July, these alumni shared various stories around their career and works. They also provided their views on infrastructure development in Indonesia. Suroto in his discussion underlined the importance of toll road development that is integrated with biodiversity. This is in line with the mandate of UU No. 19 of 2003 which explains that besides focusing on national development, State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) should not forget the sustainability of biodiversity in Indonesia.
This mandate, Suroto stated, is implemented in the construction of trans-Sumatera toll road of 2,735 Km entrusted to PT. Hutama Karya. As commonly known, Sumatera has rich biodiversity in term of animals and plants. For example, Sumatera elephant protected in Aceh Wildlife Reserve, then the protected forest in Payakumbuh which must be protected from damage. This is why in the construction; the firm firstly conducted identification of animals and plants that need to be guarded during the project. The team needs to be thorough in running the project, for example by building a tunnel so that it doesn’t interfere with natural conditions. The elephants there are not shocked and are still comfortable even though the team was in the middle of them.
An interesting story came from Prija Sambada who developed and patented a precast earthquake-resistant concrete for multi-floors building and pioneering PT. Limajabat Jaya. This idea started when Prija thought that conventional production is quite a challenge even though it is the most important system in the earthquake-resistant structure. This is when he attempted to create precast concrete with easier fabrication and installation by utilizing blue wire as a connection.
Prija’s first patent is named PSA System and has been tested in Puslitbang Bandung. Afterwards, Prija also patented PRISKA which also utilize blue wire. Since patented, these two systems have been applied in many constructions of building, both by Prija and his colleagues with a total of more than 200 buildings, including Rusunawa PU in Depok, Rusunawa PU in Bandung, Rusunawa Menpera in Bandung, Rusunawa PU in Kaligawe, and many others.
Prija stated that his system has been tested in the laboratory and the field during an earthquake in Jogja, Padang, Lombok, and Palu, the buildings that utilize his system did not significant structural damage and can be quickly reused.
“There is a message that I want to share with the development of education in FT UNS. Civil engineering is not limited to engineering, not limited to computation. There is a great deal of knowledge in civil engineering that we can realize and produce into commercially valuable items. There are many small things we can manage,” he added.
Harry Samudra discussed his and Cipta Disain Indonesia view on the potential of construction and infrastructure in the future. He mentioned that there are four potentials: first, integrated transportation, in which developing transportation system requires discussion with various stakeholders. Then, transit-oriented development, rail-based transportation, and lastly sea highway. Rail-based transportation is also a field familiar to Agus Karianto who works in the construction of Light Rail Transit (LRT) Jabodebek. Harry thinks that rail-based transportation and sea highway posed a significant challenge for the field of construction. Humas UNS
Reporter: Kaffa Hidayati
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
