Margoyoso Village in Salaman subdistrict in Magelang is one of the worst affected villages by landslides. This condition encourages five geophysics students of UGM, namely Muchamad Reza Aditya, Reymon Agra Medika, Arriqo Fauqi Romadlon, Yosua Alfontius, and Zukhruf Delva Jannet, to make a landslide zoning map in the village.
“The landslide zoning map can give information to the society regarding the areas which are prone to landslide, thus it can minimize the fatalities if there is a landslide or it is a pre-disaster prevention,” said Zukhruf Delfa on Monday (19/6).
Those five students conducted research on landslide potential areas by the funding from Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education through the Students Creativity Programme. During their research, they performed several processes which started by the survey, collecting data, until the result presentation.
Reza and his team conducted their research using a microseismic method as well as slope stability analysis. The data was collected for two weeks from March 30 until April 12, 2017, in Margoyoso Village and its surrounding areas.
“Microseismic method is a method using the natural movement of the earth or the ground. Based on the natural wave, we can obtain information regarding the ground characteristic in the measurement areas, while the slope stability analysis aims to analyze the steep slopes which are prone to landslide, including rock types on those slopes,” said Zukhruf.
Two weeks after the data collection, those five students collaborating with the Geophysics Students Association (HMGF) UGM held a preliminary socialization regarding landslides. It was purposely held to give a comprehension towards the society regarding landslide and pre-disaster mitigation.
The research on the landslide potential areas also becomes one of the pre-disaster mitigations in Margoyoso Village. Through the result which is in the form of landslide zoning map that provides information towards the society regarding the landslide potential areas, the society is expected to be more careful and alerted, particularly those who live in the danger zone.
“We also hope we can cooperate with the regional government in the future regarding our research and also coordinate with the National Disaster Management Board to take the next step,” he added.