Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has added to its roster of professors contributing to various academic fields. Dr. Slamet Suprayogi of the UGM Faculty of Geography was appointed a professor of hydrology.
He is now one of eleven active professors in the Faculty of Geography and one of 399 active professors at UGM.
During the inaugural ceremony held on Thursday, September 7, at the UGM Senate Hall, Professor Suprayogi delivered a lecture titled “Urban Hydrology Approaches to Address Urbanization Issues.”
This discussion, he explained, begins with the fact that cities in Indonesia are proliferating, with modern buildings, but behind these developments lie water-related issues such as floods and water availability problems.
“Urbanization increases domestic water needs, accompanied by an increase in domestic waste volume. The increased demand for clean water leads to an increase in groundwater use. Excessive use of groundwater can lead to land subsidence,” the professor stated.
He continued that urbanization has concerned planners and policymakers for several decades.
The trend in the development of cities worldwide, including Indonesia, is characterized by rapid population growth, often exceeding the capacity of cities to provide adequate support.
Natural and urbanization trends drive rapid urban population growth. The increase in urbanization is also due to the establishment of economic centers, particularly in industrialization.
“Many major cities can no longer provide sanitation, health, housing, transportation, and employment services beyond the minimum required by some of their residents,” he explained.
Furthermore, Professor Suprayogi explained that urbanization alters hydrological processes and is often associated with an increased flood risk that can threaten human well-being and social and economic development.
Increased urbanization also affects water quality as pollutants in urban areas settle and contaminate water sources. There is an increase in water use between cities, industries, and domestic needs in urban areas.
According to the professor, the conventional paradigm of flood protection, which relies on structural measures based on engineering solutions such as dams and drainage systems, is insufficient to reduce floods.
Sustainable water management, which includes solutions to enhance natural processes in urban areas, is a promising approach to improving flood resilience and addressing various sustainability challenges cities face.
“Effective measures are needed to address water pollution issues that may arise from increased urbanization. One approach to addressing water pollution in urban areas is implementing sustainable urban development to reduce water pollution,” Professor Suprayogi added.
Author: Gloria
Photographers: Firsto and Donnie