Indonesia is still lacking of geography researchers, thus some areas find it difficult to utilize the services of spatial thematic map of regional resources. The small number of geography researchers is because in Indonesia geography graduates only came from two universities, UGM and Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta.
"There are only two faculties of geography in a country as vast as Indonesia. Others only provide geography educational science to prepare people to become a teacher. Thus, we are still short of geography researchers," said Dean of the Faculty of Geography, Professor. Dr. Suratman, M. Sc, in Geospatial Thematic Expert and Community Workshop in Java, Friday (16/7). To overcome the lack of geography experts in Indonesia, said Suratman, Faculty of Geography UGM and Coordination Agency for Surveys and Mapping (Bakosurtanal) cooperate to apply spatial thematic map services for the region; because not every areas have much information about the spatial, environment and disasters, poverty, administrative boundaries, region boundaries, as well as unemployment data. "Most of the spatial data is only for city districts. Sub-districts and villages have not yet possessed them," he said.
Suratman added that the cooperation with Bakosurtanal is also expected to strengthen the role of geographers in surveys and mapping-based development. It was conducted to accelerate the progress of the region. "This thematic spatial data is essential for monitoring, planning, managing, thus no need to check it to the field. We can minimize the cost and time through the remote searching, "he said.
Suratman admitted, geospatial technology in the world is quite advanced with the presence of digital Mapping technology, GIS, remote searching. To pursue the underdevelopment of Indonesian human resources, UGM cooperates with several universities in foreign countries such as Germany, Netherlands, Japan and India.
Meanwhile, Head of Bakosurtanal, Dr. Asep Karsidi, M. Sc, welcomed ideas from the faculty of UGM to build environment and disaster clinics. He thought it quite important remembering that Indonesia is is disaster-prone region. "From the clinic, we will be able to disseminate spatial information, gives an understanding of lifestyle, how to make a living and how to build a house, thus minimizing the losses after disasters," Asep said, adding that Bakosurtanal and BNPB is currently drafting a hazard map.