Yogyakarta- Activity of Merapi and its impact to the community can inspire people to produce a new research and knowledge. That was proven by 15 researches conducted by UGM researchers related to Merapi disaster. It emerged in a workshop of Merapi Emergency Response in Yogyakarta Grand Palace Hotel, 21-22 December. The workshop opened by UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M.Eng., Ph.D and Head of Institute of Research and Community Service Division I, Prof. Dr. Harno Dwi Pranowo, presented results of many researches and experiences conducted by Regency Government in Yogyakarta and Central Java, BPPTK and UGM researchers.
Several research results from UGM are about the handling of Merapi disaster, including the study of the spread of pyroclastic material of Merapi volcano, mapping of Merapi danger zone through land geomorphology approach, study on the destruction of transportation infrastructure after eruption, study on social structure after eruption, land supporting ability after eruption for agriculture and fisheries, spatial study based on volcanic risk analysis, and strategy to revive people’s economy after the disaster.
Next are strategy to cure diseases related to environmental destruction, Merapi volcanic dynamics modeling after eruption year 2010, evaluation of emergency response, evacuation planning and modelling during Merapi crisis, cattle handling in emergency response period, disaster trauma handling, job need assessment identification and study on destruction in hamlets struck by Merapi eruption as basis of planning for settlement designing and strategy of conservation.
UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M.Eng., Ph.D., emphasized that volcanic activity and its impacts are a natural laboratory that can be a resource of knowledge for world community. Therefore, ideas and experience to help handle Merapi disaster’s impact can be summarized as basic capital to make good program planning and implementation in the future.
“From the experience and ideas, we can handle the process quickly as there is eruption anytime in the future,” said Sudjarwadi on Tuesday (21/12).
He said that UGM is one of participants who gave help in the handling of Merapi disaster. However, UGM still prioritizes collective intelligence as one of foundations to build collective understanding. “Everybody has their own ideas and experience, if all is communicated and combined, so it will produce a knowledge.
According to Sudjarwadi, the lesson that can be accomplished after Merapi eruption last November, at least it has improved people's spirit and related institutions in Yogyakarta to create inspiration about collective experience to handle disaster impacts. “This experience can be spread to other people in the world,” he explained.
Head I of LPPM UGM, Prof. Dr. Harno Dwi Pranowo said that a two day workshop explained various experiences of people and institutions that directly helped displaced persons. The workshop presented several government institutions that directly handled the effects of the disaster. On the second day it will present about the research results from UGM researchers.
“From the result, it needs to be thought about emergency response handling model for better Merapi disaster handling,” he said.