To implement an educopolis area is one of the visions included in the Campus Development Master Plan (RIPK). This is a step taken by universities in creating conducive environment for the continuity of the learning process. These efforts are pursued in the context of developing multidisciplinary collaborations and responding to ecological issues in order to achieve the vision of the university.
In the view of an UGM student, Harisudewo Budiyuwono, UGM is located in a strategic position. Many public facilities increase the intensity of vehicles that enter UGM. "This resulted in increasingly heavy traffic, noise, making teaching and learning not conducive," he said at the UGM campus, Thursday (24/3).
This problem attracted his attention to make this as the theme of his thesis to complete the final project in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. He explained that to ensure internal and external security, UGM should conduct campus traffic arrangements. "A lot of vehicles passed in this area without having a clear purpose. This had triggered the emergence of many crimes, like theft and others," he added.
Therefore, it’s only natural that the university later issued the policy to enforce Vehicle Identity Card (KIK). The cards are given to the academic community and UGM partners who have registered their vehicles. With this card, they will get security guarantee during their stay on campus.
"Unfortunately, with the use of KIK one must show the card when he/she enter and exit the gates, leading to the queue. Therefore, in-depth study about the use of KIK is needed to be able to deliver services well," said Haris.
The result of Haris’ study showed that vehicles passing through UGM are mostly motorcycles, which is up to 85%, while heavy vehicles rarely go through UGM. As the area of education, the noise level should be limited. "If heavy vehicles pass in this area a lot, it is certain that UGM will be uncomfortable for teaching and learning activities," he said.
Other data showed that 75% vehicles belong to UGM students who wish to carry out campus activities, such as lectures and study groups. Six percent of them are UGM students who have other activities, such as organization activity or just a meeting with a friend. "This is proof of UGM’s strategic location and well-known to many people, making it a meeting place," he explained.
Haris added ten per cent of respondents said they passed through UGM to meet their daily needs. They admit the facilities in the UGM area such as the Valley area that can be used for gymnastics. In addition, there is the Student Center, which became the center of student activity. Meanwhile, nine percent of respondents admitted to pass across the UGM area for refreshing or sightseeing. They said it is quite beautiful at UGM, so quite many people go there sightseeing or exercising or relieving boredom, especially around Grha Sabha Pramana.
Haris in the thesis concludes that the traffic conditions in UGM currently require improvement for the sake of achieving University’s vision. The volumes of traffic flow during peak hours at each intersection are different. "From some of the existing intersections, the entrance that is least used is in the north of BNI Bank. Even so, this gate needs to get attention because the volume of traffic flow is also high enough to potentially cause an accident," he said.
Haris recorded the largest volume of traffic at peak hours is in the intersection of Engineering, 1900.35 pcu/h on September 27, 2010, the intersection of BNI, the volume was 2074.9 pcu/h on October 1, 2010. Meanwhile, Boulevard intersection, the volume recorded was 1463 pcu/hour on 1 October 2010. Next are the intersection Humanities, 1604.5 pcu/h on 27 September 2010. "The queue occurs at each entrance when the number of lane is just one. If the number of lane is added, they can reduce the queue. This is what sometimes affect the service," said Haris.