Professor Harintaka, a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FT UGM), was officially inaugurated as a Professor in Photogrammetry Engineering on Thursday (Apr. 25) at the Balai Senat Hall, UGM Main Building.
During the inauguration ceremony, Professor Harintaka delivered his professorial lecture titled “Photogrammetry Technology: Its Development and Contribution to Providing Accurate and Reliable Geospatial Information.”
In his address, Professor Harintaka highlighted that recent cases involving the use of land and maritime space—such as sea fences, agrarian conflicts, land disputes, and overlapping permits—have become increasingly complex due to various contributing factors. One fundamental factor, he noted, is the use of geospatial information.
“One fundamental factor is the need for the availability of accurate and reliable geospatial information,” he explained.
He further elaborated that accuracy and reliability are two key standards in Photogrammetry Engineering. Accuracy refers to the minimum standard, encompassing spatial positions, attributes, and temporal elements. At the same time, reliability denotes that geospatial data must be derived from valid sources and methods, processed using standardized procedures, and verified through rigorous validation.
“Through this lecture, I will discuss the development of photogrammetry technology and its vital contribution to providing accurate and reliable geospatial information,” he conveyed.
Photogrammetry, he continued, is the art, science, and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment through the processes of recording, measuring, and interpreting images and patterns of electromagnetic radiation, as well as other phenomena. One of its primary objectives is to produce accurate and detailed geospatial information.
Professor Harintaka explained that photogrammetry is increasingly integrated with advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and point cloud systems, today.
“This technology can capture complex lighting, realistic textures, and transparency and reflection effects, opening new opportunities for more detailed object modeling,” he said.
He added that photogrammetry is evolving toward more compact instruments and flexible platforms. The integration of multiple sensors, such as GNSS, IMU, and LiDAR, along with various automation algorithms, has made photogrammetry a more reliable technology for fulfilling the demands of 3D modeling and geospatial data provision.
In the current era of digital connectivity, the use of digital technology in urban management is essential. Photogrammetry, renowned for its precision and accuracy in geospatial data collection, plays a vital role in creating 3D city models and City Digital Twin (CDT) systems.
CDT refers to a virtual replica of a city’s physical assets, including 3D city models and the human activities within, developed through data collection, analysis, and computational techniques. In Indonesia, CDT development initiatives are gaining traction in line with the implementation of Smart City concepts.
“The development of CDT city models has become a trend in many developed countries, with photogrammetry techniques being one of the main methods used for spatial data provision,” he added.
According to Professor Harintaka, the strength of photogrammetry lies in its efficiency in generating geometrically and semantically rich data, making it highly suitable for supporting complex 3D city modeling.
He predicted that artificial intelligence will increasingly shape the future of photogrammetry.
“Given current developments, photogrammetry is set to become one of the backbones in providing geospatial information to support innovations in urban planning, disaster mitigation, and natural resource management,” he concluded.
Professor Baiquni, Chair of the UGM Council of Professors, stated that Professor Harintaka is one of 526 active professors at UGM and one of 82 active professors out of the 102 professors who have served at the Faculty of Engineering.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Firsto