Professor Ali Awaludin, a lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FT UGM), was officially inaugurated as a Professor in Materials and Sustainable Civil Engineering Technology on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, at the Senate Hall, UGM Central Office.
In his inaugural address, Professor Awaludin explained that wood is one of the oldest materials used by humans, dating back to the era when stone was the dominant material of civilization.
From the perspective of sustainability, particularly in terms of the time required to regenerate its raw material, wood can be categorized as a sustainable material.
“Wood possesses comprehensive mechanical properties, including tensile, compressive, flexural, and shear strength, all of which contribute to resisting internal forces within structural systems,” said Professor Awaludin.
He added that wood performs well under short-term loading and has a high strength-to-weight ratio.
It makes wood a superior construction material suitable for application in medium to high seismic zones such as Indonesia.
According to Professor Awaludin, as a renewable material, wood has become a preferred choice in environmentally friendly and green building designs.
With proper forest management, wood not only serves as a valuable construction material but also plays a crucial role in preserving ecosystems and ensuring intergenerational sustainability.
Considering that the infrastructure sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, substituting other materials with wood can effectively reduce emission levels without compromising structural performance.
“Wood is becoming a pioneering material in the infrastructure sector to minimize emission levels,” he explained.
However, Professor Awaludin noted that the availability of large-sized solid timber has become increasingly limited due to high demand and the conversion of forest land for residential or agricultural purposes.
“This condition has made solid wood more expensive and less accessible,” he said.
To address this challenge, he pointed out that advances in the wood industry have led to the development of laminated timber products.
These are made by gluing together wooden boards to form beams with cross-sections larger than those of natural solid wood.
“The presence of laminated timber products holds great value in construction because they are more homogeneous than solid wood. The natural variations of wood can be selectively combined and optimized during production,” explained Professor Awaludin.
He further emphasized that durability remains an important issue, especially for fast-growing wood species.
High humidity, fungi, termites, and even fire hazards continue to pose significant challenges, requiring ongoing research to ensure the reliability of wood as a long-term construction material.
Additionally, he expressed concern that wood construction courses in civil engineering programs are not yet prioritized in Indonesian universities.
Professor Awaludin noted that the world is moving toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which emphasize a greater reliance on environmentally friendly materials in construction.
Recognizing this, UGM initiated the development of engineered wood products, which have been implemented in the construction of the CLT Nusantara Pavilion located at the FT UGM complex.
The pavilion is equipped with solar panels and features a living plant façade with an IoT-based vertical irrigation system, making it a showcase for eco-housing.
“Initiatives like the CLT Nusantara Pavilion demonstrate that wood remains highly relevant as a sustainable construction material,” he concluded.
UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia stated that Professor Awaludin is one of 542 active professors at UGM and among 88 active professors out of 108 within FT UGM.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographer: Firsto Adi