The ‘Gama Lautan Utama’ team from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) secured 1st place in the 2025 Dedikasi Coastal Protection Competition, held at Hasanuddin University.
The team presented a coastal protection structure called a submerged breakwater with perforated blocks, titled ‘C-Guard Breakwater: Submerged Perforated Breakwater Made from Steel Slag Composite Concrete.’
“This breakwater effectively protects coastal tourist areas from abrasion and erosion without obstructing the aesthetic of the beach,” said Bintang Lailatul Qadri, the team leader at UGM, Monday, Mar. 3, 2025.
Qadri explained that by using green concrete made from steel slag as the material for the breakwater, the C-Guard Breakwater innovation aims to protect the coastline while preserving the environment.
After the presentation and model testing phases, the team was declared the winner of the 2025 Dedikasi Coastal Protection Competition.
The success of the Gama Lautan Utama team reflects not only their technical skills but also their vision of designing infrastructure with long-term benefits for society and the environment.
“We hope this achievement will inspire other civil engineering students to continue innovating and making tangible contributions to national development,” said Qadri, a Civil Engineering student at UGM from batch 2021.
In addition to Bintang Lailatul Qadri, the Gama Lautan Utama team included Faris Fathurrohman and Alief Rizky Pratama (Civil Engineering 2021), with guidance from Dr. Benazir and Muhammad Farizqi Khaldirian, who provided strategic direction at every stage of the competition.
“The support from both mentors played a crucial role in the team’s success in achieving the top position in the competition,” Qadri added.
Fathurrohman explained that the competition serves as a platform for civil engineering students across Indonesia to showcase their innovations in solving water-related issues.
The competition consisted of two categories, Civil Case Innovation and Coastal Protection Competition, with a high level of competition.
Five top teams advanced to the final round held at Hasanuddin University, Makassar, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, 2025.
The final stage involved two phases: a presentation of the design and a model testing of coastal protection structures in a flume.
“Through these stages, each team was tested not only in technical and design skills but also in scientific communication and creativity in presenting their ideas,” Fathurrohman explained.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang