A team of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) students has once again achieved a proud accomplishment by winning first place in the 2025 Fondasi Steel Bridge Competition, hosted by Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) in Surakarta, Central Java.
The team, consisting of M. Falah Naufal Moelia, Renhart Fongguart, and Figo Valentino, not only secured the championship title but also received two category awards: Most Unique Bridge and Best Design Suitability.
The “Sustainable Bridge Construction with Innovation and Renewable Technology” competition focused on smart and sustainable bridge design.
UGM’s GAMAW GMBB team triumphed over 16 other student teams from universities across Indonesia.
Team leader Renhart Fongguart explained that their innovative entry was named Jembatan Sthirata, a name symbolizing resilience, strength, stability, and sustainability.
“Sthirata Bridge was designed not only as a strong piece of infrastructure but also to incorporate innovation and sustainability principles,” he stated at UGM Campus on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
In designing the bridge, the team integrated various technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), using microalgae as an electricity generator, and applying blockchain technology.
The bridge design also included a real-time monitoring system through the Structural Health Monitoring System (SHMS) and M-Sthirata, as well as inspection stairs to facilitate routine checks and maintenance.
“This achievement is certainly the result of our entire team’s hard work,” he added.
Fongguart shared that the team had prepared well for the competition.
The competition began in January 2025 with the preliminary rounds and culminated in the final stage in May 2025.
Their research phase alone took over three months.
With the growing trend toward eco-friendly technology in the construction industry, he expressed gratitude for the input from their academic advisor, who encouraged them to combine technical excellence with sustainability principles.
Celebrating their success, Fongguart hopes it will inspire other students to keep innovating and elevate UGM’s name at national, regional, and international levels.
“Hopefully, this achievement will add to our knowledge, boost our motivation to succeed even more, and expand our network with students from other universities,” he said.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna