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June 8, 2016

Engineering students map flood risk in megacity of Jakarta

A group of UOW engineering students have investigated the deepest depths of Jakarta in not unchallenging conditions – all in the name of research.

The research was undertaken in support of the PetaJakarta.org project led by the SMART Infrastructure Facility at UOW. PetaJakarta.org uses Twitter to collect, analyse and distribute data on flooding in Jakarta and is supported by the UOW Global Challenges Program.

Research outcomes were showcased to an audience of students and academics last week after the students travelled to Jakarta last November to explore factors relating to Jakarta’s flooding. The research investigated waste management and its effects on flooding, the impact of river normalisation on trash flow and flood infrastructure, and how engineers can better perceive vulnerability within a social context for disaster.

Research Fellow Dr Tomas Holderness said the program has been a great way for students to apply their engineering skills in a developing context.

“These projects are all helping advance our wider understanding of both contributing factors to causing the floods and the ability of people to respond when flooding hits,” Dr Holderness said.

“The research undertaken by these students feeds into the wider project’s aim of understanding megacity resilience to extreme weather events.”

The students travelled to Jakarta under the New Colombo Plan initiative.