BRIN Builds Submarine Cable Tsunami Detection Equipment In West Manggarai

LABUAN BAJO - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is currently building an Indonesian cable-based tsunameter (InaCBT) tsunami detection tool in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.

"We use InaCBT technology in West Manggarai, so that the sensors are placed on the seabed using cables, then the information is conveyed to the land at the landing station," said Acting Head of the BRIN Center for Disaster Risk Reduction Technology Mulyo Harris Pradono in Labuan Bajo, quoted by Antara, Friday, 3 December.

Mulyo explained that the location for the InaCBT technology development in 2021 will be in Rangko Hamlet, Tanjung Boleng Village, Boleng District, West Manggarai.

The landing station is currently under construction and is an onshore facility consisting of a Beach Manhole (BMH), a tower and a power house.

In the InaCBT system, said Mulyo, there are two sensors installed at a depth of 4,000 meters under the sea. The two sensors will detect sea water pressure due to a tsunami, not due to waves, because these sensors can distinguish sea water pressure caused by a tsunami or waves.

With this mechanism, when an earthquake occurs and officers receive confirmation that the earthquake caused a tsunami, the information will be forwarded to the BMKG, BPBD, and the community.

In the opportunity to socialize InaCBT technology to the coastal community of West Manggarai in the Hall of the West Manggarai Regent's Office, Mulyo hoped that there would be no damage to the cable, considering that the cable is under the sea and there are frequent problems such as broken cables in several submarine cable networks.

He invited the public to find out the existence of cables under the sea starting from Dusun Rangko to the middle of the sea. He also asked the public to be more careful in their activities and reduce the risk of cable damage.

BRIN itself targets the 52 km cable show to start in mid to late December 2021, so that in early 2022 the equipment can function.

BRIN Principal Researcher Heru Sri Naryanto explained that CBT consists of underwater sensors that measure earthquake vibrations and water pressure (in the Ocean Bottom Unit / OBU). Vibration and pressure data will be transmitted via submarine cables to the mainland. Furthermore, facilities on land in real time will send data via radio or landline telecommunications FO network to the data center (Read Down Station/RDS).

The development of InaCBT technology refers to Presidential Regulation Number 93 of 2019 concerning Strengthening and Development of Earthquake Information Systems and Tsunami Early Warning.

Strengthening and developing an earthquake and tsunami early warning information system is carried out by building and operating equipment for earthquake and/or tsunami observation, maintenance of equipment for earthquake and/or tsunami observation, as well as research, development, assessment, application, and innovation to technology independence.

On the occasion of the socialization, the participants also received information about tsunami knowledge from BRIN Associate Engineer Yus Budiyono.

Apart from being located in West Manggarai Regency, BRIN is also building InaCBT in Ende Regency. There, the sensor is placed close to Mount Rokatenda, Ende so that the technology can observe the potential for volcanic eruptions that can cause a tsunami.

If an avalanche occurs due to a volcanic eruption, officers can detect sea level rise early.