Geological Agency Modernizes 160 Volcano Monitoring Systems

Mount Merapi/UNSPLASH/Rivan Saputra

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has modernized 160 volcanic geological disaster monitoring systems as an effort to mitigate the impact of the eruption felt by the community.

"In 2023, we modernized 160 equipment for the geological disaster monitoring system and the development of six volcanic observation posts," said Acting Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Health and Mineral Resources, Muhammad Wafid, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, January 19.

The Geological Agency currently has 74 volcanic observation posts spread throughout Indonesia, including those located in the Lewotobi Laki Monument in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, and Mount Dukono in North Maluku.

Wafid explained that the modernization of the monitoring system was carried out on seismic sensor equipment (seismometers), deformation sensors (GPS, tiltmeters), CCTV, IR/thermal camera, and monitoring station supporting equipment.

Modernization aims to strengthen the analysis and interpretation basis in building monitoring systems with more new equipment, data information and faster analysis systems, to faster and more effective response capabilities.

"We have surveyed several locations, then we need monitoring points, need installation of seismic equipment and deformation around the peak of the volcano, we will continue to do that," said Wafid.

In 2023, the Geological Agency also added 4 volcanic geological mappings (a total of 116 maps), added 2 mappings of volcanic disaster-prone areas (a total of 111 maps), and added 6 units of development of volcanic observation posts (a total of 19 postal units).

In addition to modernizing equipment to detect volcanic eruptions, the Geological Agency has also modernized information technology so that information on eruptions quickly enters the monitoring dashboard.

The eruption monitoring system owned by the Geological Agency is directly connected to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), so that the early detection system or early warning system can quickly reach the community.