With the relocation and development of the nation’s capital, there has been a major shift in the focus of development, from a Java-centric to an Indonesia-centric orientation. The main objective is to even out economic development and development while improving governance. However, the relocation and development of IKN also have the potential to trigger uncontrolled urbanisation, which can have negative impacts if not managed properly.
Faced with this challenge, students of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DSTL), Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI) designed a project called “UNGRAVITY” (Upgrade Integrated Vertical City). UNGRAVITY is a vertical city concept designed by considering various aspects of sustainability, including energy independence, food, sanitation, and optimisation of mobilisation in every part of the city. This vertical city design aims to overcome the problem of urbanisation that has the potential to reduce green land in IKN.
The UNGRAVITY design led Dicky Prasetyo (2021), Priscilla Tiffany (2021), Nathaniel Januardo (2021), Fayza Ardani (2021), and Yedija Agrisa (2021) to win funding in the Futuristic Ideas (GFT) category in the Student Creativity Programme (PKM). The announcement was made in August 2023 as part of the 36th National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS) organised by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture. PKM aims to encourage students’ creativity, innovation, and research capabilities and facilitate knowledge exchange.
The UNGRAVITY project was designed under the guidance of FTUI DTSL lecturer, Dr Nyoman Suwartha, S.T., M.T., M.Agr, and carries various sustainability concepts. Dr Nyoman shared some of the advantages of this vertical city concept, “First, this concept involves energy independence in the layout of the vertical city settlement area, adopting the Cerda Plan principle to prevent urban sprawl. Second, the project optimises food production with autonomous vertical farming techniques managed automatically with the Internet of Things (IoT). Third, efficient sanitation management is realised through renewable water treatment technology to recycle water. Finally, a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) system is integrated to support and shorten mobility within the city for its residents.”
Dicky said that the UNGRAVITY concept is an area designed to prevent urban sprawl and maximise the use of green land. “With this concept, IKN will have green open space (RTH) covering 70% of the total city area. This green space will function as a public space, with mental health support, and interaction support for residents. The vertical city concept will have a positive impact on the environment by creating more green open spaces that can reduce global warming and preserve agricultural land,” said Dicky.
Prof Dr Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, Dean of FTUI, added, “The UNGRAVITY city design is an innovative futuristic idea. It creates a plan for a sustainable city that can overcome the challenges of urbanisation in the future. Hopefully, this vertical city concept will prepare the nation’s capital to face the potential of future urbanisation.”
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Public Communication Bureau
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia