The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) team visited Universitas Negeri Padang in the meeting room for the Department of Physics, FMIPA UNP, Friday (18/8/23). The BMKG delegation was led by the Head Station. Bukit Kototabang Global Atmospheric Monitor - Agam, Dr. Sugeng Nugroho, M.Si and was welcomed by the leadership of the Physics Department of FMIPA UNP represented by the Head of Physics Study Program, Syafriani, Ph.D, Head of UNP's RCCC (Research Center for Climate Change), Dr. Nofi Yendri Sudiar, M.Si and Head of LPPM UNP, Prof. Yohandri, Ph.D.
In their presentation, the BMKG group stated that the purpose of the visit was to discuss possible collaboration opportunities between BMKG and the Physics Department, UNP and RCCC, especially in network development.Global Atmosphere Watch as a system for monitoring quality trends and dynamics in the Earth's atmosphere.
As is known GAW Bukit Kototabang, Agam, is one of only 30 GAW worldwide, and the only one in West Sumatra. Sugeng hopes that by collaborating with UNP, it is hoped that in the future BMKG can improve network quality and improve the quality of tool and product validation. "We are also very open to research schemes that can be synergized with higher education schemes," said oneimportant points of Sugeng's presentation.
On this occasion, the BMKG team also presented a demonstrationprototype of the experimental results of an air quality instrument entitled "Monitoring Particulate Matter Air Quality (PM2.5) Based on Low Cost Sensors”. This research produced a low-cost instrument that serves to monitor air quality, and was presented by the Head of the research team, Reza Mahdi, who incidentally is an alumnus of UNP majoring in Electronic Engineering. Just for the record, the price of similar instruments on the global market can reach more than 3 billion rupiah.
The objectives of this study include optimizing the feasibility of the LCSAQ instrument for observing PM2.5 particulate concentrations, testing and analyzing the feasibility of air quality monitoring instruments.The result is an LCSAQ station instrument, of which at the moment there are only 5 in Indonesia, one of which is in Kototabang, and the only one in Sumatra.
Head of LPPM UNP, Prof. Yohandri, Ph.D, in his remarks said that UNP is very open to collaborative research, especially now that the collaborative research scheme is very flexible, does not have to wait for routine schemes and can be based on conditional needs.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the RCCC, Dr. Nofi Yendri Sudiar, said that this air quality monitoring instrument, when it is completed in the fifth prototype, will soon be installed in the Physics laboratory, FMIPA UNP. "It is possible that in the future we will also install it on the roof of the UNP Rectorate, so that we can always monitor the air quality around Air Tawar, especially the UNP central campus. If this is realized, we will be able to compete towards the green campus competition," said the Head of RCCC UNP.[MIG]