The rise in temperatures and unpredictable rainfall due to extreme weather has made road construction more prone to damage.

Dr. Ikaputra, Head of the UGM Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM), emphasized the need for strategies to adapt transportation infrastructure to climate change.

He pointed out the importance of developing innovative materials and construction methods to enhance infrastructure durability. 

“Some actions can be taken, such as using climate-resistant materials, applying water for cooling during hot weather, reducing road replacement periods, managing traffic, especially heavy vehicles, and setting standards for pavement design and vehicles,” Dr. Ikaputra said during a webinar on Environmentally Friendly Road Pavement and Climate Change Adaptation on Thursday (Jan. 23).

However, he added, implementing these strategies is not easy due to the significant funding required for research and development. 

“It takes time and money. Additionally, political and institutional obstacles, such as conflicts of interest and limited institutional capacity to adopt new technologies, also present challenges,” Dr. Ikaputra explained.

He stated that Pustral UGM is committed to making real contributions to addressing this challenge through interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Academics, practitioners, and policymakers are working to share knowledge on best practices from countries like Slovakia, which has successfully implemented innovative technologies such as High Modulus Asphalt Concrete (HMAC) and Porous Asphalt. 

“We hope today’s discussion will inspire the application of similar technologies in Indonesia,” he said.

According to researchers, innovative solutions to enhance road durability include using eco-friendly materials like nanocomposites, Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technology, and climate-based design methods. 

This approach not only strengthens infrastructure resilience but also supports environmental sustainability.

Meanwhile, Dr. Latif Budi Suparma, a Pustral UGM expert and Chair of the Master’s Program in Systems and Transportation Engineering, explained that environmentally friendly infrastructure aims to minimize environmental impacts, such as resource use and pollution, while also addressing social effects on communities.

Environmentally friendly infrastructure, he said, aims to extend infrastructure lifespan and reduce maintenance needs. 

“Some examples of eco-friendly road pavements include using recycled materials to minimize waste, permeable pavements to reduce runoff and improve water quality, biogenic asphalt technology to reduce CO2 emissions during production, and warm mix asphalt, which requires lower temperatures and energy during processing,” he explained.

Dr. Suparma acknowledged that climate change affects pavement directly and indirectly. 

Rising temperatures can directly reduce road quality, while changing rainfall patterns can affect road surface and stability, particularly in clay soil or areas with high groundwater, increasing flood risk. 

“Indirectly, climate change reduces road surface quality, potentially affecting safety and increasing vehicle usage but reducing speed. This can also lead to increased traffic noise,” he concluded.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya

Photo: Harian Terbit

Artikel Extreme Weather Makes Road Construction Vulnerable to Damage pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

However, the high demand for transportation during this period often leads to ticket price hikes, posing a significant challenge for the public. Domestic airfare prices, in particular, are often criticized for being more expensive than international flights.  

Dr. Dewanti, a researcher at the UGM Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM, highlighted the issue of costly domestic flight tickets. She urged the government to implement innovative policies to ensure ticket affordability without compromising service quality. 

“The government provides transportation subsidies, not only during Eid but also during off-peak seasons, to support remote or frontier, outermost, underdeveloped, and border (3TP) regions,” said Dr. Dewanti on Thursday (Jan. 16).  

In addition to subsidies, she noted that the government enforces tariff regulations to keep ticket prices reasonable despite surges in demand. Price ceilings and floors are also implemented to protect consumers from unfair price speculation. 

“With these upper and lower price limits, the usual price spikes during homecoming can be controlled, ensuring that the public can access transportation at reasonable costs,” she added.  

Government-sponsored free homecoming programs, supported by local governments and private sectors, are another effective measure to alleviate the public’s financial burden while reducing the number of private vehicles on the roads. 

However, these efforts are not without challenges. Dr. Dewanti emphasized the difficulty of lowering ticket prices without compromising the quality of service provided by transportation operators. 

“Ticket price reductions must be carefully managed to ensure that comfort, safety, and security remain top priorities,” she explained.  

She acknowledged the significant challenge of private operators’ financial interests, which do not always align with government policies. Operational cost fluctuations, including fuel prices and maintenance, also impact private operators’ ability to support low tariffs. 

Dr. Dewanti advised the government to learn from past experiences to develop more effective strategies. Analyzing travel patterns and transportation demand from previous years could help anticipate service needs during the homecoming season. 

Measures such as monitoring transportation facilities, ensuring fuel availability, and widely disseminating information about homecoming programs must be strengthened. 

“Collaboration with the private sector is crucial, but its success varies due to the diverse financial capacities of private operators,” she noted. Subsidies, promotions, and strict monitoring are key tools for the government to maintain affordable ticket prices without compromising service quality.  

Dr. Dewanti remains optimistic that the government can provide safe, comfortable, and affordable transportation services for the public through collaborative approaches and adaptive policies. 

“Ultimately, these policies are designed to help people enjoy their homecoming journeys better,” she concluded.  

Author: Rahma Khoirunnisa  

Editor: Gusti Grehenson  

Photo: Freepik  

Artikel Ahead of Eid Homecoming, UGM Researchers Urge Government to Ensure Affordable Transport Ticket Prices pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

It is estimated that approximately 110 million people traveled during the Nataru 2024/2025 holiday, which occurred from Dec 18, 2024, to Jan 8, 2025. 

Various government programs were designed and implemented in collaboration with different sectors to ensure travelers’ safety, comfort, and security during the holiday season.

These programs included free homecoming trips via sea transport, a 10% reduction in domestic airline ticket prices, free motorbike transport services from various origins and destinations, traffic management on toll and non-toll roads such as one-way, contra-flow, rest area management, restrictions on freight vehicle operations, U-turn limitations, toll gate optimization, and various other initiatives.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the government’s transportation policies during the Nataru 2024/2025 holiday, the Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Pustral UGM) conducted a national survey on transportation user satisfaction. 

The survey was conducted through interviews to assess the public’s perception of various transportation policies during Nataru 2024/2025. 

A sample of 5,804 respondents was surveyed, with a margin of error of 1.35%, across seven provinces projected to represent approximately 62% of travel destinations during Nataru 2024/2025. The survey covered around 37 transportation hubs and road sections in each province from Dec 29, 2024, to Jan 3, 2025, which was predicted to be the peak period of public movement.

Dr. Ikaputra, Head of Pustral UGM, stated that all assessment indicators were declared valid and reliable based on validity and reliability tests. 

Quoting the survey results, he noted that 86% of respondents expressed or were strongly satisfied, 1.6% expressed dissatisfaction, and 11.3% were neutral. The Transportation User Satisfaction Index reached a score of 4.39 (88.28% of the maximum score), placing it in the very satisfied category. 

The highest index was achieved in the Safety aspect of public transportation with a score of 4.6 (92.31% of the maximum score), while the lowest index was in the Safety Awareness aspect with a score of 4.2 (83.56% of the maximum score).

Dr. Ikaputra shared these findings during the “National Survey Release on Public Perception of Transportation Services During the 2024 Christmas & 2025 New Year Holidays”, held at UGM’s University Club (UC) on Friday (Jan 10).

Referring to the survey results, Dr. Ikaputra noted that transportation user satisfaction by mode showed the highest satisfaction index was achieved by rail transportation with a score of 4.6 (92.59% of the maximum score), particularly in terms of service innovation, punctuality, and ease of information. 

The lowest was in the bus mode, with a score of 4.2 (83.98% of the maximum score), particularly regarding service staff, safety awareness, and ease of information.

Despite the relatively high level of public satisfaction, several issues still require attention. These issues include ticket availability (railway, ASDP), punctuality and fare affordability (air transport), road quality and traffic management (road/private vehicles), intermediaries (ASDP), and cleanliness and comfort in waiting areas and facilities (sea transport).

“In addition to questions about service quality, this survey also asked about users’ attitudes and views on various government policies during the Nataru 2024/2025 period, such as free homecoming trips and the airline ticket price reduction policy, with 89.7% of respondents supporting these policies,” he explained.

Pustral UGM organized the Survey Release event in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation. 

The event, opened by UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia, featured respondents including Ahmad Yani (Acting Director General of Land Transportation), Professor Danang Parikesit (Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering), Agus Pambagio (Public Policy Observer), Tulus Abadi (Indonesian Consumers Foundation/YLKI), and Danang Giri Sadewa as a transportation user influencer. 

The event, attended by stakeholders from central and regional levels, was moderated by Dr. Yuli Isnadi, one of Pustral UGM’s expert staff and a lecturer at UGM’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.

Ahmad Yani expressed pride in the survey results, which showed high public satisfaction with government policies. He noted that during the Nataru period, the increase in traffic was only 30-40% compared to normal conditions, whereas during Eid, the increase could reach 300%. 

This outcome will certainly serve as a basis for the Ministry of Transportation’s preparations for the upcoming Eid period.

Agus Pambagio concurred, hoping that the survey results would be further analyzed to provide recommendations for policymakers. 

Meanwhile, Tulus Abadi emphasized the need to adhere to minimum service standards, especially when operating toll roads and managing traffic during special periods such as Nataru and Eid.

Professor Parikesit highlighted an interesting phenomenon: public satisfaction tends to be higher with infrastructure managed by monopolistic state-owned enterprises (SOEs) than with facilities managed by private entities with alternative operators. 

Meanwhile, Danang Sadewa noted social media’s strong influence on public perceptions of public services.

Observing the public perception reflected in the survey results, it is essential that the government and all transportation service providers not become complacent with the positive public perception of the quality of services during Nataru 2024/2025 but instead remain vigilant and continue improving service aspects that need optimization.

Pustral UGM hopes that the survey results will serve as input for the government in organizing transportation services for future Nataru and Eid periods. During these periods, significant public movement occurs, requiring special attention from all stakeholders so that beneficial programs can be enhanced and continued. 

Attention should be given to services with lower satisfaction levels to ensure significant improvements.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya

Artikel Public Satisfaction Increases, 110 Million People Travel During Christmas and New Year Holidays pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Using multicopter systems, these environmentally friendly air taxis offer an efficient and sustainable alternative to alleviate traffic congestion, especially in major cities.  

Dr. Ikaputra, Head of UGM’s Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM), said developing air taxis in Indonesia must surpass technological advancements. 

It requires thorough regulation preparation and supporting infrastructure. Collaborations with international companies, such as Volocopter, are critical to ensuring technology adoption aligns with global standards. 

Additionally, the government must ensure that air taxis are accessible to the broader population, not just the elite.  

“The development of air taxis will inevitably face challenges, such as providing vertical landing platforms (vertiports) in densely populated urban areas,” Dr. Ikaputra explained during a webinar titled “The Sky as the New Highway: Air Taxis and Their Development in Indonesia” held at Pustral UGM on Wednesday (Dec. 4).  

Dr. Ikaputra emphasized the need for widespread public awareness and integrated aviation safety regulations to support the adoption of this new technology. 

“This remains a significant challenge. Despite the potential hurdles, air taxis are poised to revolutionize Indonesia’s transportation system,” he added.  

Beyond addressing traffic issues, air taxi technology could provide access to remote areas that are currently inaccessible. Its success depends on strong government, private sector, and society collaboration. 

“This webinar’s theme is highly relevant to the challenges of modern transportation transformation. Air taxis not only offer solutions for urban traffic congestion but also open up significant opportunities for efficient, eco-friendly transportation, supporting the development of remote regions like IKN,” Dr. Ikaputra remarked.  

The webinar featured key speakers, including Professor Gesang Nugroho from UGM’s Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) and M. Rizal Lubis, Flight Navigation Inspector at the Directorate of Flight Navigation, Ministry of Transportation.  

In his presentation, Professor Gesang Nugroho highlighted the urgent need for passenger drones due to increasing traffic congestion, the inaccessibility of remote areas, and emergency needs like ambulances often trapped in traffic. 

“Passenger drones, or Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (AAVs), are autonomous flying vehicles designed to transport passengers. They can also be used for cargo delivery and aerial monitoring,” he explained.  

He noted that while passenger drones represent a promising future for efficient and eco-friendly transport, Indonesia currently lacks specific regulations for their operation. 

“Urban airspace management and regulations for autonomous flights need to be developed to ensure safe AAV operations in Indonesia. We must also address potential threats to drone control systems and cybersecurity issues,” Professor Nugroho added.  

Despite these challenges, the professor sees promising prospects for air taxi development. Benefits include reducing traffic congestion, promoting electric-based environmentally friendly transportation, and providing fast, convenient transport options. 

“It will also stimulate economic opportunities, such as creating industries in air mobility technology, infrastructure, and jobs like drone technicians and software developers,” he remarked. 

He also highlighted air taxis’ potential to boost tourism and provide transportation solutions for remote areas.  

Rizal Lubis echoed these views, emphasizing the growing importance of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in Indonesia. These terms refer to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications, with UAM focusing on urban environments.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DJPU) is drafting regulations to accommodate this technological advancement, including operational guidelines and safety standards for integrating UAVs into the national aviation system.  

“To support AAM development, DJPU focuses on regulatory frameworks, safety management, and infrastructure development,” Lubis stated. 

He highlighted initiatives like establishing a testing environment (sandbox) for pilot projects to evaluate new technologies.  

Since August 2024, several activities have supported air taxi development, including pilot project site selection on Aug. 26, stakeholder focus group discussions on Aug. 30, site surveys on Sept. 7, regulation drafting for the sandbox on Sept. 26, and public hearings and project visits on Oct. 25. These efforts will continue to expand in the future.  

Author: Agung Nugroho  

Photo: Berca Hardayaperkasa

Artikel UGM Studies Feasibility of Air Taxi Operations in Indonesia pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The maritime transport sector has been undergoing rapid development recently. Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) shows that the five main ports in Indonesia—Belawan, Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, Balikpapan, and Makassar—handled 86.8 million tons of goods in 2023. 

This figure has increased from 72.4 million tons in 2017, with an average annual growth rate of 3 percent.

Professor Danang Parikesit, senior researcher at the UGM Central for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM) and lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), that sea transport’s growing importance requires adequate infrastructure and facilities. 

One crucial element is ports, which serve as key nodes in Indonesia’s logistics chain.

Ports play a vital role in building interregional connectivity. Nationally, they link various islands and regions across Indonesia, supporting economic equity through trade and logistics distribution. 

Globally, Indonesian ports have the potential to become hubs connecting many countries, including the Middle East, Europe, and China. 

“This potential must be optimized for Indonesia to compete with developed nations in the port sector as a global maritime axis,” he remarked at UGM on Saturday (Nov. 2), responding to the launch of the Kapita Selekta Book Series on Port Development in Indonesia on Oct. 12 at Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

According to Professor Parikesit, various strategies must be implemented to improve port performance. One of these involves enhancing human resources by expanding knowledge of port management. 

One key resource for human resource development is relevant literature addressing Indonesia’s specific challenges. 

“The publication of books on port development is a concrete step to support this strategy. We are grateful that Pelindo, in collaboration with Pustral UGM, initiated the publication of the Kapita Selekta Book Series on Port Development in Indonesia,” he explained.

The Kapita Selekta Pengembangan Pelabuhan di Indonesia book series consists of three volumes, namely Buku 1: Perspektif Kebijakan Pengembangan Pelabuhan di Indonesia (Indonesia Port Development Policy Perspectives), Buku 2: Pengelolaan Pelabuhan Berkelanjutan (Sustainable Port Management), and Buku 3: Aspek Teknis dalam Pengembangan Pelabuhan (Technical Aspects of Port Development).

The Kapita Selekta series comprises 25 chapters involving 58 authors from 23 institutions, including domestic and international universities, government agencies, private sectors, and state-owned enterprises.

The books have undergone a rigorous review process and are accountable through peer review by leading academics, practitioners, regulators, and reviewers from Pelindo, who have deep expertise in port operations. 

The entire process lasted approximately six months, involving three workshops with authors, editors, and reviewers and consignment processes for final editorial adjustments.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Post-editor: Afif

Artikel Pustral UGM and Pelindo Launch Kapita Selekta Book Series on Port Development in Indonesia pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The city governments of Vienna and Jakarta have pursued efforts to create sustainable mobility for residents, yielding various results. 

However, the newly established capital of Indonesia, Nusantara, is currently looking for examples, lessons, technologies, and knowledge related to developing and maintaining a sustainable forest city. 

This theme was discussed during the panel session “Sustainable Urban Mobility: From Concept, Governance to Implementation” in Vienna, Austria, on Oct. 3–4, 2024, as part of the 70th anniversary of the Indonesia–Austria Partnership.

The discussion was opened by Damos D. Agusman, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Austria, Slovenia, and International Organizations in Vienna, who brought together academics and practitioners. 

The event aimed to enhance knowledge, capacity, and partnerships to pursue sustainable urban transport practices further.

Agusman stated that developing Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, is a significant step toward sustainable urban living in Indonesia. 

By prioritizing sustainable urban mobility, the city aims to reduce its carbon footprint, improve air quality, and enhance its residents’ overall quality of life. 

“As Nusantara progresses from concept to implementation, it is hoped to serve as a living laboratory for innovative urban solutions and a blueprint for future cities worldwide. Despite the challenges every city faces, each has strong intentions and policies toward sustainability, including sustainable mobility,” Agusman explained in a press release sent to journalists on Thursday (Oct. 31).

Meanwhile, the Head of the UGM Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM), Dr. Ikaputra, who participated in a discussion session on Revisiting Sustainable Urban Mobility: A New Approach, mentioned that several issues emerged during the discussion, including sustainability in transportation and mobility in promoting the movement of goods and services.

The discussion also addressed the key challenges faced by global cities in promoting sustainable mobility, how to learn from past mistakes, and how to build better knowledge of sustainability. 

“Especially concerning how technology can assist in achieving sustainability targets set by the global community while meeting local mobility needs,” he explained.

Another issue discussed, according to Dr. Ikaputra, was the role of academia in advocating for sustainable mobility. 

Academic perspectives are often viewed as detached from current and practical issues, and they are insufficiently involved in finding direct and pragmatic solutions for urban mobility. 

“Other critical issues include how to encourage governments and the private sector to enhance their capacity in managing the movement of goods and services in urban areas, as well as what is needed to perform better in efforts to improve urban mobility,” he added.

The speakers at the discussion included Professor A Min Tjoa, Chair of the Austrian National Competence Center for Security Research, Vienna University of Technology; Professor Hermann Knoflacher from the Institute of Transportation, Research Center of Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering, Vienna University of Technology; Professor Guenter Emberger, Head of Researcher Unit, Vienna University of Technology.

The other speakers were Professor Danang Parikesit, Professor of Engineering Economics and Transport Policy and Senior Researcher at Pustral UGM, Universitas Gadjah Mada; Professor Yusak O. Susilo, BMK Endowed Professorship in Digitalisation and Automation in Transport and Mobility Systems, The Institute for Transport Studies, BOKU University; and Dr. Ikaputra, Head of Pustral UGM, who served as the moderator.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Post-editor: Afif

Artikel 70 Years of Indonesia–Austria Partnership: UGM and Austrian Experts Address Urban Mobility Challenges and Sustainability pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Indonesian airfares are recorded as the second highest in the world, with only Brazil having higher fares. Within ASEAN, Indonesia has the highest average airfare.

Dwi Ardianta Kurniawan, a Transportation Economics expert and senior researcher at the UGM Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM), acknowledges that domestic airfares in Indonesia are generally more expensive than international fares. 

He attributes this to several factors, including the more competitive nature of the international aviation market, the still-recovering availability of fleets post-COVID-19, and consumer demand that has essentially returned to normal.

Although the government has regulated airfare prices through the Ministry of Transportation, setting upper and lower fare limits and approving airport passenger service charge (PSC) rates and other fees like fuel price increases, Dwi Ardianta Kurniawan notes that regulations are sometimes relaxed during peak periods, such as extended holidays, when demand is very high. 

“Sometimes these regulations are left to the market, especially during high-demand periods,” he said on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2024, at UGM Campus. 

Moreover, fare structures vary depending on the type of service provided. Full-service airlines, such as Garuda Indonesia or Batik Air, typically have higher fares. 

In contrast, low-cost carriers like Lion Air, Super Air Jet, Wings Air, Citilink, and AirAsia usually offer cheaper flights.

Given this situation, Kurniawan suggests that fiscal incentives could be a solution to address the high cost of airplane tickets in Indonesia. 

These incentives might include subsidies for aviation fuel, aircraft spare parts, airport service charges, and direct operation cost subsidies such as fuel taxes and spare parts taxes for maintenance or overhauls.

Additionally, he proposes removing ticket taxes for airplanes to achieve parity with other transportation modes where taxes have already been removed, based on PMK Number 80/PMK.03/2012. 

“Removing constants in the fuel price calculation formula, as outlined in the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decision Number 17 of 2019 on the Basic Price Formula for Aviation Fuel Retail Pricing,” he explained.

Equally important, he believes the government should consider the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) proposal to introduce a multi-provider system (to prevent monopolies) for aviation fuel supply. 

“This is aimed at preventing monopoly practices and encouraging the implementation of multiple aviation fuel providers at airports, which is expected to create competitive fuel prices,” Kurniawan emphasized.

Regarding the high ticket prices potentially linked to airport maintenance costs, Kurniawan argues that this is not likely the leading cause.

He notes that airport fees cannot be increased frequently without approval from the Ministry of Transportation. If this were the determining factor, high prices would be consistent. 

“High prices only occur at certain times, so it’s not necessarily an airport issue. Everything largely depends on fuel prices, exchange rates, and the availability of services on expensive routes,” he clarified.

Author: Agung Nugroho  

Photo: Bursa Bisnis

Post-editor: Lintang

Artikel UGM Transportation Economics Expert Discusses High Cost of Airplane Tickets pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Dr. Ikaputra, Head of the UGM Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM), highlighted the many challenges in decarbonization but emphasized the need for solutions. These include high initial costs, inadequate infrastructure, fuel quality, and public awareness.

According to him, green transportation, decarbonization, and sustainable development are not only the government’s responsibility but also require active participation from society, the private sector, and educational institutions.

“With good cooperation, sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation in Indonesia can be achieved,” said Dr. Ikaputra in a press release sent to journalists on Monday (Aug. 5), related to the results of a webinar organized by Pustral UGM titled “Green Transportation, Decarbonization, and Sustainable Development: Realities, Expectations, and Challenges.”

Dr. Ikaputra views the transportation sector as a major contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Indonesia and many other countries. The sector accounts for about 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, with road transportation, such as motor vehicles, contributing 90 percent.

Regarding the 2050 zero-emission target set by the Paris Agreement, Dr. Ikaputra believes it will be challenging for Indonesia to achieve the target without significant decarbonization efforts, particularly in the transportation sector, which contributes a substantial amount of emissions.

“Once again, contributions from all stakeholders, including the government, industry, and society, are crucial for a comprehensive effort to achieve zero emissions,” he explained.

Similarly, Pandu Yunianto, Head of the Sustainable Transportation Management Center at the Ministry of Transportation, shared a similar view. He noted that the use of gas and electricity in the transportation sector accounts for less than 1 percent, while most of the industry still relies on fossil fuels.

“About 91 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from road transportation, making Indonesia one of the highest-polluting countries in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Although policies supporting decarbonization in the transportation sector have been implemented, he added, there are still several challenges and obstacles. These include using alternative energy, such as gas and electricity, which still needs support from many stakeholders, such as the lack of a roadmap for developing electric vehicle technology.

He suggested increasing the number of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPLU) to promote Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). This policy concept encourages using renewable energy by requiring fossil fuel-based power producers to generate electricity from renewable sources.

Yunianto also highlighted the limited infrastructure for gas supply, which is restricted to motor vehicles, trains, and ships, and the need to promote the use of pipelines for cheaper, safer, and more environmentally friendly gas distribution.

Syaripudin, Deputy Head of the Jakarta Special Capital Region Transportation Office, reported that the office has prioritized transportation initiatives in Jakarta, such as reordering road user priorities to include pedestrians and cyclists and reducing noise and air pollution, as a foundation for the Jakarta Master Transportation Plan.

Several programs have been implemented, including improving park-and-ride facilities, enhancing low emission zones (LEZ), implementing parking incentives and disincentives, integrating park-and-ride payment systems with mass public transportation, and policy strategies like the odd-even system.

Meanwhile, Sahli, Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategic Planning, Monitoring, and Sustainability at PT Kereta Api (KAI) Persero, revealed that the number of train passengers helps reduce emissions. In order to transport 1,120 people, 160 private cars would be needed, whereas one train with 8-14 carriages can transport the same number of people.

He noted that the emissions produced by trains for that number of passengers amount to 45,920 grams of CO2 per kilometer, significantly lower compared to private vehicles, which produce around 115,360 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Image: Freepik.com

Post-editor: Afif

Artikel Government Policy on Decarbonization Urged to be More Massive pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

This study aims to develop a model that can identify the impact of each policy and encourage the most impactful investments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from urban passenger mobility in Indonesia.

After several stages of study, including data collection, analysis, scenario development, and designing a model in Excel-based format, the study team held the Final Stakeholders Workshop, attended by representatives from various institutions. 

The goal was to present the findings and lessons from this research and to introduce the designed model and its benefits to relevant policymakers.

The workshop also allowed related institutions to try and operate this tool with direct guidance from the study team. 

This is expected to enhance the quality of knowledge transfer and improve the ability to develop several alternative scenarios as needed. 

Additionally, the study team hoped to receive final feedback or important comments from stakeholders to refine this study.

The regional workshop was held on Thursday, Jul. 11, 2024, in Jakarta. It was attended by 75 participants from various institutions, including central and local governments, academic institutions, NGOs, think tanks, donor agencies, development partners, and other related organizations.

The workshop consisted of three main sessions. 

Session 1 explained the background of the research, methodology, assumptions, processes, and key results that were interesting for discussion. 

Session 2 featured a panel discussion on “Sustainable Urban Mobility,” Session 3 included a demonstration of the model’s use and an opportunity for participants to explore and use the tool. 

The session concluded with feedback submission and a closing discussion.

Evan Maksum, Deputy for Infrastructure and Facilities at Bappenas, opened the workshop and served as the keynote speaker. 

He discussed the Direction of Urban Transportation Development in the Technocratic Design of the 2025-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).

According to him, metropolitan urban areas, as engines of growth, face various issues that impact national economic growth. 

Data shows that a 1 percent increase in urbanization boosts GDP per capita by 1.4 percent, which is still far behind China (3 percent) and East Asia-Pacific countries (2.7 percent).

He said urban mass transportation systems are still lagging (the public transport market share is <20 percent). The use of private vehicles continues to increase (8 percent per year). 

Some strategic issues in urban transportation in Indonesia include increasing energy consumption due to the dominance of fossil fuel use (under a BAU scenario, energy consumption rises by 4.6 percent or fivefold if no intervention occurs), the second largest (26 percent) GHG emissions from the transportation sector after the energy sector, and the highest PM2.5 air pollution in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, the policy direction in the 2025-2045 RPJMN targets a 93.5 percent reduction in GHG emissions relative to GDP by 2045 and a reduction in logistics costs from 14.9 percent (2022) to 9 percent (2045) of GDP. 

In the transportation sector, major projects have been implemented in six metropolitan areas—Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Makassar, Medan, and Semarang—in the form of sustainable urban mobility plans, metropolitan transportation management institutions, integrated funding schemes, and the integration of public transportation and housing, especially for low-income groups.

“The strategic issue that arises is the lack of a metropolitan transportation institution, the absence of an integrated urban mobility plan, and the limited fiscal capacity of the regions,” he said.

Marwanto Heru Santoso, Head of the Center for Traffic, Transport, and Urban Transportation Policy, revealed that the Indonesian government has ratified the Paris Agreement in Law No. 16/2016 to address climate change, including Presidential Regulation No. 98/2021. 

The main focus of these policies is to create a carbon market and carbon price ecosystem with efforts to achieve the Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (E-NDC) (a 31.89 percent reduction in GHG emissions through independent efforts and 43.2 percent with international assistance by 2030 under a business-as-usual scenario). 

The implementation of transportation sector mitigation actions during the 2015-2022 period reached 3.9 million tons of CO2, which is still insufficient since the transportation sector is the second-largest energy user after the industrial sector. This necessitates hard work to meet national targets.

He stated that the challenges of urban mobility include reliance on conventional fossil-fueled motor vehicles, limited technology and financial resources to develop environmentally friendly transportation, public awareness of using public transport, the absence of performance indicators as tools to monitor urban transportation performance, and the suboptimal support of institutional and regulatory aspects.

“Electric vehicles are a government program that also needs infrastructure support; there are three main aspects: power systems, charging infrastructure, and sustainable battery production. The Ministry of Transportation, as the actor responsible for the transportation sector, is committed to decarbonization efforts in all sectors, such as the development of road-based public transportation, battery-based non-motorized transport, alternative fuel use, and railway construction, including MRT, LRT, and so on,” explained Marwanto Heru.

The World Bank representative Kulwinder Singh Rao, the Transport Coordinator for Indonesia and Timor Leste, stated that Indonesia has a strategic role in the global economy and needs sustainable mobility. 

The World Bank is committed to helping Indonesia advance sustainable urban mobility.

ITF and Pustral UGM, with support from the Australian government, collaboratively developed a policy formulation tool to support the decarbonization path through cost-efficient passenger transport in Indonesian urban areas. 

The model developed by ITF is used as a strategic tool for decarbonization and investment needs to realize the goals of sustainable urban mobility.

Arif Wismadi, the team leader from Pustral UGM, emphasized that the issues of limited institutional capacity and fiscal capability in urban transportation management should be a focus of planning and policy implementation. 

The strategic model developed by ITF can be a tool for measuring the impact of government policies (helping to measure stakeholder interventions) on achieving national targets.

“The World Bank has long been committed and contributed to the development of public transportation in Indonesia, particularly concerned with decarbonization and mode share. Investment in the transportation sector is highly needed, especially towards long-term achievement,” Wismadi said.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Post-editor: Lintang

Artikel Pustral UGM, The World Bank, and International Transport Forum (ITF) Hold INDSUM Stakeholder Workshop pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The workshop on Thursday, Jul. 4, 2024, aimed to reach an agreement among ASEAN countries on developing a regulatory framework for the necessary infrastructure and systems to support autonomous vehicles and an action plan for cross-border digital data flow. 

This initiative supports the SDGs, particularly SDG 11: sustainable cities and communities.

The ASEAN Regional Workshop was conducted in a hybrid format, with delegates from ASEAN countries, especially those responsible for digital and transportation policy formulation, and representatives from The ASEAN Secretariat in attendance.

To expedite the policy framework development process, several experts were invited, including Professor Jazi Eko Istiyanto from the Department of Computer Science and Electronics, UGM, Indonesia; Professor Junghwa Kim of Kyonggi University, South Korea; Dr. Yanuandri Putrasari from the Smart Mechatronics Research Center, National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia; Wei Lung Chen, Chair of Turing Drive Inc., Taiwan; Muhammad Haziq Faris, CEO of REKA Company, Malaysia; Dr. Keisuke Yoneda, Director of Researchers, Kanazawa University, Japan; Roshan Vijay, Center of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; and Dr. Widyawan from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Engineering, UGM.

The workshop was divided into three panels: Panel Session 1 on Regulatory Framework and Infrastructure Development, Panel Session 2 on Gradual Pilots and Public Education, and Panel Session 3 on Innovation Hubs and Research Collaboration.

Ichwan Makmur Nasution, Head of the International Institutional Center at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, highlighted the importance of ASEAN member states anticipating a more advanced ASEAN, including the adoption of Autonomous Vehicles (AV).

He emphasized the valuable support from Japan in achieving this. The RPS project is one of Indonesia’s priorities during ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. Autonomous Vehicles are projected to become a part of everyday life.

The challenge lies in ensuring compliance when AVs operate, especially when crossing from one ASEAN country to another. The project aims to map existing obstacles, collaborate, and develop a comprehensive study on AVs in ASEAN.

Dr. Ikaputra, Head of Pustral UGM, presented recent research indicating that ASEAN could greatly benefit from fully adopting Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology. 

Regarding safety, full implementation of V2X could reduce fatal accidents by up to 79,000 incidents in ASEAN, with an estimated reduction in accident costs of USD 10 million annually.

Smart transportation technology is also projected to reduce total ASEAN CO2 emissions by 45 million tons. Several surveys also predict significant expansion in the autonomous vehicle market by 2030, with an average market growth of over 30 percent from 2020 to 2030.

Meanwhile, Ishida Eiji, Director for Technical Cooperation at the International Digital Infrastructure Promotion Division, Global Strategy Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan, emphasized Japan’s consistent focus on its relationship with ASEAN and its support for ASEAN’s development, based on mutual understanding and benefit. 

He also highlighted the excellent opportunity to enhance ASEAN-Japan relations.

“AV technology is developing rapidly, and recognizing this as an ASEAN priority is crucial. Not everyone can use this technology yet; many issues exist, such as data flow and security. We hope this workshop can facilitate addressing these issues,” Eiji stated.

During the regional workshop, delegates from each ASEAN country presented the current status of policies in the digital and transportation sectors to encourage and facilitate the role of these sectors in developing AV technology in their respective countries. 

All discussions during the workshop are expected to form the basis for drafting a framework for further discussion in upcoming digital sector meetings in the coming months.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Post-editor: Lintang

Artikel Pustral UGM and PUSKI Host ASEAN Regional Workshop pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.