Two researchers and lecturers at the Faculty of Engineering (FT) Universitas Indonesia (UI) Prof. Dr. Ir. Riri Fitri Sari, M.M., M.Sc. and Dr. Cindy Rianti Priadi, S.T, M.Sc., received the 2022 (3rd) Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award. The award, which started in 2020, is an innovation competition that raises technology, science, and social issues based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Taking place at the UI Rectorate Building, the award was handed over by the Hitachi Foundation, represented by Hitachi Foundation Secretary General Taku Yoshida and Hitachi Foundation Coordinator Reiko Kasai.
Prof. Riri won an award in the Encouragement Award category thanks to her innovation called Building Information Modeling (BIM). This innovation, created by the Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering, FTUI, aims to support important technological advances in building projects.
“Using Blockchain technology which is currently a trend for handling data, I designed a system called Blockchain-based Sustainable Building Information Modeling. This system not only supports the implementation of SDGs point 11, namely Sustainable Cities and Communities, but also seeks to support sustainable urbanization. Aimed at helping carry out sustainable building projects, the design of this system is very closely related to the targets that UI GreenMetric wants to achieve,” said Prof. Riri who is also the Chair of UI GreenMetric.
Meanwhile, Dr. Cindy won the Outstanding Innovation Award thanks to the Biogas Toren (Torbi) she designed. Torbi is able to process organic waste and produce biogas as an environmentally friendly energy source. Torbi is designed to overcome the problem of organic waste and also support SDGs point 12, namely responsibility for sustainable consumption and production.
“Starting from the many complaints from the public regarding the waste problem and it being a source for disease, we were moved to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution. This tool is capable of processing up to 90 kilograms of organic waste per day and produces biogas for cooking for 30 to 60 minutes per day,” said Dr. Cindy who is also a lecturer at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FTUI.
Representing the Hitachi Foundation, Taku Yoshida said that since it was first launched in 2020, the Asia Innovation Award aims to promote science, technology and innovation that helps solve social problems and create a sustainable society in the ASEAN region. This award recognizes individuals and groups whose extraordinary achievements in research and development of science and technology have provided positive benefits for the public interest.
Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU., also expressed his appreciation for the achievements of two FTUI researchers achieved on Wednesday (30/8). He said, “Prof.Riri ‘s and Dr. Cindy’s achievements in the Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award 2023 is clear evidence of FTUI’s commitment to supporting research and innovation that has a positive impact on society and the environment. This is also an encouragement for all FTUI academic members and students to continue to innovate and contribute in responding to global challenges. We are very proud of their achievements and hope that this achievement will motivate many more young researchers in Indonesia.”
