Yogyakarta, June 23rd 2026 – The Disaster Management Master Program (MMB), Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada (SPs UGM), organized a field trip to the Disaster Management Operations Control Center (PUSDALOPS) of the Regional Disaster Management Agency of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (BPBD DIY) and the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Technology Development (BPPTKG) on Tuesday (June 23rd). The activity was attended by MMB Graduate School students and accompanied by the Chief of the Program, Dr. Eng. Agung Setianto, S.T., M.Si., IPM.. It is part of experiential learning program designed to strengthen students’ understanding of disaster monitoring systems, early warning mechanisms, and emergency response management.
The field trip began with a visit to PUSDALOPS BPBD DIY. During the presentation session, Julianto Wibowo explained the coordination mechanisms for disaster management, information system administration, communication strategies, and disaster data management, all of which serve as the foundation for decision-making during disaster events. Students were also introduced to PAMOR, a digital platform that facilitates public reporting of disaster incidents and supporting the digitalization of disaster data in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
Participants, following the discussion session, joined an office tour of the Live Monitoring Room, observing firsthand the operational monitoring of weather conditions, seismic activity, Mount Merapi’s volcanic activity, the Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System (INATEWS), and disaster data dashboards integrated into the PAMOR application. The visit provided valuable insights for the disaster-related information collection, analyzed, and disseminated efficiently to relevant stakeholders.
The group continued their visit to BPPTKG in the afternoon, During the learning session, Nurnaning Aisyah presented the monitoring and early warning system for Mount Merapi, explaining the various monitoring methods used to determine the volcano’s alert status, ranging from Normal, Advisory (Waspada), Watch (Siaga), to Warning (Awas). Students also watched the documentary film MAHAGURU MERAPI, which illustrates the dynamic nature of Mount Merapi’s activity and the long-standing mitigation efforts undertaken by experts.
The activities at BPPTKG concluded with an office tour of the Diorama Room, also known as the Mount Merapi Mini Museum, guided by Andika. During the tour, students learned about the history of Mount Merapi’s eruptions while observing various volcanic monitoring instruments, including seismographs used to detect seismic activity and visual monitoring systems utilizing CCTV cameras. This experience provided a more comprehensive understanding of how technology is applied in volcanic disaster mitigation.
One of the participants stated that the visit was both enjoyable and highly memorable because it enabled students to learn directly from experienced practitioners and also to observe operational facilities that they had previously encountered only in classroom instruction.
“Our visit to PUSDALOPS BPBD DIY and BPPTKG was both exciting and memorable. In addition to gaining valuable insights from the speakers, we had the opportunity to tour the monitoring facilities and the Mount Merapi Mini Museum. We were able to see how the theories of monitoring and early warning that we learned in class are applied in practice. From the presentations by Mr. Julianto and Ms. Naning, we understood the importance of coordination and risk communication in disaster management, particularly in translating technical information into language that communities can easily understand so that early warnings are effectively received and followed,” said Afni Ashrida, one of the field trip participants.
Students, in this field trip, gained a deeper understanding of the implementation of disaster monitoring and early warning systems as essential components of disaster management. Beyond strengthening the connection of theory and practice, the activity is expected to foster closer collaboration of the Disaster Management Master Program at SPs UGM and disaster management institutions, providing valuable opportunities for learning beyond the classroom while enhancing the competencies of future disaster management professionals.
Author: Siti Muyasaroh