The Disaster Management (MMB) Master Program, Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada, carried out a field study focusing on an in-depth evaluation of flood hazards in Ponorogo Regency, East Java, on October 5th – 9th 2025.
Prof. Dr. Ir. Dina Ruslanjari, M.Si., Prof. Dr. Sri Rum Giyarsih, S.Si., M.Si., and Dr. Retnadi Heru Jatmiko, M.Sc. served as supervisors during the field activity. Ponorogo was selected as the study site due to its high level of vulnerability to floods compared to other regions in East Java.
The field study aimed to evaluate the flood hazard model developed by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) with a comparative study using a multi-criteria approach. The students directly observed and analyzed the regional conditions and BNPB’s flood hazard maps. The maps are considered to simplify local parameters and potentially reduce mapping accuracy.
“After two semesters of theoretical coursework, we finally had the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in the field. We aimed to understand more deeply the disaster-related aspects in Ponorogo, particularly those concerning the pre-disaster, preparedness, rehabilitation, and reconstruction phases,” said Menif Kurniado, one of the MMB students who participated in the field study.
The findings from this activity are expected to emphasize the importance of collaboration between national agencies, local governments, and universities in developing data- and science-based disaster mitigation models. The students also gained valuable experience in conducting in-depth analyses and identifying appropriate methodologies for regions prone to flooding.
“We hope that what we have done can bring real benefits to communities affected by flood disasters in Ponorogo Regency,” Menif concluded.
Author: Siti Muyasaroh