Diponegoro University Collaborates with Industry to Develop Earthquake Friendly Houses
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of earthquake-resistant houses between Diponegoro University and PT. Terryham Proplas Indonesia (TPI) and Mataram University were held on Thursday, November 26, 2020.
The signing was witnessed by the Minister of Research and Technology / Head of National Agency for Research and Innovation, Prof. Bambang Brojonegoro accompanied by the Plt. Deputy for Strengthening Research and Development of the Ministry of Research and Technology / National Agency for Research and Technology, Muhammad Dimyati, the Director of Industrial Technology Development of the Ministry of Research and Technology / National Agency for Research and Technology Hotmatua Daulay, Special Staff to the Minister of Communication Danang Rizki Ginanjar, and lastly the Special Staff to the Minister of Funding and Investment for Ekoputro Adijayanto.
At the signing, UNDIP was represented by the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation Prof. Dr. Ir. Ambariyanto, MSc., UNRAM was represented by Vice-Chancellor IV Yusron Saadi, ST., M.Sc., Ph.D., and Director of PT. TPI Syamsunar, SH.
At the occasion, the Deputy Chancellor for Research and Innovation UNDIP was also accompanied by the Director and Deputy Director of Research and Industrial Cooperation; Dr. Ir. Bambang Purwanggono, Prof. Dr. Ir. Syafrudin, Dr-Ing. Wisnu Pradoto and Deputy Director of Research Result Development Dr. Agus Subagio, while the Earthquake Friendly House Research Team was represented by Dr. Ir. Agung Dwiyanto and Prof. Dr. Sri Tudjono.
This earthquake-resistant home product is the result of an innovation between Undip, PT TPI, and BPPT, which has begun to be developed since 2019. A house-made from UPVC (Unplasticized Poly Vinyl Chloride) can be built in just a few hours, so it will really help people who are affected by natural disasters. The use of UPVC is to be the substitute for wood for making walls, doors, and frames.
Meanwhile, the poles and roof use mild steel so that apart from being earthquake resistant, this house is also heat resistant up to 220°C. The UPVC used for earthquake-friendly houses has been researched and tested by UNDIP and BPPT. A house-made from UPVC can be an alternative for earthquake-friendly housing that is strong, representative, climate-friendly, fast construction, and relatively inexpensive. UPVC material itself has the characteristics of environmentally friendly, fire protection, maintenance-free, termite-proof, energy-efficient, reduces noise, corrosion resistance.
In this collaboration, earthquake-friendly houses will be installed in the Lombok area to meet the housing needs of people affected by the earthquake. The need for earthquake-friendly houses in earthquake-prone areas, especially in Lombok, Palu, and Maluku is quite high, which approximately up to tens of thousands of units.
Therefore, with the production of innovative products from research collaboration in the form of earthquake-friendly houses made of UPVC, it is hoped that they can help contribute to an impactful society.
The innovation of earthquake-resistant houses made from UPVC and utilization in disaster areas are in accordance with several targets of sustainable development (Sustainable Development Goals), including the first goal (no poverty) to help disaster victims, the ninth goal (innovation and infrastructure) where home products are earthquake resistant and it was the result of infrastructure innovation, and the eleventh goal (sustainable cities and communities) where the use of UPVC greatly reduced the use of wood.
On this occasion, the Minister of Research and Technology / Head of National Agency for Research and Innovation expressed his appreciation to the various parties involved in the research and development of earthquake-friendly houses. The next development will be followed up by UNDIP with other innovative UPVC products such as prototypes of floating houses and fishing boats.
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