FMIPA UI Lecturers and Students Map Six Villages in Sukabumi, Realizing Academic Collaboration and Community Service

A total of 124 students from the Geography Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), carried out a Field Work Lecture (KKL) in Simpenan District, Sukabumi Regency, from October 26 to 31, 2025. This annual activity, in addition to being part of the academic curriculum, also serves as a form of community service that has been implemented since the early 2000s. This year, the students mapped administrative boundaries, compiled village profiles, and verified thematic maps based on satellite imagery in six villages: Kertajaya, Cihaur, Loji, Cidadap, Cibuntu, and Mekarasih.

Over the course of six days, the students conducted land-use map verification, streamflow and water quality measurements, participatory mapping, and resident interviews to update spatial and social data. The activity was supervised by six lecturers and three teaching assistants, including Dra. Astrid Damayanti, M.Si (coordinator), Kuswantoro, S.Si, M.Sc, Riza Putera, S.Si, M.Si, Dr. Revi Hernina, M.T, Dr. Mangapul P. Tambunan, M.Si, and Pranda Mulya Putra Garniwa, Ph.D.

According to Dra. Astrid Damayanti, M.Si, this activity was designed to help students understand the practical application of geographical theories in the field.

“Students not only learn how to map an area, but also engage directly with the community and gain a real understanding of spatial dynamics. The field data collected will be handed over to the village government as a form of academic contribution,” she said.

Each student group was responsible for mapping one village with a different thematic focus, such as geology, geomorphology, hydrology, soil type, land use, and human activities. Before going to the field, the students prepared thematic working maps using GIS software based on high-resolution satellite imagery.

Cibuntu Village, for instance, covers an area of 1,963 hectares and consists of four hamlets with a population of 4,625, the majority of whom are farmers. The village has strong agricultural and plantation potential. The students identified 22 sedimentary rock sample points and five waterfalls, which serve as the basis for analyzing the area’s natural resource and geotourism potential.

This year’s Field Work Lecture (KKL) faced several geographical challenges and the impacts of landslides, which left several hamlets in Mekarasih and Cibuntu Villages isolated. In addition, measuring streamflow was hampered by wide rivers and numerous tributaries. Apart from agriculture, Kertajaya and Cihaur Villages also have mining activities—both legal and illegal (unlicensed mining or PETI)—which were further analyzed to assess their impact on spatial planning and the environment.

The participatory boundary mapping conducted together with local residents helped clarify the spatial structure at the village level and supported local governments in developing more targeted development plans. Field data on agricultural potential and disaster risks can also be used to analyze the area’s vulnerability to climate change, which has a direct impact on community food security.

The outcomes of the Field Work Lecture (KKL)—including digital and printed maps, village reports, and the Simpenan Subdistrict Village Potential Book—are expected to support data-driven and sustainable development policies.

“For the past two decades, Sukabumi Regency and City have served as a living laboratory for Geography students of FMIPA UI, enabling them to connect scientific knowledge with community needs,” added Dra. Astrid Damayanti, M.Si., the coordinator of this year’s program.

In the future, this activity will be extended to other villages in Sukabumi as part of the Department of Geography, FMIPA UI’s commitment to the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, through academic collaborations that have a direct impact on regional development.