ITB's BERITA Team Secures 2nd Place at Ideathon 2024 with Bold Vision for Jakarta's Air Quality

By M. Naufal Hafizh

Editor M. Naufal Hafizh

(Left to right) The ITB Meteorology BERITA Team, consisting of Lutfiah, Ferry, Ridha, Suci, and Phia, won 2nd place at Ideathon 2024 with their innovative JaKerthi program. (Personal Doc.)

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – In celebration of World Environment Day and Jakarta BERJAGA, the Jakarta Environmental Service (DLH) organized the 2024 Ideathon competition. One of the standout teams, which captured attention and awards, was from the Meteorology Study Program at the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). The team, known as "BERITA: Breathable Jakarta," included members Ridha Fatony Iswahyudi, I Putu Ferry Wistika, Phia Oktaviani, Lutfiah Nur Rohmah Salaamah, and Suci Rosyidatunnajah. They secured 2nd place with their innovative project, JaKerthi.

Jakarta Kerthi (JaKerthi) is a community-based initiative aimed at enhancing air quality in Jakarta through interactive education and measurable actions leveraging information technology. The BERITA team’s goal with this project is to foster a healthier environment where residents can breathe clean air, while enabling the government to effectively manage air quality.

The JaKerthi program is designed to begin at a small scale, specifically at the Rukun Warga (RW) level, with practical steps that communities can implement. Suggested activities include planting mother-in-law's tongue, a plant known for its ability to absorb air pollutants, managing waste effectively to reduce pollution, and educating the public on the negative impacts of burning waste on air quality.

A key feature of JaKerthi is its use of an interactive educational approach supported by information technology. It includes a dedicated website or app that not only disseminates information but also tracks and measures air quality progress in real-time. This allows for a quick response to changes in conditions and field needs.

"Our project aims to improve the well-being of Jakarta’s residents by addressing air pollution," said Lutfiah.

The BERITA team encourages the public to adopt environmentally friendly practices and avoid burning rubbish to reduce emissions by managing air pollution in urban areas. Additionally, the public can access air quality monitoring data to stay informed about the air quality in their surroundings.Reporter:

Reporter: Mely Anggrini (Meteorology, 2022)
Translator: Hanifa Juliana (Urban and Regional Planning, 2020)
Editor: Anggi Nurdiani