In an earnest attempt to uphold this cultural heritage, a group of lecturers from the Humanities Research Group (KKIK) at the Faculty of Arts and Design (FAD) at ITB embarked on a volunteer mission. They chose to serve in an underdeveloped area by governmental standards, specifically in Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi. Luwu Regency was chosen because of its lower socioeconomic status and its wealth of unexplored resources.

This volunteering effort aimed to not only preserve Indonesia's tradition and culture but also to expedite the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) in rural areas. Significant digital disparities persist between rural and developed regions of Indonesia, leaving rural communities without proper internet access. Luwu Regency, in particular, lacked a database and the ability to provide an online catalog of its cultural information.

To address this issue, a team composed of Dr. Harry Nuriman, Dr. Elsa Silvia Aulia, Dr. Cecep Alba, Shohib Khoiri, Lc., M. Ag., and M. Taufik, M. Ag. developed an online case-based program named "khazanah.net." This platform enables user-generated content and crowdsourcing data streams to reveal urban spatial structures and human dynamics. Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) and individuals actively engaged in cultural activities can utilize this online network to provide data sources based on their preferences, which are then verified by authorities.

The design of khazanah.net prioritizes functionality over complexity. The system offers simple tools, including a search bar and search column, while the underlying algorithms ensure accurate, precise, and dependable results.

Khazanah.net's search results provide clear information about cultural products and their authorized sellers. Moreover, the search engine is integrated with Google Map's geolocation feature, enabling users to view heritage sites and their physical locations.

The active involvement of local authorities such as cultural icons, local artists, and representatives of cultural organizations was pivotal to the successful deployment of khazanah.net. Online testing and optimization took place at Hotel Belia in Belopa, Kabupaten Luwu, last June. During this test phase, khazanah.net demonstrated its ability to provide accurate and reliable results. For instance, when the keyword "rencong," an Acehnese traditional weapon, was entered into the search engine, it displayed descriptions, images, addresses, and geographical locations of authorized UMKM sellers of the product.

Read more: Direktori Daring untuk Majunya UMKM dan Budaya Luwu

In addition to the digital catalog, those engaged in cultural activities can use khazanah.net to connect and find the best databases for their areas of interest. Small and Medium Enterprise (UMKM) owners can utilize khazanah.net as a platform to create business opportunities by syncing their business profiles, product details, social media links, location information, and other legal documents with the database.

"We hope that all members of the community, including entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM), cultural organizations, educational and socio-cultural institutions, local artists, and even writers, can rely on khazanah.net to practice the importance of managing Luwu Regency's cultural data in their daily lives and as a source of information for businesses," said Rakhmat Ariffudin, Head of the Library and Archives Department of Luwu Regency.

In response, the long-term viability of khazanah.net is expected to bring about substantial benefits to local businesses and provide an improved user experience. The group of lecturers responsible for the project is encouraged to work together to innovate the system in line with the pentahelix collaboration model.

Reporter: Lukman Ali

Translator: Kezia Hosana

Editor: Vera C.U.