Faculty of Agriculture Continues University-wide Drone Technology Program with Public Lecture and Field Demonstration
The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu, continued the university-wide initiative on drone technology development by organizing a public lecture themed “Smart Drone for Smart Development” on Wednesday afternoon, November 12, 2025, at Building B, LPPM Universitas Bengkulu. The activity followed the earlier morning program conducted at the university level in collaboration with the Indonesian Drone Pilot Association (APDI). The continuation of the program at the faculty level drew strong enthusiasm, with around 100 students and 15 lecturers from the Faculty of Agriculture participating.
The event was officially opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Ir. Suharyanto, S.Pt., M.Si., who emphasized that drone competency is becoming a critical skill in modern agricultural education and research. He highlighted that smart agriculture relies heavily on technological innovation—ranging from precision input application to environmental monitoring—and that strengthening collaboration with APDI plays an important role in preparing competitive and technologically capable graduates.
The public lecture featured two expert speakers who expanded the university’s earlier presentation series. Danang Haryanto S. from PT Tribuana Solusi Inovasi Teknologi delivered a presentation on Agricultural Drone Technology, showcasing the DJI Agras T100, an advanced agricultural drone capable of precision spraying, fertilizing, seeding, and wide-area operations. He explained how drones significantly improve efficiency, reduce pesticide exposure, and support sustainable agricultural practices through mapping and autonomous flight systems. Meanwhile, Dr. Eko Nofridiansyah, S.Pi., M.Sc., APDI Bengkulu Regional Chairman, presented on Drone-based Mapping and Surveying, detailing how drone-generated 2D and 3D spatial data are used for agricultural land assessment, erosion monitoring, disaster mitigation, and environmental planning.\
The event was formally closed by the Vice Dean for Student Affairs, Dr. Hesti Pujiwati, who expressed appreciation for APDI’s and PT Tribuana’s contributions in strengthening technological literacy among the academic community. She noted that the integration of drone technology into learning activities aligns with the faculty’s mission to enhance applied research and support innovation in smart agriculture.
Following the lecture, participants proceeded to the drone field demonstration at the University of Bengkulu Stadium, which was attended by both university-level and faculty-level participants. The demonstration was facilitated by the APDI Bengkulu Regional Team together with PT Tribuana Solusi Inovasi Teknologi, who brought and operated several units of DJI Mavic series drones for mapping and aerial imaging practice, as well as a full-scale demonstration of the DJI Agras T100 agricultural drone. Students were given hands-on opportunities to practice basic maneuvers, observe autonomous flight modes, learn system calibration techniques, and witness real-time agricultural spraying simulations. The practical session provided valuable real-world experience and strengthened students’ understanding of drone applications in academic, environmental, and agricultural contexts.
Through this initiative, the Faculty of Agriculture reaffirms its commitment to advancing education, research, and innovation in smart agriculture. The integration of drone technology into teaching and research activities is expected to enhance student competencies, support interdisciplinary collaboration, and prepare future-ready graduates for the era of digital and sustainable agricultural transformation.
