Marine Science Department Contributes to Successful University-wide Drone Technology Program: Public Lecture, Academic Collaboration, and Drone Demonstration
The Marine Science Department of the University of Bengkulu played an active and significant role in the university-wide program on drone technology development held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Building B, LPPM Universitas Bengkulu. The event, themed “Smart Drone for Smart Development,” was organized in collaboration with the Indonesian Drone Pilot Association (APDI) and brought together academic communities from various faculties, including strong participation from the Marine Science Department.
The morning program began with a formal opening and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Bengkulu and APDI. The session was followed by a public lecture featuring two keynote speakers and was moderated by Akbar Abdurrahman Mahfudz, S.Si., M.Sc., Lecturer in the Marine Science Study Program, who guided the academic discussions and facilitated interactions between participants and speakers.
One of the keynote presentations was delivered by Dr. Eko Nofridiansyah, S.Pi., M.Sc., Chairman of APDI Bengkulu Regional Chapter and Lecturer in the Marine Science Study Program, titled “Drone-based Mapping and Surveying.” His lecture highlighted the extensive use of drones in coastal and marine research, shoreline change detection, tidal flooding assessment, riverbank erosion monitoring, and the generation of high-resolution 2D and 3D spatial datasets. He emphasized how drone technology has become an essential tool for marine research, environmental monitoring, spatial analysis, and data-driven coastal management. His presentation demonstrated the close relevance between drone applications and the academic expertise within the Marine Science Department.
The morning session also featured presentations by national-level APDI leaders, including Dr. Mochammad Akbar Marwan, APDI Chairman, who discussed the rapid advancement of drone technology in Indonesia; and Anton Chandra, APDI Vice Chairman, who explained the development of drone-based photography and videography for environmental documentation, tourism promotion, and scientific visualization.
As active contributors to the event, lecturers and students from the Marine Science Department were involved not only as participants but also as part of the organizing committee. The presence of Marine Science academics strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration and showcased the department’s commitment to advancing technology-based research and education.
Following the university-wide morning session, the activities continued into the afternoon through an extension program led by the Faculty of Agriculture, which also included Marine Science students and lecturers. This afternoon’s program focused on agricultural drone applications, featuring presentations by Danang Haryanto S. (PT Tribuana Solusi Inovasi Teknologi) and covering the operational capabilities of the DJI Agras T100 agrarian drone. The Marine Science academic community joined the session to broaden its understanding of drone applications across terrestrial and marine-based research domains.
The event concluded with a drone field demonstration at the University of Bengkulu Stadium, attended by participants from both the morning and afternoon programs—including many students and lecturers from the Marine Science Department. The APDI Bengkulu regional team, together with PT Tribuana, operated DJI Mavic series drones for mapping and imaging practice, and conducted a live demonstration of the DJI Agras T100 agricultural drone, providing deeper insights into its autonomous flight capabilities and spraying systems. Students and lecturers had the opportunity to operate drones, practice basic maneuvers, observe autonomous flight features, and simulate aerial data collection. This hands-on experience enriched their practical understanding of drone applications in marine research, spatial data acquisition, and field-based environmental monitoring.
As a follow-up to the MoU signed earlier this morning, the Marine Science Department and APDI are preparing an Implementation Agreement (IA) to translate the partnership into concrete collaborative programs. The IA will focus on integrating drone technology for AI-assisted monitoring and sustainable management of coastal and marine resources, strengthening the department’s capacity for modern, technology-driven marine research. In addition, both parties are in the process of establishing a joint scientific journal dedicated to marine spatial research and drone-based mapping, providing an academic platform for publishing innovative research by students, lecturers, and APDI practitioners. This initiative is expected to enhance scientific output, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and advance marine science and technology in Indonesia.
