Outstanding achievement was once again demonstrated by students of the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology (TRKI) Study Program at UNDIP Vocational School, winning first place at the 2024 OliVIa (Olimpiade Vokasi Indonesia / Indonesian Vocational Olympics) IX competition held at UNHAS Hotel & Convention on July 18-19, 2024. The competition, organized by the Indonesian Vocational Higher Education Forum and hosted by Hasanuddin University, Makassar, featured a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) contest.
The prestigious event was attended by the post-millennial innovator team of TRKI SV UNDIP students, who formed the Grafena Iridium team, including Tiurma Fransiska Simanullang as the leader along with her two colleagues, Jeni Laura Tesalonika and Putri Sekar Kinanti. They developed fish farming digitalization using smartphones.
Mohamad Endy Yulianto, S.T., M.T., Head of the TRKI SV UNDIP Study Program, expressed his gratitude and pride in the Grafena Iridium team’s achievement of winning first place nationally. Endy, who was also involved as a supervising lecturer, admitted to guiding and providing continuous support for the Grafena Iridium team. Intensive discussions helped develop and refine the innovation of RAS design.
Dr. Ir Agustina Abdullah S.Pt., M.Si., IPM, ASEAN Eng, Chair of the OliVIa IX 2024 Committee, mentioned that the OliVIa IX 2024 event featured 6 types of competitions with 23 categories, involving 70 universities and 1,068 teams consisting of 3,204 students across Indonesia. Out of this number, 407 students from 144 teams representing 32 universities advanced to the finals.
With the theme “Inspiring the Future through Empowering Innovative Human Resources and Digital-Based Entrepreneurship,” OliVIa IX 2024 highlighted issues related to technological innovation and entrepreneurship. The series of competitions began in March, with the first selection stage held in June 2024, culminating in the selection of the top 5 teams in the RAS category by the end of June. The event was followed by the Grand Final and Awarding Ceremony, which concluded the OliVIa IX 2024 event.
Tiur revealed that their innovation was named Polimonia. This innovation involves the development of PVDF and CNTs membranes as fish pond water filters. Equipped with an ammonia sensor digitized through a smartphone and using solar panels as an alternative energy source, this recirculating aquaculture system innovation is promising, environmentally friendly, and sustainable.
“Water quality parameters that are very important in the aquaculture ecosystem include the ammonia level. Accumulated ammonia in the aquatic system must be eliminated as it can cause mass fish deaths. The presence of a digitalized ammonia sensor will make it easier for fish farmers to monitor healthy water quality,” Tiur said.
Jeni further explained that one of the unique advantages of this project is using conventional pond designs with innovative water layout and circulation and the use of solar panels as an alternative energy source to power the pump, nano aerator, UV filter, and sensors connected to a smartphone.
“Considering sustainability and environmental friendliness will reduce dependence on conventional energy sources to achieve the Indonesian government’s mission of Zero Carbon Emissions by 2060, as conveyed directly by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs in 2022 at the G20 event in Bali,” Jeni explained.
Putri described the fish pond design developed at a 1:100 scale, integrating the ammonia sensor with a valve opening. “If the ammonia level is below 0.2 ppm, the valve leading to the Polimonia membrane will be enlarged. However, if the ammonia level exceeds 0.7 ppm, the sensor will send a signal to reduce the valve size. Thus, the flow rate decreases and the residence time in the Polimonia membrane is longer, improving fish quality,” she explained.
“Excessive ammonia levels in the water can hinder fish growth, damage tissues, and even cause death. Therefore, the digitization of the Polimonia technology innovation developed here can be applied to fish farming in the broader community in the future. Through technology and innovative collaboration, we can produce solutions that have a positive impact in the future,” concluded Putri. (Endy-SV; DHW-PR)
