R

esidents living on the slopes of Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta will soon be able to access information on volcanic activities in real time thanks to researchers at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) who are trying out a handheld Merapi monitoring device that can monitor the volcano in real time.

'€œReal time information is needed to minimize the number of victims in the event of an eruption,'€ said development team head of the Handheld Merapi Monitor, Prof. Sunarno, from UGM'€™s physics engineering school.

Indonesia, which is home to many volcanoes, has yet to own a real time volcano information system that can be accessed by the community.

Consequently, added Sunarno, UGM collaborated with the Yogyakarta ORARI citizens'€™ radio network, High Education Agency and Public Works Agency to build a real time information system, which resulted in the invention of the Handheld Merapi Monitor.

The monitoring system has been set up in the Balerante area in Klaten, Central Java, or on the southeast section of Mt. Merapi. The system is made up of a series of sensors, such as seismic, weather parameter and toxic gas parameter sensors.

Data received by the station is relayed to the observation center by a transceiver and frequency shift keying modulator.

'€œDigital data from the station is then converted into voice form after which the shift keying frequency is received via walkie-talkie. Data is then converted again into digital form and processed through a handheld decoder connected to a two-way radio.

The information covers various aspects from seismic activities to weather and other hazards.

Besides using walkie-talkies, data can also be uploaded by the public through the Internet but doing so is less practical for residents living on the slope of Merapi.

'€œWith ultra high frequency receivers, residents can immediately monitor the latest conditions of Mt. Merapi through one-way radios,'€ said Sunarno.

He added that information through one-way radio could be accessed only in Yogyakarta and some cities in Central Java such as Surakarta, Sragen, Wonogiri, Purworejo and Kebumen.

'€œThose outside the regions can immediately access information through www.datamerapi.com,'€ he said.

The Handheld Merapi Monitor uses independent electrical energy from solar panels to operate, which allows the information network to continue working in the event of a power outage.

After going through a series of tests, the device began a trial run on Oct. 4. The team is currently developing an Android-based tele-monitoring data application.