NUSANTARA SMART CITY
Tauhid Nur Azhar
This morning, I woke up exactly when the Subuh prayer call was echoing in the midst of the cold temperature at the foot of Burangrang. The Accuweather app on my mobile device showed a temperature of 14°C. The ideal temperature to snuggle back under the warmth of a thick blanket while burying my face in a pile of pillows.
But a message that came in on the WhatsApp group Forum Prakarsa made me stay awake. The message contained a teaser about the material related to the discussion on smart cities at ITB’s PAU today.
“The ultimate vision for the future of citizen-oriented smart cities is to create sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban environments where technology enhances the quality of life for all residents. By focusing on trusted technology, adaptive solutions, community engagement, and sustainable practices, smart cities can become places where every citizen feels valued, secure, and connected to their environment. In this future, smart cities will not only be technologically advanced but also socially responsible, prioritizing human needs, environmental health, and ethical standards.”
Wow… it’s very interesting to explore and think about, isn’t it? Especially since the discussion will focus on the efforts to implement a smart system that is expected to create or give birth to a Trusted Society in a residential area, on a habitat or ecosystem scale, based on civilization.
The continuous efforts to create a living space, ecotone, or digital biome that can sustainably produce a dynamic civilization that prioritizes human well-being and accommodates the noble values of humanity have been consistently developed by the Smart City and Community Innovation Center ITB. One of the concrete results is the Garuda Smart City Framework.
By emphasizing the basic principles or fatsun technology from the Suhono school, Sensing, Understanding, Acting, the Garuda Smart City Framework is expected to become a guide for the development of an integrated smart system platform that can improve the quality of life of the community through improved public services, physical and social infrastructure, continuous regional planning, wise environmental management, and providing access to basic needs, creating a sense of security, and the ability to adapt to local, regional, and global changes that can impact the holistic well-being of the community.
Thinking about the values of this smart city initiative concept makes me feel a bit sleepy again, especially with the cold air, soft pillows, and dim light in the room, which is just right with the gentle invitation from the corner of my heart. The invitation to re-enter the theta wave field with a frequency of 4–8 Hz in our brains. Suddenly everything disappears, becomes dark, and I’m swept away in the vortex of imagination, which I later realize is a dream.
In my dream, I wake up or “mendusin” as the KBBI dictionary calls it, in the year 2045 and become a virtual observer with a PoV (point of view) of someone else. I’m like watching a movie or listening to an audiobook that tells the story of a Garuda city that comes to life in the wilderness of Kalimantan, on the border of Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kertanegara, NUSANTARA.
Year 2045. Kalimantan has long been in the spotlight of the world, but no longer as a region threatened by deforestation and exploitation of natural resources. Now, Kalimantan, especially Nusantara, the new capital of Indonesia, has transformed into a center of culture and green technology that reflects the harmony between humans and nature. Nusantara was built with a clear vision: to create a smart city that focuses on its citizens, is sustainable, and resilient in the face of various future challenges.
Dyah Erowati, a graduate of ITB who is now part of the team developing autonomous city and coastal area technology in Indonesia, stands in front of the Nusantara control center building. This building is the headquarters of AL-URBAN, an artificial intelligence system designed by Dr. AL Barda, and is the brain and heart of Nusantara. Using a quantum-powered supercomputer and a network of sensors spread throughout the city, AL-URBAN monitors and optimizes all aspects of city life.
The theory of Citizen-Centric Smart Cities, as presented by experts, underlies the development of Nusantara. According to Carlo Ratti, a professor of urban studies at MIT, technology should build cities not only as a tool for surveillance but also as a tool for empowering communities. Dyah believes that AL-URBAN was designed with this principle in mind, but as part of her research team, she also understands that data integrity and technological openness are real ethical challenges.
In the city center, Dyah observes various technologies that are characteristic of Nusantara. Every corner of the city is filled with innovations that utilize renewable energy and focus on resource efficiency.
Some of the technologies that Dyah observes, which are new to her as a first-time visitor to this smart city, include:
- Giant Sewage and Smart Waste Management: This waste management system converts the city’s wastewater into energy and organic fertilizer. Using bio-digestion and enzymatic technology, the wastewater is channeled into various reservoirs around the city, producing biogas that is used for city lighting.
- Artificial Algae Trees for CO2 Emissions: These trees, made of bio-hybrid materials, are designed by environmental experts and use microalgae to absorb CO2 and produce oxygen. Based on research by Klaus Lackner at the Center for Negative Carbon Emissions, these artificial trees are 400 times more effective than natural trees in absorbing carbon emissions.
- Pedestrian and Kinetic Energy: Pedestrian roads are lined with piezoelectric technology that can convert the energy of footsteps into electricity. The generated energy is channeled to meet the electricity needs of the surrounding pedestrian area, reducing dependence on conventional energy sources.
- Hydrogen-Powered Public Transportation: The fully automated public transportation system uses hydrogen energy, a technology pioneered by companies like Toyota and Hyundai. These vehicles can operate without drivers, directly connected to the AL-URBAN navigation system to ensure optimal and energy-efficient routes.
As a city built in a tropical forest ecosystem, Nusantara maintains a vast area of green space. This forest is home to various protected species, such as the Kalimantan orangutan, proboscis monkey, and endemic plants like the ulin tree and black orchid.
“Hydrogen transportation in Nusantara reduces carbon emissions by more than 80% compared to conventional electric vehicles,” AL-URBAN explains through the screen, referring to data from the European Commission that shows hydrogen is one of the most environmentally friendly fuels. “Each vehicle is equipped with sensors connected to the central server to maximize travel routes.”
Not only transportation, but also the ecosystem that lives around the city. As part of a sustainable system, the city is designed with artificial trees based on microalgae that absorb CO2. These trees, inspired by Klaus Lackner’s research, can absorb more than 100 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to dozens of natural trees.
AL-URBAN plays a significant role in managing this biodiversity. By utilizing drones and sensors spread throughout the forest, the AI monitors the condition of wildlife and plants in real-time, ensuring that populations remain balanced. This technology is based on the principles of modern ecological theory, such as Edward O. Wilson’s Half-Earth Project, where half of the Earth is preserved for wildlife to maintain global biodiversity.
To protect the forest, AL-URBAN works with surveillance drones equipped with thermal cameras and motion sensors. These drones patrol the forest, monitoring the health of species and recording wildlife populations in real-time. This technology is based on the theory developed by Edward O. Wilson in the “Half-Earth Project,” where half of the Earth is designed as a habitat for wildlife, creating a robust and resilient ecological network.
“Dyah,” AL-URBAN’s voice appears again, “did you know that the level of biodiversity around Nusantara has increased by 15% in the past five years? Monitoring the ecosystem allows us to identify threats earlier and provide better protection.”
Nusantara, located in a disaster-prone area, is equipped with advanced disaster prediction technology. This system integrates a network of seismometers, weather sensors, and geospatial data in the city’s control center. With the help of supercomputers and AI, the city can detect potential earthquakes, floods, or forest fires earlier, enabling rapid response from the city government and residents.
AL-URBAN uses deep learning technology to analyze weather patterns and tectonic movements.
In one simulation conducted last year, this technology successfully predicted the likelihood of a forest fire with an accuracy of over 90%. By using automated fire-suppressing drones designed to detect and extinguish fires at an early stage, the city was able to avoid a major disaster.
Dyah is amazed by the scale and sophistication of this system. This technology reminds her of the work of Stephen Pacala, who stated that AI-based mitigation approaches will play a significant role in environmental adaptation in the future. With technology like this, Dyah realizes that Nusantara is not only a advanced city, but also a resilient and sustainable one.
In recent simulations, this technology has successfully predicted volcanic eruptions and tsunamis up to 20 minutes before the event. This technology is developed based on the principles of risk mitigation and climate adaptation theory from experts like Stephen Pacala from Princeton University.
However, this seemingly perfect city has its own dilemma. The Social Credit system implemented in Nusantara regulates the behavior of its citizens, raising questions about privacy and personal freedom. Dyah feels a paradox between the city’s humanistic vision and the strict social control mechanism. As a technology expert, Dyah feels a great responsibility to ensure that the system remains transparent and ethical, in line with the values of inclusivity.
The system monitors citizens’ behavior based on their daily habits and contributions to the environment. This social score then affects their access to various city facilities, such as healthcare and public transportation.
“AL-URBAN,” Dyah asks with a serious tone, “how can the transparency of this system be maintained? Doesn’t this system risk violating citizens’ privacy?”
AL-URBAN responds calmly, “This system is designed to encourage responsible behavior and protect our living environment. Data is collected and managed with the highest encryption, and citizens have full access to view their scores and the reasons behind them. However, as we understand, this still requires strict supervision and a shared understanding of transparency.”
The concept of Social Credit originates from the idea that a smart city must balance individual freedom with collective responsibility. However, Dyah still questions whether this technology can maintain its integrity in the long run.
Dyah stands at the edge of the city, gazing at the vast tropical forest before her. Nusantara indeed reflects the dream of an ideal future, where technology and nature can coexist. However, behind this beauty, she realizes that the responsibility to maintain ethics and morality in every technology still lies with humans.
With a small smile, Dyah feels optimistic. Nusantara may not be perfect, but here she feels a sense of hope for building a sustainable and just future. Together with AL-URBAN and other citizens, Dyah is determined to continue contributing, ensuring that this smart city truly becomes a home for all, with justice, balance, and sustainability as its foundation.
Suddenly, a large proboscis monkey and orangutan approach me, who is observing Dyah from the top of a Meranti or Seraya tree, a tree from the genus that has around 194 species, and is an endemic tree of tropical forests from the Dipterocarpaceae family. Meranti or Shorea is named in honor of Sir John Shore, Governor-General of the British East India Company, 1793–1798. As a result, I was shocked and fell, and then I felt my body falling and touching the mossy ground with a thud.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the edge of the bed, right next to my wife’s feet, who was standing tall, with her hands on her hips, and glaring at me with a fierce expression, “Come on, keep sleeping, it’s almost lunchtime already, but you’re still lounging in bed…” The next words were no longer audible to me, because my ears were being pulled, while my cheek was being kissed lovingly.
For those interested in studying the concept of smart cities and community innovation with a sustainable approach, you can refer to the following references, okay?
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