Three Universitas Indonesia students—Amira Puji Hastuti from the 2023 Nutrition Undergraduate Program at the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) UI, Adventhius Immanuel Karo-Karo from the Faculty of Law (FH) UI 2003, and Yuda Ardiansyah from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UI 2023—successfully earned the Distinction Award at the ASEAN Geospatial Challenge: Geospatial Youth Edition 2025, held on April 9, 2025, at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
The trio initiated an innovative use of geospatial technology to address the issue of electricity access inequality in Indonesia. Starting from the case of limited electricity access in Kutai, Kalimantan, they applied a plant algorithm model interpreted through dual AI systems (Reinforcement Learning and Supervised Learning) to determine the shortest and most efficient route for electricity distribution to rural areas.
“We hope this innovation can be utilized and further developed by the Indonesian government to make electricity distribution more efficient and reach more underserved areas. Additionally, we hope to see research in Indonesia becoming more productive and effective in solving real-world problems,” Amira said in expressing her hopes for the innovation.
As a Nutrition student at FPH UI, Amira has achieved remarkable accomplishments during her studies. Deeply passionate about science and eager to explore new things, she has won various competitions from national to international levels. One of the most memorable and significant achievements for Amira was securing a Top 3 position in the Planetary Health Challenge organized by Johns Hopkins University, where she addressed the issue of water pollution.
Representing Indonesia, Amira, Adventhius, and Yuda underwent a rigorous selection and research process. The Indonesian Geospatial Information Agency conducted the national selection across universities and chose two teams to represent Indonesia in the ASEAN finals. The dedication and perseverance of the trio led them to compete against over 100 teams from across the region and ultimately win the Distinction Award, the highest honor in the ASEAN Geospatial Challenge.
The ASEAN Geospatial Challenge is organized by the Singapore Land Authority in conjunction with Geo Connect Asia 2025. This competition aims to unite youth from ASEAN countries in utilizing geospatial technology and information to support national efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Dean of FPH UI, Prof. Dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc., also expressed appreciation and pride in their achievement.
“The success of Amira Puji Hastuti (FPH UI), Adventhius Immanuel Karo-Karo (FH UI), and Yuda Ardiansyah (FEB UI) at the ASEAN Geospatial Challenge reflects the spirit of ‘Excellence and Impact’ that we foster at UI. Their innovation in using geospatial data to tackle electricity disparities in rural areas demonstrates not only academic and research excellence but also real-world impact for communities and sustainable development. We hope this achievement inspires other students to excel and contribute their best in line with Universitas Indonesia’s vision.” (ITM)