BANDUNG, Telkom University – A team of students and lecturers of the S1 Telecommunication Engineering Study Program, School of Electrical Engineering from Telkom University made a tsunami early detection bracelet using Long Range (LoRa) technology called GELORA. The team consisting of Yasyfa Rifiani Putri, Muhamad Ridwansyah, Nur Rizki Rahmatulloh, Reyhan Fajar Nasution, and guided by lecturer Harfan Hian Ryanu made a bracelet that was able to detect tsunamis and replaced the existing tsunami detector, Buoy.
Yasyfa Rifani Putri as the team leader explained that the concept of this tool utilizes LoRa technology. LoRa in Indonesia itself utilizes frequency waves between 921-923 MHz (AS923-2 regulation).
“We made our version of a tsunami detector using ultrasonic sensors to measure the receding distance of the water surface. The measurement results are then sent to the gateway using LoRa technology.
The gateway then forwards the data to the server for monitoring purposes. When the water level recedes (signaling a tsunami), the server will send data in the form of notifications to the bracelet using LoRa. The bracelet will provide a notification in the form of text and sound to the user when there is a sign of a tsunami (level receding).
Yasyfa also said that the reason why the bracelet was made is that Indonesia is located in an area that is prone to tsunamis. Then, Indonesia also has a pretty good marine tourism destination, so this bracelet will be useful to add value to security and safety for tourists and the surrounding community in the event of a tsunami.
This bracelet can increase the time for evacuation before the tsunami occurs for the residents. Not only that, but this bracelet also works after the tsunami incident to help the SAR team find missing victims so that it can save time because this bracelet is equipped with a GPS that can track the victim’s position.
“So the background itself is because the early warning system for the tsunami in Indonesia itself is quite bad, even the Buoy is also not functioning, missing or damaged. In addition, it is difficult to trace victims who have disappeared after the disaster. This tool is expected to increase the time for evacuation to a safe place which was originally according to the BMKG only 15-20 minutes.”
This bracelet is also equipped with a heart rate sensor which is useful for victims to get appropriate help after being found. This bracelet is expected to minimize the death rate in the tsunami disaster according to the background of this bracelet.
Yasyfa added that this tool can work when the sea level recedes. Tsunmeter will sound and send data to the gateway, data from gateway enter to thingspeak server. The data on the thingspeak server will be sent to the gateway again and continue to the bracelet. After the data is received by the bracelet, the bracelet will sound and a notification will appear for evacuation.
“At the same time after the bracelet rings, the bracelet will send location data for tracking and monitoring of heart rate to the gateway which later this data can be accessed by institutions in charge of post-disaster tasks such as SAR teams and others.”
The advantage of this bracelet is that it does not use an internet connection in sending and receiving data because this bracelet utilizes a technology called Long Range (LoRa) so that even without being connected to the internet network, this tool can still cover a distance of up to 15km. In addition, the data sent can be received in seconds (approximately 10 seconds) without an internet connection.
Yasyfa hopes that through this tool innovation, her team can represent Telkom University for the Student Creativity Program (PKM) competition organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.
“Hopefully, I can enter the National Institute of Sciences, which represents Telkom University. Currently, this bracelet is still in the refinement stage and the plan will be developed to be integrated with mobile applications and other disaster mitigation and hopefully can become a useful tool.”