Engineers in Action 2025 Forge Sustainable Future for Kediri Greenhouse

The 
Story

KEDIRI, Indonesia – The 2025 Engineers in Action (EIA) program, a flagship international partnership between the Faculty of Engineering at Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya (UKWMS) and the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), has officially commenced. This year's initiative is focused on a transformative technological project at the Gubug Lazaris greenhouse in Kediri, aiming to modernize agricultural practices through engineering innovation.

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The collaborative project brings together a dedicated team of students and faculty from both institutions, working in unison to design and implement advanced automation and irrigation systems. Their mission is to enhance the greenhouse's efficiency, sustainability, and crop yield.

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The engineering effort is split into specialized teams tackling core challenges:

• The Automation Team is engineering a sophisticated control system to manage the greenhouse’s watering schedules. They are developing the software and installing a centralized control panel, enabling precise and remote management of the irrigation infrastructure.

• The Irrigation (Piping) Team is designing and physically installing a comprehensive network of pipes equipped with mist, drip, and sprinkler mechanisms. This multi-zone system ensures uniform water distribution tailored to the needs of different plants throughout the facility.

• The Cultivation Team is focused on agronomy, selecting and nurturing fast-growing crops. This strategy provides the greenhouse managers with a quicker harvest cycle for economic benefit and, crucially, supplies live plants for rigorous testing of the new automated irrigation systems.

Over its intensive two-week duration in the field, the EIA program is deeply engaging with the local community. The project scope was directly aligned with the needs of Gubug Lazaris' stakeholders, and the initiative was formally introduced to local residents during an opening ceremony, highlighting its potential community benefits.

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Beyond the technical deliverables, the EIA 2025 program serves a dual purpose. It provides engineering students from both Indonesia and Taiwan with an invaluable opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to a real-world project, bridging the gap between academia and industry. Furthermore, it fosters cross-cultural collaboration and understanding, as students build professional relationships and learn to navigate the dynamics of an international team.

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"This project is a cornerstone in our effort to support more modern and efficient agriculture in the local environment," said a program coordinator. "It challenges our students to think critically about real-world problems and engineer practical, sustainable solutions."

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The innovative systems developed for Gubug Lazaris are expected to serve as a model for sustainable farming in the region, ultimately aiming to increase agricultural productivity while promoting environmental conservation.