ITS and Surabaya BRIDA Launch Cross-Disciplinary Living Laboratory at Mangrove Garden

Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) and the Surabaya Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA) formally inaugurated a living laboratory at the Surabaya Mangrove Botanical Garden (KRM) on Friday, April 10, 2026. This strategic establishment follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ITS and the Surabaya City Government, aiming to fortify research, foster innovation, and enhance the preservation of the coastal ecosystem.

The KRM, which spans 34 hectares on the eastern periphery of the city, is recognized as Indonesia's first coastal conservation zone successfully integrating education, research, and public tourism within a single ecological framework. The Rector of ITS, Prof. Dr. (HC) Ir. Bambang Pramujati, stated that the site will function as a versatile, cross-disciplinary living laboratory, supporting research applications from fundamental biology to advanced maritime technology. The area currently features 57 types of mangrove, representing approximately 36 percent of all mangrove species in Indonesia, positioning it as the largest mangrove conservation center in Southeast Asia. The KRM was initially inaugurated in July 2023.

ITS researchers are currently deploying Internet of Things (IoT) sensors within the garden plots to continuously monitor real-time environmental conditions, such as water level and soil nutrients. Concurrently, academic teams are investigating rice seed varieties adaptable to the unique characteristics of mangrove soil, involving students from the Biology, Urban and Regional Planning (PWK), and Architecture departments. Students from PWK and Architecture are also developing conceptual designs to ensure the area’s layout supports sustainable ecotourism functions for visitors.

Beyond land-based studies, ITS has proposed modernizing river transportation to mitigate diesel pollution affecting migratory bird populations. This proposed infrastructure upgrade includes introducing solar panel and electric-powered boats as an environmentally sound alternative to existing diesel engines. This initiative aligns with broader conservation goals, as environmental degradation in such ecosystems threatens ecological balance and associated economic services.

BRIDA, which began independent operations in January 2026, supports this collaborative framework, anticipating the application of ITS's expertise in technology, maritime science, and New and Renewable Energy (EBT). The Technical Implementation Unit overseeing the KRM now falls under BRIDA's purview, signaling a commitment to research adhering to international conservation standards, including blue carbon studies. The partnership will also explore avenues for coastal community empowerment through silvofishery, or wanamina, integrating tree cultivation with aquatic life to link conservation directly to local socio-economic development.