The Thematic Community Service Program (KKN-T) Team 30 from Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) has begun implementing digital technology to support the traditional shipyard industry in Pekalongan City, Central Java.
This initiative is carried out through a multidisciplinary program titled “Digitization of Traditional Fishing Vessels through Photogrammetry Technology,” which aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of local ship manufacturing.
The Field Supervisor for KKN-T 30 UNDIP, Dr. Eng. Ir. Samuel, S.T., M.T., IPP, stated that this program is a strategic effort to sustain the local maritime industry amidst increasingly fierce global competition.
“The application of this technology is expected to assist traditional shipbuilders in digitally documenting ship designs. With the availability of 3D models, the processes of replication, repair, and ship design development become more measurable and precise,” said Dr. Eng. Ir. Samuel during his explanation at the student briefing session.
According to Samuel, this collaboration involves 25 students from seven different academic backgrounds, ranging from Naval Architecture, Geodesy, Informatics, Physics, to Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).
He explained that cross-faculty involvement is crucial to providing a total solution, encompassing technical design and construction to operational management in the field.
“With students from various disciplines, we provide solutions covering technical aspects as well as the socio-economic impact of this innovation,” he added.
Implementation of Photogrammetry Technology
In practice, the students employ photogrammetry technology to create Digital Twin models or 3D digital replicas of ship structures under construction.
This method is carried out by taking thousands of photos from various angles to generate data with millimeter-level accuracy. This addresses the challenge of design standardization, which has traditionally relied heavily on the generational intuition of craftsmen.
“With photogrammetry, we can have a digital archive of every vessel produced. If repairs are needed in the future, business owners have an accurate data reference,” stated a student representative from the KKN team.
Business Owners’ Response
Meanwhile, the owner of CV Bintang Mumbul Wibowo II, Tungky Ari Wibowo, welcomed the initiative positively. According to him, digital technological input greatly helps enhance the shipyard’s credibility in the eyes of clients.
“We have decades of experience, but this technology is something new that will help improve our work efficiency,” said Tungky, owner of the traditional fishing vessel shipyard.
This program is hoped not to stop at an academic exercise but to serve as a stepping stone for the digitization of other community-based shipyards in Central Java. Through synergy between academia and industry, Pekalongan City is expected to foster a new generation of more resilient fishing vessels, ready to compete in the Industry 4.0 era.