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GEMASTIK is an annual competition organized by the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology (Ditjen Diktiristek) to enhance students’ competence, creativity, and collaboration in the field of information technology. The event serves as a platform for developing digital talent and fostering innovation toward building a Smart Nation.

This year’s competition featured eleven categories, including programming, cybersecurity, data mining, user experience design, animation, smart city, ICT scientific paper, software development, IoT-based smart systems, game development, and ICT business development.

AI and IoT-Based Public Transportation Density Detection System

The “MuridPakSoni” team, consisting of Ammar Naufal, Favian Izza Diasputra, and Abel Apriliani from the Information Systems and Technology Study Program, was supervised by Dr. Kusprasapta Mutijarsa, S.T., M.T., and Prof. Dr. Ir. Suhono Harso Supangkat, M.Eng. Their project focused on developing CrowdEase, an AI and IoT-based system to detect passenger density in public transportation.

The idea stemmed from their personal experience during internships in Jakarta, where they faced the challenges of crowded public transportation during rush hours. The situation affected both comfort and time efficiency, highlighting the lack of a real-time mechanism to monitor passenger density.

After consulting with their supervisor, who specializes in smart city development, the team concluded that a system capable of tracking and informing passengers about real-time occupancy levels was urgently needed.

Development Process and Competition Stages

The competition began in early August with the registration process, proposal submissions, and product introduction videos. The judging phase took place from August 11 to September 2, followed by the announcement of finalists on September 5. The team then prepared their final submissions, including a presentation video, research paper, and copyright documentation, before the final round held on October 27-30.

Over two months of development, the team faced significant time and resource limitations. The final outcome was a prototype integrating IoT devices and software built upon a design thinking framework, serving as a foundational model for future system refinement.

Innovation Rooted in Empathy

Ammar, the team leader, explained that the Smart City Division was chosen because it directly aligns with societal needs. “This division allows us to observe real problems in the field and design solutions that create tangible impact,” he said.

The system works by collecting passenger data through sensors and transmitting it to a central database for analysis. The processed information is then displayed to both passengers and transport operators, helping them make more efficient travel and operational decisions.

In addition to improving user comfort, the system promotes data-driven decision-making in the public transportation sector. “We hope this solution can enhance travel convenience for the public while assisting operators in planning their services,” Ammar added.

Technical Approach and Challenges

As the AI engineer of the team, Abel Apriliani shared insights on the system’s development process. “We used YOLOv8 for passenger detection, combined with short-term forecasting to detect occupancy levels within the near future,” he explained.

However, the biggest challenge was the lack of access to real operational data. “We were unable to obtain real TransJakarta datasets despite submitting multiple formal requests over nearly three months, both online and in person. Therefore, I built a realistic dummy dataset based on probable operational scenarios,” Abel said.

He further emphasized that a smart city does not necessarily require the most complex technology. “As an engineer, I believe that a smart city is not about creating the most sophisticated solution, but one that is realistic, adaptable to Indonesia’s diverse conditions, and directly beneficial to its citizens,” he reflected.

Learning Through Collaboration

This was the team’s first experience collaborating in a national-level competition. With diverse backgrounds and personalities, they faced challenges in communication and time management, especially while balancing the competition with their internship commitments.

According to Favian, who developed the software component, the experience strengthened their sense of discipline and teamwork. “When you have a shared goal, you need to set aside personal preferences and focus on achieving the team’s objectives,” he said.

Reflection and Takeaways

For the team, GEMASTIK was not merely a competition but an opportunity to better understand the role of empathy in technology. They realized that empathy forms the foundation of meaningful innovation in the development of smart cities.

“Many problems may seem trivial, yet they significantly affect people’s lives. Through this project, we learned to view situations from others’ perspectives and design solutions that truly matter,” Ammar shared.

Despite limited resources, the “MuridPakSoni” team proved that persistence and collaboration can yield impactful results. “This project is not just about technology, it’s about empathy, adaptability, and growing together as a team,” Ammar concluded.

Their achievement at GEMASTIK XVII stands as a testament to the commitment of ITB students to addressing real-world challenges through technological innovation.

Reporter & Translator: Dina Avanza Mardiana (Microbiology, 2022)