PPIIG ULM Analyzes Factors Causing Floods in South Kalimantan

Banjarmasin – The Center for Geospatial Information Infrastructure Development (PPIIG) at Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) provided an analysis of the factors contributing to the floods affecting 11 regencies/cities in South Kalimantan.

The head of PPIIG ULM, Syam’ani, stated that the exact causes of the floods still require further research. However, weather factors can be proven more easily.

“To determine the specific causes, further studies are needed. Currently, we have not reached that conclusion. However, if linked to weather factors, the proof is simpler,” said Syam’ani in an interview in Banjarmasin on Wednesday (27/1/2021).

According to him, the worst flooding occurred in the western region of the Meratus Mountains, while the eastern areas experienced lighter impacts.

“In determining whether this is a weather anomaly or not, we need to look at the rainfall patterns. If it rains across the entire South Kalimantan region, but only the western part experiences severe flooding, then we need to investigate the distinguishing factors between the west and east,” he explained.

Based on field data, the worst flood points were recorded in Banjar Regency, Central Hulu Sungai, North Hulu Sungai, and Banjarmasin City.

Meanwhile, satellite images taken on January 20 showed that most of the affected areas had begun to recede.

“Ideally, we would like to present data from January 13 to 15. However, satellite data for those dates is not available, so we can only use data as of January 20. From the analysis results, on that date, flooding was still visible in Banjar and Barito Kuala Regencies, while Central Hulu Sungai was starting to dry up,” explained Syam’ani.

He also added that satellite image monitoring was carried out using open-source software from the European Space Agency.