Friday, April 13, 2018

ITB Lecturer Create Lightning Earning Detector

Head Lecturer in Electrical Engineering Engineering Group School of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (STEI) Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB) Syarif Hidayat research and make innovation of early warning lightning detection tool called Early Warning Lighting Detection.

Syarif Hidayat in Bandung, Thursday (12/4), said the idea of ​​making this lightning detector equipment starts from his concern and his opinion the strength of a nation should start from the suffering of the nation itself. "It is undeniable that Indonesia is a tropical country with a high level of lightning events, and lightning energy goes beyond the power plant in America, so you can imagine a disaster that could be caused by a lightning strike," he said.

He exemplifies the famous Japanese state with earthquake prone areas, already has a lot of earthquake resistant building infrastructure. Then the Netherlands, exemplified many have dams because of limited land and the location of the country that the average is below sea level.

"Similarly, at least the Indonesian nation also has expert lightning experts because the lightning density in Indonesia is the highest to 24 per square kilometer per year.It is in the Bogor area, which means 10 times more than the Japanese, and twice as much compared to Florida, USA, while in Bandung, about 12 strikes per square kilometer per year, "he said.

Early Warning Lighting Detection consists of two main parts, namely sensors and processors. Sensor with a diameter of 20 cm and height of 15 cm, placed on a pole with a minimum height of one meter with a distance of at least 3 times from the height of the nearest building.

While the processor of lightning detector is a personal computer that is connected to the sensor through a data cable and powered by 10 watts.

The working principle of this tool is to detect the activity of the electrostatic field in the cloud with a two kilometer radius.

Based on that principle, a device called an electric field mill monitor, can provide predictions about the extent to which the activity of splitting occurs, so as to provide an early warning before the lightning actually occurs.

There are four warning stages that can be given by Early Warning Lighting Detection. The first stage when it is detected the activity of separation of charge in the cloud, which means begin to alert the potential for lightning. Then the second stage, given when it starts to discharge before the lightning down to earth. Next in the third, final stage, when the lightning has come down to earth.

The last stage is given when there is no activity either separation or release of cargo in the cloud, so that people can continue the activity without having to be feared with the occurrence of unexpected aftershocks.

Syarif said the maximum warning should be given in the first two stages, so that the area to be protected should be cleared. "Areas suitable for Early Warning Lighting Detection are areas where outdoor activities such as golf courses, mining areas, agriculture, recreation and others are open areas," he said.

Currently, Early Warning Lightning Detection is in the process of getting a patent, and another lightning assesment software is also in the process of obtaining copyright. Do not stop there, Syarif who completed his studies at Tokyo University, Japan, is also still active mapping and dozens of types of lightning protection devices.

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