Insight look the subsidence impact to infrastructures in Jakarta and Semarang area; Key for adaptation and mitigation

Abstract

Land subsidence is not a new phenomenon for Jakarta and Semarang areas. According to some publications, the value of Jakarta’s subsidence may reach 2-4 meter in certain place. Meanwhile, more than 2 meter of subsidence is taking place in northern part of Semarang. Some techniques are being used to derive land subsidence information in these areas such as repeated leveling measurements, GPS surveys, and InSAR measurements. The impact of land subsidence in Jakarta and Semarang could be seen in several ways, such as sea inundation (“Rob” in Javanese), problem on infrastructures, the wider expansion of flooding areas, etc. Cracking on housing, street, “sinking” on the bridges and dyke, problems on drainage are examples of infrastructures problems due to the land subsidence. Huge costs have already been spent to fixing those infrastructures problems both in Jakarta and Semarang. Since mostly liniear pattern of land subsidence are recognized in both area today and probably in the next years to come, in this case the impact especially on infrastructures are probably will getting worse. Insight look the subsidence impact to the infrastuctures in Jakarta and Semarang area would raisen the concern, and become key for adaptation and mitigation.