GEOSPATIAL IMPLEMENTATION FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

This paper explores the geospatial technology implementation among students of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia. The study aims to assess the students' proficiency in geospatial technology, their interests in learning related topics, and the challenges they encounter while implementing geospatial technology in their studies. A total of 167 active students from various regions participated in the research through a questionnaire-based survey. The results revealed that five software tools, including ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Google Earth Engine, Microsoft Office, and QGIS, were commonly used by the students, each with varying levels of mastery. ArcGIS, a crucial tool for urban planning, was employed by 38% of the respondents, primarily at the visualization level. AutoCAD, known for its technical and architectural drawings, was preferred by 4% of the students, predominantly for data visualization. Google Earth Engine, a cloud-based geospatial data analysis platform, was chosen by 3% of the respondents, mainly for data inputting. Microsoft Office, while not explicitly designed for analysis, saw 38% of students using components like Excel and Access for data analysis. QGIS, with similar functions to ArcGIS, attracted 14% of the respondents. This study emphasizes the significance of geospatial technology integration in urban planning education and its role in shaping sustainable and efficient urban development. Furthermore, it highlights the challenges faced by students, particularly in a distance learning environment. By identifying the students' needs and skill levels, the research offers relevant recommendations to enhance geospatial technology education at Universitas Terbuka.