InfoSAWIT, YOGYAKARTA – Institut Pertanian Stiper (INSTIPER) Yogyakarta continues to strengthen its role in agricultural and forestry technology innovation. Through the organization of INSTIPER Drone Festival (IDF) 2025 on 23–26 October 2025, the campus officially launched the Drone–Remote Sensing Research and Innovation Center as a hub for research and development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based technology.
This national-scale festival features various educational and professional activities, ranging from workshops, technology exhibitions (expo), expert lectures, to national drone pilot certification.
Before the main event, IDF 2025 was preceded by Drone Race Competition on 10–12 October, as well as Drone Workshop on 21–22 October 2025. The workshop taught participants—both INSTIPER students and the general public—how to assemble and optimize racing drones.
In addition, participants were trained to analyze multispectral drone imagery by Amir Noviyanto, S.P., M.Sc., a lecturer at INSTIPER's Faculty of Agriculture who is an expert in drone data analysis. Through this training, participants learned to create aerial photo mosaics and analyze land conditions using vegetation indices such as NDVI, GreenNDVI, and NDRE.
Response to Plantation and Forestry Industry Needs In the opening speech, INSTIPER Rector, Dr. Ir. Harsawardana, M.Eng., emphasized that this activity is part of INSTIPER's commitment to address the needs of the modern industry.
“Drones are now an important technology in plantations and forestry—from land surveys, plant population censuses, to fertilization and pest control using drone sprayers,” he said in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT, Monday (26/10/2025).
According to him, materials related to drones, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS) have become part of the curriculum in all faculties. INSTIPER also has a Drone Academy, a co-curricular program that helps students hone their skills in flying and analyzing drone data.
Inauguration of the Drone–Remote Sensing Research Center An important moment of IDF 2025 was marked by the inauguration of INSTIPER Yogyakarta's Drone–Remote Sensing Research and Innovation Center. This research center serves as a hub for lecturers and students to conduct research and develop UAV and remote sensing technology in the fields of plantations and forestry.
“We will continue to support research by lecturers and students in the fields of GIS, remote sensing, drones, and GeoAI. Hopefully, the results of this research can have a broad impact on the industry and society,” explained the INSTIPER Rector.
During the festival, visitors could enjoy the Drone Expo and Ekspose, an exhibition showcasing various drone technologies from various companies such as Frogs Indonesia, Doran Sukses Indonesia, and PT Tribuana Solusi Inovasi Teknologi. The exhibition also featured demonstrations of drone use for spraying, mapping, and monitoring agricultural, plantation, and modern forestry lands.
At the same time, INSTIPER collaborated with the Indonesian Drone Pilots Association (APDI) to organize a national drone pilot certification program. As many as 20 participants consisting of lecturers, students, and the general public participated in training on safety, regulations, flight communications, to practical flight exams.
“Through this certification, INSTIPER graduates will have added value and professional competence in the drone aviation field,” said Rector Harsawardana.
APDI representative, Bion, expressed his appreciation for this collaboration.
“Collaborations like this are important to expand the national drone ecosystem and prepare competent human resources, especially in the agricultural and forestry sectors,” he said.
Expert Lectures and IDF 2025 Peak Night On the last day, INSTIPER held the IDF 2025 Expert Lecture themed “Transformation of Smart Drone Technology: The Innovative Role of Drones for Agriculture, Plantations, and Forestry”. This event featured speakers from various sectors, including Arif Ika Uktoro, S.TP., M.Eng. (INSTIPER Drone Expert), Nicko Ariwibowo (PT Tribuana Solusi Inovasi Teknologi), Dr. M. Akbar Marwan, ST., M.MSI. (APDI Chairman), and Galang Sinu Susilo (Drone Trainer, PT Doran Sukses Indonesia).
The expert lecture, moderated by Amir Noviyanto, S.P., M.Sc., was attended by more than 500 participants, both from students and the general public. Participant enthusiasm was evident from the many discussions and interactive Q&A during the session.
As a closing, INSTIPER held the IDF 2025 Peak Night enlivened by the Ngatmombilung band performance, marking the end of a series of activities full of innovation and inspiration. (T2)
