Tsunami Detector

More than half of the 23 buoys, tsunami detection buoys planted in the middle of the sea of Indonesia, is damaged. While sophisticated equipment is very useful for signaling the occurrence of tsunamis. Installation costs per unit of buoys also no small cost, at $ 5 billion.

"One of the obstacles we face the destruction (vandalism). There is the human element that damage buoy. It was not invented by now, so what happened," said Ridwan Djamaluddin, Deputy Head of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Resource Development Technology Nature in the title of the press, on Friday (29/10).

Since 2006, said Ridwan, BPPT has installed as many as 23 buoys. BPPT take full responsibility for care of each buoy that had been installed. Bouy-buoy there are made in Indonesia (10 pieces), the contribution of Germany and the United States, in cooperation with Malaysia, and cooperation with Australia.

In technology, the buoy has been shown to detect up to half a cm wave anomalies in the middle of the sea, so it is effectively telling the tsunami. "Now the buoys that are still functioning well there's only 4. Two buoys made in Indonesia, located in Simeleu and Halmahera. Two other German-made," he said.

Djoko Hartoyo, Project Manager Buoy BPPT, said buoy terpasank not only in Indonesia but also in other regions and salingg connected. In Mentawai, buoys damaged by fishing vessels tried to raise. In fact, there are buoys which penambatnya rope broke. BPPT suspect deliberately cut the rope fastening, for fastening ropes made of steel with a strength of 5 tons. "We have made buey absolute reliable and not damaged, even hidden in the water. But the fact remains destroyed anyway. Fortunately, all the buoys and communication antennas mounted GPS (Global Positioning System), so they can track down," he said.

Today, he continued, BPPT was reviewing the use of technology as a replacement submarine cable buoys, as it has been applied by the Japanese. Although the price is 5-6 times more expensive than using the same buoy and its effectiveness, but undersea cables are not easily damaged. Japanese company NEC has offered cooperation with BPPT, and is currently deepening.