Turning Mines into a Source of Livelihood, Polman Negeri Babel Lecturer Creates IoT-Based Water Control Machine
From behind the former mine shaft, a new hope was born. The Polman Negeri Babel Team is here to bring a smart solution through an IoT machine that can automatically monitor water quality. Not just a tool, but a new friend for fish farmers in maintaining a healthy and productive pond ecosystem.
An extraordinary innovation came from lecturers at the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel) who succeeded in creating an Internet of Things (IoT)-based machine to monitor water quality in real-time in former tin mine pits that have now been converted into freshwater fish farming ponds, Friday (05/23/2025).
This discovery is considered an important breakthrough. The reason is, thousands of former tin mine pits in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province have not been optimally utilized. Thanks to this technology, the pits that were previously considered an environmental burden now have the potential to become a new economic field for the local community.
This smart machine was developed by the Berdikari Polman Babel Research Team consisting of Eko Sulistyo, M.T., Indra Dwisaputra, M.T., Ocsirendi, M.T., Ramli, Ph.D., Dewi Tumatul Ainin, M.Sc., Martinus Buulolo, S.E., M.M., and Juanda, M.T. They synergize to provide practical and sustainable solutions.
Team leader, Eko Sulistyo, M.T., explained that this machine is equipped with a digital sensor to measure water pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen levels.
"All data is automatically sent to the mobile application and web dashboard. If there is an anomaly, such as a decrease in oxygen, the aerator is immediately activated automatically," he added.
Eko also added that this technology makes it easier for fish farmers because it allows them to monitor ponds from anywhere, even making decisions based on actual data that is continuously updated in real-time.
"This tool changes the way we view former mining pits. No more speculation, everything can be monitored accurately and efficiently," continued Eko.
In addition, Indra Dwisaputra, M.T., said that the tool had been tested in Air Ruai Village, Pemali District. As a result, the water quality remained stable within the ideal range for freshwater fish.
"pH is maintained at 6.5-8, temperature 26-32 °C, and oxygen levels above 4 mg/L," he said.
This was stated by Ocsirendi., M.T. Not only is it accurate, this tool is also energy efficient with an average power consumption of under 100 Watts because the aerator only works when needed.
"During the trial, the fish survival rate increased by 35%," he said.
No less exciting, a member of the research team, Dewi Tumatul Ainin, M.Sc., explained that this technology is cheap, applicable, and easy to use.
"This machine opens up new hopes for productive and environmentally friendly colong management," he said.
In addition, the Head of Pokdakan admitted that the positive impact of this machine was immediately felt by fish farmers, now they are calmer in running their cultivation business.
"In the past, fish often died suddenly for no apparent reason. Now, everything is more under control thanks to this tool from Polman Negeri Babel," he concluded.
