On Monday, July 15, 2024, the Civil Engineering Student Association of Pelita Harapan University held the Civil Engineering Festival 2024 seminar at Hope Auditorium, Pelita Harapan University, Karawaci. The seminar, themed “Green and Blue Sustainable Construction Development,” consisted of three main sessions: green building, sustainable transport, and water management, which featured Dr.-Ing. Jack Widjajakusuma, a Lecturer in Civil Engineering at UPH; Mizandaru Wicaksono, Sr. Transport Associate at ITDP Indonesia; and Dr. Yunita Chandra Sari, S.E., S.T., M.T., from the National Water Resources Council Secretariat at the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, as key speakers. The event was attended by civil engineering students from Pelita Harapan University, both in-person and online.

ITDP Indonesia, represented by Mizandaru Wicaksono, Sr. Transport Associate, was a speaker in the “Sustainable Transport” session. Mizandaru opened his presentation by addressing the congestion issues and high pollution levels in Jakarta. He introduced the A-S-I (Avoid the need to travel, Shift towards sustainable modes, and Improve the quality of all modes) approach as a strategy for decarbonization, reducing congestion, and developing sustainable transportation systems.

The “avoid” aspect of the A-S-I approach focuses on reducing unnecessary travel through better land use planning, improved transportation systems, and transit-oriented development. The “shift” aspect encourages the transition to more sustainable transportation modes, such as non-motorized transport (NMT) and public transport, while the “improve” aspect aims to enhance transportation quality through advanced technology and alternative fuels.

Although the primary focus of the A-S-I approach is on the “avoid” aspect, Mizandaru emphasized that all three aspects must be pursued concurrently to achieve optimal results. He also highlighted the need for a shift in road usage priorities, shifting focus from cars to people.

The seminar concluded with a Q&A session that encouraged active participation from attendees. Topics such as the implementation of sustainable transportation in Indonesia, including public transport capacity issues during peak hours, the role of comfort in promoting a shift to public transport, regulations, and the measurement of policy effectiveness in sustainable transportation were highlighted during this session.