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The Esri Young Scholar Award is a national competition that evaluates students’ ability to apply Esri-based geospatial technologies to address various issues, ranging from conservation and environmental challenges to urban development. The competition is organized by Esri Indonesia and is open to undergraduate to doctoral students from universities across Indonesia.

The project he presented is titled “The Heat That Hides: Silent Surge in The Bandung Basin’s Temperature.” The study examines the phenomenon of the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI), or the increase in surface temperature in urban areas, particularly during the extreme heat conditions recorded in 2024 in the Bandung Basin. Using a machine learning approach, Fajar analyzed several urban variables to identify which factors most strongly influence temperature increases at a local scale of 1 km².

“Through this research, I aim to identify which variables contribute the most to the increase in surface temperature in the Bandung Basin, so that future policy interventions can be more targeted,” said Fajar.

The topic was chosen due to his interest in climate change and its impacts on urban environments. He was motivated to adapt analytical approaches that have been widely applied in other cities and test them within the geographical context of the Bandung Basin, which has unique urban dynamics as a basin area. He hopes the findings will provide a more detailed spatial understanding of the patterns and drivers of temperature increase and contribute to future climate mitigation policies at the local level.

During the research process, the main challenge involved collecting and processing daily daytime and nighttime surface temperature data for the entire year of 2024 at a detailed spatial resolution. Various sources of remote sensing data and supporting datasets had to be integrated despite differences in resolution, coordinate systems, and data formats.

In addition, the technical results of the analysis had to be communicated systematically through ArcGIS StoryMaps and summarized as a poster. This required Fajar to translate complex modeling outputs, thematic maps, and statistical interpretations into a visual narrative that remained methodologically accurate while still accessible to a broader audience.

Fajar stated that the competition was a valuable experience that strengthened both his analytical and scientific communication skills. According to him, participating in EYSA encouraged him to explore new geospatial analysis methods and tools while also developing the ability to present research findings clearly and effectively to experts and practitioners. Feedback received during the final stage also provided important insights for improving future research.

He also expressed his appreciation to his academic supervisor and colleagues who supported him throughout the research process. Fajar encourages fellow students not to hesitate in participating in competitions, as they provide opportunities to apply classroom knowledge, build professional networks, and develop practical experience beyond academic settings.

Reporter: Muhammad Nabiel Hafiz (Urban and Regional Planning, 2022)