TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - According to a four-dimensional microgravity study conducted between 2014 up to 2018, a University of Indonesia (UI) researcher claims that North Jakarta’s ground level has steadily descended 11 centimeters each year.

The research indicates that the sinking ground levels are almost consistent across every area in North Jakarta.

“The sink rate in average is 11 centimeters annually,” said UI researcher Syamsu Rosid in a written statement on Monday, December 3.

Syamsu said that the Jakarta provincial government needs to be more aware of the condition and focus on evaluating the area’s spatial planning.

He revealed that this phenomenon is highly likely caused by excessive use of groundwater in an area where open green spaces are already scarce, added with intensive and heavy infrastructure constructions.

The lecturer for geophysics studies program added that sinking ground levels can also be contributed by human activities such as the heavy duty container trucks that constantly operate across most North Jakarta regions that create vibrations within the ground.

His research was presented at the 43rd HAGI Annual Scientific Meeting at Semarang, Central Java, last September.

ANTARA