Jakarta, INTI - Three artificial intelligence (AI) innovations designed to address real-world challenges in Indonesia received top honors at AIDeaNation 2026. SIDA-AI from Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) won first place, followed by IMGNet, developed by independent researcher Imam Ghozali, in second place, and HujanNet from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in third place.
The three winners were announced on the final day of AIDeaNation 2026, held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at JIEXPO Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. Organized by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), AIDeaNation aims to identify solutions to real-world challenges in Indonesia through the application of AI technology.
Each winning innovation takes a different approach. SIDA-AI was developed to identify the vulnerability of embankments and the flow capacity of the Porong River in the Sidoarjo mudflow disaster area. IMGNet offers a lightweight facial verification system that can operate without relying on an internet connection. Meanwhile, HujanNet uses cellular base station (BTS) networks to support rainfall monitoring and early flood warning systems.
BRIN Research Center for Data and Information Science (PRSDI) researcher and AIDeaNation 2026 judge, Hengki Muradi, said the evaluation was based on five criteria: originality and innovation, technical or research feasibility, benefits and impact, business feasibility, and presentation skills.
“The top three positions were determined not only by technological sophistication, but also by the participants’ ability to demonstrate the relevance of their innovations to challenges faced by communities and the potential for real-world implementation,” Hengki explained.
SIDA-AI Wins First Place with an Early Warning System for the Porong River Embankment
Irfan Mirda, Abdullah Faqih Septiyanto, and Kurnia Cahya Febryanto from ITS won first place with SIDA-AI: An Agentic AI-Based Early Warning System for Porong River Embankment Vulnerability and Flow Capacity Using UAV Imagery and IoT Sensors in the Sidoarjo Mudflow Disaster Area.
The innovation was developed in response to the team’s concerns about the ongoing risk management challenges in the Sidoarjo mudflow area. The team observed that embankment management tends to be corrective, with action taken after problems occur. Through SIDA-AI, they developed a more preventive approach by using AI to support early warning efforts.
The system analyzes imagery captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones to identify embankment conditions and integrates the findings with monitoring of the Porong River’s flow capacity. The team has also developed a prototype and conducted field-based spatial and imagery data collection.
Hengki highlighted SIDA-AI’s ability to address a concrete real-world challenge as one of its key strengths.
“The first-place winner presents an AI-based solution to the risk of embankment failure in the Lapindo mudflow area. This solution can strengthen preventive strategies,” Hengki said.
Beyond the relevance of the problem addressed, he noted that the team was able to clearly explain its innovation through both its proposal and presentation. The idea was presented in a structured and easy-to-understand manner across all assessment criteria, including originality and innovation, technical or research feasibility, benefits and impact, business feasibility, and presentation.
The achievement marks an important step for the team as it moves SIDA-AI toward implementation. Following the competition, they plan to continue deploying the system at several points along the embankments and the Porong River.
“We hope to realize this innovation in the future and create a meaningful impact in Indonesia,” the team said.
IMGNet Takes Second Place with Lightweight Facial Verification Technology
Second place went to Imam Ghozali, an independent researcher from Cilacap, for IMGNet: Lightweight Face Verification AI Based on Metric-Loss Alignment Inspired by Nusantara Language Equivalents for Sustainable Digital Infrastructure in Indonesia.
IMGNet introduces a lightweight AI approach for facial verification. Imam explained that the system is approximately 1.6 MB in size, allowing it to operate on devices with limited capacity without necessarily depending on an internet connection.
The technology has potential applications in various biometric verification scenarios, including attendance systems for field workers and CCTV systems, particularly in areas with limited internet connectivity.
For Imam, the AIDeaNation 2026 award represents an opportunity to take his concept to the next stage.
“The significance of this achievement is that it serves as an initial gateway for my framework to eventually be adopted by industry,” Imam said.
Following AIDeaNation, Imam plans to continue his research and further develop the model in collaboration with BRIN researchers and other potential partners. One of his initial targets is to apply IMGNet to facial verification for worker attendance systems in areas with limited internet access.
HujanNet Takes Third Place by Turning BTS Networks into Rainfall Monitoring Infrastructure
Raditya Wibian Sastaka, Muhammad Adnan Kurniawan, and Sulthan Dhiyazka Suwandi from ITB secured third place with HujanNet: Turning BTS Networks into Rain Gauges for AI-Based Flood Early Warning Systems.
HujanNet was developed in response to the limited availability of rainfall monitoring equipment in several parts of Indonesia. Rather than building new infrastructure, the team utilizes existing BTS networks that are already widely distributed across the country to help detect rainfall.
The team analyzes changes in communication signals between cellular towers during rainfall. The resulting data is processed and combined with AI to improve monitoring accuracy and support the development of information such as evacuation routes.
For the HujanNet team, the achievement represents both a learning experience and motivation to further develop the innovation.
“We did not come here expecting anything. Our main goal was to learn. But, thankfully, we were able to win,” one of the team members said.
Following the competition, the team plans to collect primary data and conduct testing under real-world conditions in Indonesia, with Bandung planned as one of the initial locations for development.
The team also emphasized the importance of collaboration with telecommunications companies, BMKG, BPBD, and laboratories at ITB to ensure the system can be further developed according to Indonesia’s rainfall characteristics.
From Competition to Real-World Implementation
SIDA-AI, IMGNet, and HujanNet demonstrate three distinct approaches to using AI to address real-world challenges. SIDA-AI focuses on risk mitigation in the Sidoarjo mudflow disaster area, IMGNet provides lightweight facial verification technology for devices and locations with limited connectivity, while HujanNet leverages existing telecommunications infrastructure to expand rainfall monitoring and support flood early warning systems.
For all three winners, the conclusion of AIDeaNation 2026 marks not the end of their innovation journey, but the beginning of the next stage toward real-world implementation. Technology refinement, field testing, collaboration, and business model development will be key steps in transforming these award-winning innovations into solutions that can deliver tangible benefits to communities.
Conclusion
The achievements of SIDA-AI, IMGNet, and HujanNet at AIDeaNation 2026 demonstrate the growing potential of AI to address real-world challenges in Indonesia. From strengthening disaster risk mitigation and enabling lightweight facial verification to expanding rainfall monitoring through existing telecommunications infrastructure, each innovation presents a practical approach tailored to specific needs.
Beyond winning the competition, the three innovations now have the opportunity to move toward further research, field testing, collaboration, and implementation. With continued support from research institutions, industry, government, and other stakeholders, these ideas can be developed into scalable solutions that deliver meaningful and sustainable impact for communities across Indonesia.
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