Developing Excellent Civil Engineering Doctoral Graduates

Advancing Safer Learning Environments through Community-Based Building Assessment Universitas Jember’s Civil Engineering Programs

The Doctoral Program in Civil Engineering and the Applied Bachelor’s Program in Building Construction Engineering Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Jember, conducted a community engagement initiative at Nuris Islamic Boarding School in Jember, Indonesia. Entitled “Education on Preliminary Building Safety and Serviceability Assessment Using Simple Numerical Analysis,” the initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity of the pesantren community to identify early signs of building deterioration and potential safety risks. Participants were introduced to a practical assessment method combining visual inspection with a simple numerical scoring system. The assessment covered essential building components, including foundations, columns, beams, walls, roofs, floors, stairways, evacuation routes, electrical installations, and sanitation facilities. Through interactive presentations, discussions, checklist-based exercises, and numerical simulations, participants learned how to document building conditions, assign condition scores, calculate a preliminary serviceability index, and identify components requiring further attention. The approach enables building managers to recognise visible problems such as wall cracks, roof leakage, reinforcement corrosion, unsafe electrical installations, and obstructed evacuation routes. The multidisciplinary Universitas Jember team included Dr. Ir. Indra Nurtjahjaningtyas, S.T., M.T.; Bagas Rahmandita Subchan, S.T., M.T.; Setiyo Ferdi Yanuar, S.S.T., M.T.; and Ir. Anita Trisiana, S.T., M.T. The international dimension of the program was strengthened by the participation of Dr. Kocherlakota Satya Pritam from Pandit Deendayal Energy University, India, who contributed expertise in applying simple numerical analysis to building-condition assessment.