Yogyakarta, Febuary 3, 2026 — Across Indonesia’s cities, rooftops stretch quietly under the tropical sun. Often unnoticed, rooftops hold more than shelter, representing untapped economic and environmental value.
These pressing issues framed the discussion at the latest CESASS Chat forum hosted by the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM), under the theme “GeoSpectra: AI-Based Geospatial Modelling for Rooftop Photovoltaic Assessment and Property Tax Valuation in Indonesia.”
The theme will be carried forward by the AInsightGeo team in the upcoming ASEAN Geospatial Challenge: Geospatial Youth Edition. Previously, the team emerged as the winner of Indonesia’s national round of the competition. Under the supervision of I Made Andi Arsana, S.T., M.E., Ph.D., the team is composed of the Geodetic Engineering students: Mohammad Zulfi Rahadi Putra, Najieda Azka, Raffi Satya Nugraha, and Salzabila Enzal.
Their work sparked a broader reflection on governance and sustainability in Southeast Asia.
Through GeoSpectra, the AInsightGeo team proposes an integrated response. By leveraging AI-based geospatial modelling, the system is capable of extracting building footprints from aerial imagery, generating detailed 3D city models, classifying roof materials in accordance with property tax categories, and estimating rooftop solar potential. In doing so, rooftops are no longer seen merely as physical structures, but as a way to connect taxation and a sustainable future.
The discussion emphasized the critical synergy between spatial intelligence and public policy, paving the way for data-driven solutions to achieve the region’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Reporter: CESASS Team