Jayapura’s rapid urban expansion is quietly reshaping its relationship with water—literally beneath its streets and hillsides. A new study by Arya Yusril Akbar Kusumah, a researcher from Universitas Merdeka Malang’s Master of Architecture program, offers a detailed map of where the city’s ability to absorb rainwater is holding strong, and where it’s slipping away.
Using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and a method called Weighted Overlay, Kusumah analyzed four critical factors—land use, slope, soil type, and rainfall—to assess the water catchment capacity of Wai Mhorock, a sub-district in Jayapura’s Abepura District. The findings reveal a landscape where most of the area (74.23%) still functions as a natural water catchment, with another 22.82% in good condition. That’s a strong foundation for resilience, but not one to take for granted.
“These areas must be protected as priority conservation zones,” Kusumah emphasizes. “Their ability to absorb water is vital for preventing flooding and maintaining groundwater recharge, especially as urban pressure grows.”
The study’s spatial map isn’t just academic. For energy planners and infrastructure developers, it signals where future development can proceed with minimal risk—and where caution is essential. Steeper slopes and built-up areas show signs of stress, with only small pockets falling into “moderately critical” to “very critical” categories. These zones are where drainage systems, retention ponds, and permeable surfaces could make the biggest difference.
In a city facing climate variability and rising urban density, understanding water absorption isn’t just about conservation—it’s about energy security. Reliable groundwater recharge supports water supply for cooling systems, hydropower, and even future green energy initiatives. Poor water absorption leads to runoff, erosion, and higher treatment costs—all of which ripple into operational budgets and project timelines.
“Spatial planning needs to align with natural hydrological systems,” Kusumah notes. “Otherwise, we risk turning what should be a sustainable resource into a liability.”
Published in *Region: Journal of Regional Development and Participatory Planning* (translated from *Region: Jurnal Pembangunan Wilayah dan Perencanaan Partisipatif*), this research offers more than data—it provides a blueprint for balancing growth with ecological function. For energy firms eyeing Jayapura’s expanding market, it’s a reminder: the most sustainable infrastructure isn’t built on concrete alone, but on understanding—and protecting—the ground beneath it.
As cities across Indonesia grapple with similar pressures, tools like Weighted Overlay could become standard in planning resilient, water-smart urban systems. And for a capital like Jayapura, that could mean the difference between steady progress and costly setbacks.