RRI.CO.ID, Tangerang - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Monash University Indonesia Foundation are conducting a research collaboration to examine the use of digital technology in waste management in Indonesia's smart cities. This collaboration is realized through a project titled "Challenges and Opportunities of Digitalizing Waste Management: Towards a Socially and Environmentally Just Green Transition in Indonesian Smart Cities" (DigSmart).

According to a press release received on Monday, July 27, 2026, the collaboration involves the Energy and Manufacturing Research Organization (OREM) under BRIN and the Monash University Indonesia Foundation. The project cooperation agreement was signed at the Monash University Indonesia Campus, BSD City, South Tangerang.

The Head of the BRIN Center for Sustainable Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Research, Nugroho Adi Sasongko, stated that waste management requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses not only technology but also resource efficiency, environmental impact, and cross-stakeholder governance. He added that BRIN will integrate the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach and the development of a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) to produce scientifically sound recommendations that can be implemented in national and regional policies.

One of BRIN's main contributions to this project is the development of an environmental database representing Indonesia's conditions to assess the environmental impact of waste management systems. Nugroho emphasized that digital transformation in the waste sector depends on data quality, so the research results are expected to be used by local governments and businesses as a basis for planning, not just reports.

During the project, the research team will evaluate the sustainability of waste management systems in four smart cities in Indonesia using drone-based aerial imaging technology at waste processing facilities and landfills. The collected data will then be analyzed using an LCA approach to measure the environmental impact at each stage of waste management.

Jane M. Jacobs, Vice President of Research and Academic Affairs at Monash University Indonesia, stated that the DigSmart project is part of her institution's commitment to building international research collaborations for sustainable waste management solutions. According to her, this collaboration aims to produce an analytical framework and relevant policy recommendations for smart city development in Indonesia while also expanding international research collaboration with BRIN.

The DigSmart project is funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Danida Fellowship Centre (DFC) as part of a research partnership led by the University of Copenhagen and several international partner institutions. Through this ongoing research, which includes publications and workshops, BRIN and Monash University Indonesia hope to enrich the knowledge base to support a circular economy and low-carbon development in Indonesia.