Environmental Damage Can Be Reported by SMS

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Environmental damage, especially in isolated areas, can now be reported faster by SMS, MMS or other mobile and web applications.This innovation, which uses the Butterfly system application, was presented by the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) at the international Imagine Cup competition in Paris, France, on July 8.The innovation can help preserving in the environment, said Mona Monika, Microsofts public relations manager today (29/7). The Butterfly application will classify social problems by categorizing theme based on priority and location. The categorized problems will then be forwarded to the officials or institutions responsible.Members of the general public can send pictures through MMS, SMS, or telephone officials. Report will be shown at a site that can be accessed by related institutions. This site shows the status of reports and whether they are just submitted or have already been followed up on.The ITB team, including Arief Widhiyasa, Dimas Yusuf Danuwenda, Ella Madenella Dwi Mustika, and Erga Ghaniya, have presented this innovation to the State Minister for the Environment.According to Mona, State Minister Rachmat Witoelar appreciated this ITB finding, which is sponsored by Microsoft. The additional value of this software is its punctuality, said Mona citing Rachmats opinion.The government has acknowledged that up until now there have been obstacles in responding to reports about environmental damage. The state ministry plans to invite ITB again to follow up on the application.Aqida Swamurti