From Business to Academics, Sunaryo Earns Doctorate in Civil Engineering Through Floating Fiber Embankment Innovation
INDRAMAYU-JAYA NEWS COM – Young entrepreneur, consultant, and lecturer at Wiralodra University in Indramayu, Ir. Sunaryo, S.T., M.T., familiarly known as Bang Joy, officially earned his doctorate after successfully defending his dissertation in the Civil Engineering Doctoral Program on Friday (August 29, 2025) at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Sultan Agung Islamic University (Unissula), Semarang.
In his open defense, Sunaryo presented the results of his research entitled “Floating Fiber Embankment Model to Anticipate Rising Tides.” This research stemmed from his concern about the impacts of global climate change, particularly sea level rise, which increases the risk of tidal flooding in coastal areas and river estuaries.
According to Sunaryo, conventional static embankment systems are considered less adaptive to tidal dynamics.
Therefore, he designed the concept of a floating fiber embankment based on fiber composite combined with an automatic hydraulic/mechanical system to dynamically adjust its height.
The research methodology involved the construction of a laboratory-scale prototype (1:20) and numerical analysis using ANSYS software. Tests were conducted at four water level conditions (2.5 cm, 3.75 cm, 5 cm, and 7 cm) to evaluate deformation, stress, strain, and shear and overturning stability. Cross-validation was performed by comparing the results of manual calculations, experiments, and numerical simulations.
The research results showed that at a water level of 3–5 cm, the laboratory-scale embankment remained stable with a shear safety factor of 1.96 and an overturn safety factor of 4.91, well above the minimum limit of 1.5. However, at a water level of 7 cm, shear stability decreased, with a safety factor of only 1.00, necessitating design strengthening for extreme conditions.
The numerical simulations showed an average deviation of only 6% compared to the experimental results, indicating the reliability of the research model.
Furthermore, the use of fiber composite materials and an adaptive hydraulic system is predicted to reduce maintenance costs by up to 30% compared to conventional concrete embankments and extend the structure’s lifespan.
“This floating fiber embankment concept is not only more adaptive to sea level changes, but also more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. I hope this innovation can be an alternative solution for tidal flood mitigation in coastal areas of Indonesia,” said Sunaryo during his presentation.
After undergoing a rigorous examination process, Sunaryo graduated with honors and earned a doctorate, with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.76. He is the 49th graduate of the Unissula Civil Engineering Doctoral Program.
The doctoral promotion defense was led by a team of examiners consisting of Dr. Abdul Rochim, ST, MT, Prof. Dr. Ir. S. Imam Wahyudi, DEA, Prof. Pratikso, MST, PhD, Ir. Rachmat Mudiyono, MT, PhD, Prof. Dr. Ir. Henny Pratiwi Adi, ST, MT, Dr. Ir. Soedarsono, MSi, and Dr. Purwanto, ST, MT.
For Sunaryo, this success is not only a personal achievement, but also motivation to continue developing technological innovations that benefit society.
In addition to his career as a consultant and young entrepreneur, he also actively teaches at Wiralodra University in Indramayu.
Sunaryo is expected to increasingly bring new ideas and tangible contributions to the development of the Indramayu region, particularly in mitigating tidal flooding, which remains a major challenge in coastal areas.
“I dedicate this doctoral degree to my family, students, and the community who have always inspired me in my work. I hope the results of this research can be implemented in sustainable development, especially in coastal areas,” he concluded.*
Teddy
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