Universitas Bung Hatta PKM Team Introduces GPS & AI–Based Visitor Monitoring Application at Gunung Padang to Support Sustainable Tourism

The Community Service (PKM) Team of Universitas Bung Hatta has introduced a GPS- and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Visitor Monitoring Application at the Gunung Padang tourist destination, aiming to accelerate digital transformation in tourism while enhancing visitor safety and comfort.

The initiative contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

PKM Team Leader Yusrizal Bakar, S.T., M.T., C.T., IPU explained that the application was designed to deliver a data-driven, safe, and well-monitored tourism experience. He was accompanied by Prof. Dr. Diana Kartika and Noviyarsi, S.T., M.Eng, along with three Industrial Engineering students from the Faculty of Industrial Technology—Shalviona Rahayu, Irma Sasmita, and Yuda Saputra.

The presentation took place during the Assistance and Development of a Mobile Application for Visitor Monitoring and Safety at the GPS- and AI-Based Gunung Padang Tourism Destination event held at the Muaro Padang Subdistrict Office on November 15, 2025.

Funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology under the 2025 Community Partnership Empowerment Scheme, the project features real-time visitor tracking, automated emergency alerts, digital dashboards for site managers, AI-based crowd analysis, and rapid reporting tools for visitors requiring assistance.

The application was developed in close collaboration with the Gunung Padang Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) led by Bhilu Pricilia, S.Si., addressing the need for a modern monitoring system in hilly tourism areas with limited access.

Aligned with Padang City’s Smart City policy—particularly in the areas of smart tourism, smart governance, and smart safety—the system enables safer visitor experiences, more efficient site supervision by Pokdarwis personnel, and data integration for digital-based tourism planning. Gunung Padang is also expected to become a pilot project for technology-driven tourism destinations in West Sumatra.

Beyond technological innovation, the PKM initiative is considered a strategic contribution to building a modern and adaptive tourism ecosystem, strengthening local management capacity, and supporting digital transformation at community level.

The team also conducted outreach programs, digital literacy training for tourism stakeholders, field simulations along hiking routes, and intensive mentoring to ensure the application can be fully utilized by local managers and communities.