UGM Vocational School lecturer and researcher Dr. Agus Maryono innovatively developed the GAMA-RainFilter. It is a rainwater filter and collection device attached to a rainwater reservoir to produce good quality of water quality that meets clean water standards.
This device, which has a patent number IDP00067606, became the Best Patent award at the UGM Human Achievement Award Night last Wednesday (4/11). Agus admitted that this research and development product started 15 years ago, beginning with concerns regarding water security in Indonesia’s regions.
“In 2005, I started to make the concept of relocating the rainwater, and I have shared this insight with many people in various places. I also wrote a book and attempted to share it with the public,” he explained.
He began to create a prototype of this device in 2010, which was then installed at the UGM Faculty of Engineering. This prototype has received good responses from many parties.
“Some parties, both the media and the public, are very interested. They said this device is remarkable. Besides, the water is clean and healthy,” said Agus.
After improving several parts, Agus started writing a patent for this device in 2016, which was then eligible for a patent in 2019 and received a patent number this year.
“As I am waiting for the patent, I did not stop and kept working. I continued to conduct socialization while developing a rainwater reservoir movement. In 2018, there was one form of movement, such as the congress, to process the rainwater using this device,” he explained.
Although he has already had a patent for this device, Agus wants the community to develop it independently according to their needs. The wider community can build this tool in a semi-automatic system with initial guidance from related experts. It will be a good solution for clean water problems, floods, and drought in a broad implementation.
Individuals or groups interested in designing this tool can find the steps via videos uploaded on the Youtube channel. Currently, this tool has been installed in various regions throughout Indonesia, from Sumatra Island, Kalimantan to Maluku.
“Even though this tool is patented, it is well known because the system is simple and understandable. The tutorial video of making this device is provided on YouTube so that people can make their own,” he explained.
Agus revealed that there is no need to design something completely new to obtain a patent. A researcher can use what they have before their eyes and develop it one step further.
He said that a researcher’s productivity would show when they have a concern that stimulates their desire to challenge it. This is an important thing that leads him to work and create a movement to spread the benefits from his innovative products.
“I have a dream to carry out this movement for the Nobel Prize. It might be challenging, but having a dream is better than nothing, and these all are dedicated to UGM and Indonesia,” he said.
