Balikpapan - Another proud achievement has been made by students of Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK). A cross-disciplinary student team successfully secured First Runner-Up in the Jambore Statistika XV 2026, organized by the Statistics Student Association of Mulawarman University in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

The team, led by Muhammad Rihzky Anugrah (Industrial Engineering, 2023), along with members Senda Saputra (Industrial Engineering, 2023) and Vina Agustina (Actuarial Science, 2023), presented a scientific paper titled: “Modeling the Location of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Balikpapan Using Mathematical Programming and a Spatial Approach.”

In this national-level scientific writing competition, the ITK team proposed a data-driven solution to a real-world issue in Balikpapan, namely the unequal distribution of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS). Rihzky explained that the rapid growth in electric vehicle usage, which is not matched by an even distribution of charging facilities, has led to congestion at certain locations, while others remain underutilized.

“Through demographic data and the Human Development Index, we projected the demand for electric vehicles, then optimized EVCS locations using the Maximum Covering Location Problem (MCLP) and P-Median methods,” he stated. These methods enable the identification of strategic locations that maximize service coverage while minimizing user travel distance, making the system more efficient and sustainable.

From Preparation to Achievement

During the preparation phase, the team conducted in-depth research, starting from selecting a relevant topic, determining appropriate methodologies, to processing data based on regional needs. This competition also marked their first experience participating in a national-level offline event. “This has been a valuable experience for us, not only academically but also in building confidence and critical thinking skills,” the team shared.

Their success was also supported by Ahmad Jamil, S.Si., M.Si, who served as the academic advisor, providing guidance in methodology development and refinement of the scientific work.

Encouraging Impactful Student Innovation

This achievement demonstrates that ITK students are capable of delivering science- and technology-based solutions that are relevant to regional needs, particularly in supporting the transition toward sustainable energy.

Furthermore, this accomplishment is expected to inspire other students to actively innovate and compete. “We hope this achievement can foster a healthy competitive environment and encourage more ITK students to create impactful work and excel at the national level,” the team concluded.