October 19, 2026 — Mapping regional languages involves more than identifying speakers and documenting vocabulary. In Tana Luwu, South Sulawesi, a geospatial approach is combined with sociolinguistic analysis to map language vitality while supporting the development of language revitalization strategies. This research has earned Dr. Serliah Nur, a lecturer at UIN Alauddin Makassar and Head of the International Office, an Honorable Mention at the 2026 Indroyono Soesilo Award.
The award was announced at the closing ceremony of the 47th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (ACRS), held in New Delhi, India, on Friday, October 16, 2026. Serliah was one of four award recipients this year, alongside three other researchers and practitioners from Indonesia, Japan, and India.
In her research, Serliah integrated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with sociolinguistic analysis to map language vitality in Tana Luwu. This approach uses geographical information as a tool to understand the condition of regional languages and support the development of revitalization strategies tailored to the local context.
The research demonstrates that geospatial technology can be used for purposes beyond mapping landscapes and physical resources. When combined with social and linguistic studies, this technology also has the potential to help identify the condition of regional languages and support efforts to preserve them.
The 2026 Indroyono Soesilo Award also presented its main award to Yustinus Seno of Auriga Nusantara Corp. for his research entitled MapBiomas Indonesia: Annual Wall-to-Wall Mapping of Forest Ecosystems in Indonesia (1990–2024). The research utilizes Landsat satellite data, cloud computing, and machine learning to monitor changes in Indonesia’s forest ecosystems.
The other two recipients were Serenee Osman of Nakanihon Air Co. Ltd., Japan, who received the Technical Excellence award for applying remote sensing technology to assess landscape changes caused by the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, and Ankitha Reddy of the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India, who received Special Recognition for the Bhoonidhi platform, which expands access to Earth observation data.
The award is named in honor of Prof. Dr. Ir. Indroyono Soesilo, a senior remote sensing expert recognized as a pioneer in the development of remote sensing technology in Indonesia and one of the founders of the Indonesian Remote Sensing Society (MAPIN).
The 2026 ACRS was held from October 12 to 16 under the theme “Remote Sensing for Future Earth: Innovation, Inclusion & Impact.” The conference brought together scientists, academics, space agencies, and geospatial industry professionals from various countries to discuss developments in and applications of remote sensing technology.
Serliah’s participation in the forum brought regional language studies into a broader scientific discussion. The interdisciplinary approach employed in her research also highlights how technology and social sciences can complement each other in addressing challenges related to cultural preservation.
For UIN Alauddin Makassar, the participation of its lecturers in international academic forums represents a contribution by the university’s academic community to the advancement of knowledge that addresses societal needs. This includes efforts to preserve regional languages as an integral part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.
