Revitalizing Faculty Open Space Through Local Flora and Technological Integration

Abstract

Green open spaces within university environments play a crucial role in enhancing academic, social, and ecological quality. At the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Jambi (FST UNJA), the existing park has not yet functioned optimally due to a non-functional landscape layout, unsystematic use of local flora, and the absence of technological integration to support sustainability. These conditions have resulted in limited social interaction, inadequate environmental education functions, and a lack of intelligent systems for efficient green space management. Therefore, revitalizing the faculty’s open space has become an urgent initiative to realize the university’s vision of creating a green, innovative, and competitive academic environment. This study aims to design, implement, and integrate a technology-based green park (smart eco-park) that functions as a communal area, an interdisciplinary learning platform, and a pilot model for sustainable open-space management. Using an applied research design combining qualitative and quantitative methods, the study comprises four stages: pre-design analysis and surveys, landscape and technological system design, physical implementation, and subsequent evaluation. The main innovations include the use of local flora, application of smart irrigation systems, humidity sensors, and plant QR codes to enhance user engagement and data-driven environmental learning. This research contributes to scientific advancement and physics education by demonstrating the practical application of sensor-based monitoring systems, environmental data acquisition, and energy-efficient technologies to support sustainability and interdisciplinary learning within a university setting.