EduAsiaNews, Surakarta — The Doctoral Program in Industrial Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering (FT), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, has once again produced innovative research that contributes to the development of inclusive and sustainable public transportation. This study examines the interior design of disability-friendly train toilets in Indonesia by integrating universal design principles with the values of Javanese local wisdom.
The research was conducted b y Dr. Akh. Sokhibi, a PhD student in Industrial Engineering at UNS who also serves as a lecturer at Universitas Muria Kudus (UMK). The study was supervised by Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Suhardi, S.T., M.T. as the primary supervisor, with support from Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. Pringgo Widyo Laksono, S.T., M.Eng. as Co-Supervisor I, and Prof. Sugiono, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. from Universitas Brawijaya as Co-Supervisor II. Dr. Sokhibi graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.93 after 3 years and 6 months of study, earning the distinction of cum laude.
In the context of railway transportation, toilets are a vital facility that still faces various limitations, such as inadequate space dimensions and door widths, as well as the absence of truly accessible toilet standards for persons with disabilities. These conditions directly affect the comfort and mobility of passengers with special needs during travel.
Through his dissertation titled “Design of Executive Train Toilets Accessible Based on Universal Design and Local Wisdom,” universal design concepts were applied to ensure that the toilets can be safely and comfortably used by all users, including wheelchair users, the elderly, and general passengers. The proposed key features include accessibility-compliant space dimensions, automatic sliding doors, automatic faucets and hand dryers, grab bars, non-slip flooring, flush buttons located on the side, Braille signage, and emergency buttons and lights.
Beyond functionality, the toilet design also represents local cultural identity through the use of brown tones, wood-patterned panels, batik-inspired carvings, and room shapes inspired by the philosophy of the Joglo house. Integrating local wisdom is expected to enhance passengers’ emotional comfort while fostering pride in Indonesian culture.
Dr. Akh. Sokhibi hopes that this research can serve as a reference for PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) and PT INKA in designing new disability-friendly train toilet standards.
“The creation of this toilet design aims to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and the elderly. I hope that the design resulting from this research can become a new standard for PT INKA and PT KAI in designing train car toilets,” he said during the Doctoral Program Graduation Ceremony of the Industrial Engineering PhD Program at FT UNS on Thursday (January 15, 2026).
According to ft.uns.ac.id, the Rector of Universitas Muria Kudus, Prof. Dr. Ir. Darsono, M.Si., also expressed his appreciation for this academic achievement as a tangible contribution to the advancement of Industrial Engineering knowledge.
Through this research, FT UNS reaffirms its commitment to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), by promoting inclusive, culturally-informed, and socially-oriented public transportation innovation.
HUMAS UNS
