Symposium Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the ARRC
 A view of the session Many people participated |
 Presentation Achievements reported in an easy-to-understand manner |
 Q & A session |
The Aqua Restoration Research Center (ARRC) was established for the purpose of conducting fundamental and applied research to conserve and restore the natural environment in rivers and lakes and widely disseminate its results thereof.
The ARRC, located in Kakamigahara City, Gifu, marked its 10th anniversary
since its inauguration in November 1998. In commemoration of this milestone,
"the Symposium Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the ARRC"
was held in Nagoya and Tokyo on December 18 and 19, respectively. The symposium
is held biennially in order to widely disseminate the latest research findings
of the Center to professionals and non-professionals alike. The participants,
who numbered 186 in Nagoya and 160 in Tokyo, came from a variety of backgrounds,
including people in charge of river administration, researchers, and environment
volunteers.
At the symposium, Chief Executive Sakamoto gave the opening address, after which Naoyoshi Sato, Director General of the Chubu Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) made a speech in Nagoya and Akimasa Nakajima, Chief of the River Environment Division, River Bureau, MLIT made one in Tokyo. Afterward, Yuichi Kayaba, Deputy Team Leader (ARRC Director) gave an introduction, which was followed by a four-part presentation. In Tokyo, Yutaka Takahashi, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo, gave commentary.
Part 1 of the symposium included a presentation on "the Ecological Functions and Restoration of Rivers and Waterside Areas." A report was given on the functions of gaps between stones as fish habitats by introducing the results of testing conducted in an experimental stream and a case study of Satetsu River in Iwate Prefecture.
Part 2 consisted of a report on "Dissemination of Information about River Environment and Environmental Education." Approaches taken in an experimental stream using iPod and video display for the purpose of environmental education were presented together with video footage.
Part 3 included a report on "the Effect of Artificial Alteration of
Flow Rate and Sediment and Restoration Thereof." The report identified
the effects of sediment replenishment on improving the riverbed environment
by observing the state of inhabitation of benthic animals that use bed
materials such as sand and gravel. In addition, the amount of food ingested
by fish such as sweetfish (Ayu) and chab was studied in an experimental
stream to explain that the existence of predators, including fish, is important
as a predominant factor in riverbed deposition in addition to physical
disturbance due to flooding.
Part 4 dealt with "Deterioration Mechanisms and Restoration of Floodplains with a Focus on Mussels." To study the environment of floodplains with characteristics in between those of terrestrial and water areas, bivalves inhabiting in freshwater environment were used as the indicator species to determine the reason for the deterioration of floodplain environments seen in irregation channel and backwater.
This symposium was held in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the
ARRC's establishment. Visitors offered many views and the symposium provided
a good opportunity to reconsider the direction of future research. We are
committed to further reinforcing cooperation with the front line to actively
disseminate research findings.
(Contact: Aqua Restration Research Center)
22nd CERI Symposium Held
 Address by Director General Tsunematsu |
 Lecture by Professor Yoshinori Yasuda |
 CERI Panel Exhibition |
On Friday December 5, 2008, the 22nd Civil Engineering Research Institute
for Cold Region (CERI) Symposium was held at Doshin Hall (Sapporo City).
We were happy to receive more than 400 visitors even though it was a weekday.
This symposium has been held since 1986 to introduce the achievements of our research and topics concerning civil engineering technology for cold region to many people.
Professor Yoshinori Yasuda of the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, an advocator and the top authority of environmental archeology, was invited to give a special lecture titled "The Future of Hokkaido from the Perspective of Environmental Archeology." Professor Yasuda, who enabled the understanding of past yearly changes in the ambient natural environment stretching over a wide area using varves (yearly layers of sediment on a lake bottom), said: "A rice-producing and fishing civilization has existed in Japan since ancient times; we are a recycling-oriented civilized society. If the consumption oriented society that started in the modern era continues, however, civilization may be destroyed by 2070." His remark sounded an alarm. With environmental change such as global warming taking place on a global scale, environmental issues are drawing more and more attention and visitors showed a strong interest in this topic as well.
Following the special lecture, Councilor Yasuhiro Nishimura gave a presentation
on the CERI's research organization and activities, including the new CERI
research organization which resulted from the transfer of operations from
the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism (MLIT).
General lectures given included the one by Jun Yamamoto, Chief researcher of Fisheries Engineering Research Team, whose lecture was titled "For Organism-friendly Harbors: Focus on Measures for Seaweed Withering on Beaches and by Creation of Seaweed Beds", one by Yoshihiko Ito, Chief researcher of Geological Hazards Research Team, titled "Geology and Civil Engineering: Role (or Complaints) of Geologists in Civil Engineering Works" and one by Seiichiro Okamoto, Chief researcher of Recycling Research Team of Tsukuba Central Research Institute, titled "Energy Use of Biomass Resulting from Public Works: For the Domestic Emission Trading System to be in Place."
At the CERI Panel Exhibition held in the hall, the research findings of individual research teams were presented in various formats, including panels, models, and brochures. Visitors enjoyed these various presentations.
(Contact: Planning Division, CERI)
PWRI Symposium 2008 Held
 Address by Chief Executive Sakamoto |
 Special lecture 1 by Dr. Lee, Team Reader |
 Special lecture 2 by Mr. Ito, President of the Information Institute of Disaster Prevention  Content |
On Tuesday, December 9, the PWRI Symposium 2008 was held at Nissho Hall at Toranomon, Tokyo.
This symposium is held to widely disseminate the research results conducted by PWRI and topics and trends in the latest civil engineering technology to the general public. For this symposium, two guests were invited as special lectures: Samhee Lee, Team Leader at the Korea Institute of Construction Technology (KICT), and Kazuaki Ito, President of the Information Institute of Disaster Prevention.
The symposium attracted about 400 visitors from public utility corporations, local public entities, and other organizations, in addition to private corporations.
The content of the 2008 lectures is as shown on the end.
Dr. Samhee Lee who was awarded the Civil Merit Medal last June by the Korean President, gave a special lecture as an external expert on river restoration in South Korea based on the philosophy, planning, design and maintenance techniques learned at PWRI for five years since 1995 together with case examples. In addition, Mr. Kazuaki Ito who is also active as the Leader of the Task Force Concerning Inheriting Lessons Learned from Disasters of the Central Disaster Management Council described the mechanisms and damage of earthquakes, which occur frequently in Japan, earthquake awareness, and other similar topics.
General lectures given by PWRI staff included one on the state of PWRI's research, such as the development of dam technology for the conservation of natural environment and the dissemination of the achievements, and another on the damage caused by the Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake in 2008 that occurred last June.
Visitors commented through the post-lecture questionnaire as such: "the symposium clearly showed the contribution that PWRI makes to society"; "lectures used video footages were quite realistic and interesting"; and "research reports indicate the trends in the civil engineering industry in the future and I want to take part in the next symposium." The questionnaire showed that the lecture themes of interest included "Safety, security, and environmental issues," "Future weather forecasts in view of global warming and the response," and "Seismic technology for civil engineering structures". Requests for PWRI included "Continued active promotion of research ready to be applied on site" and "Stronger publicity for the social effects of civil engineering technology."
We intend to strive for further improvement of the symposium as an opportunity to report on PWRI's excellent research findings in the future.
We would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to the lecturers who
gave their valuable views, the visitors who spared the time to come all
the way to the symposium, and those who offered their cooperation with
the holding of this symposium.
(Contact: Planning and Management Division)
Development and Dissemination of a Flood Forecasting System Using Satellite-based Rainfall Data
 The IFAS concept |
 IFAS screen (basin in Guatemala)  Training session |
In the countries where river improvements are not sufficient, smooth evacuation from flooding is important for decreasing loss of life and properties. Dissemination of risk by hazard maps, etc. and direction of evacuation by issuing flood forecasts and alerts are necessary. In many cases, however, real-time rainfall data, which is indispensable for flood forecasting, cannot be acquired because of the lack of a rainfall observation network such as that in Japan. In addition, there is also insufficient information required for runoff simulation, such as basin characteristics.
To address this issue, the Hydrologic Engineering Research Team has developed a flood forecasting system that uses satellite-based rainfall data called IFAS (Integrated Flood Analysis System) while working in collaboration with the IFNet (International Flood Network) established for facilitating international cooperation among flood management, private corporations, etc. While further improvement in accuracy is required, satellite-based rainfall data covers almost the entire world and has been made available for free via the Internet. Taking advantage of the rainfall data allows flood forecasting even in poorly gauged basins. This system is also implemented with a function to estimate parameters by using global GIS data published on the Internet to create a runoff analysis model required for flood forecasting and a screen display function to identify the risk of flood with seeing visualized simulation results.
We also provide training on the mechanisms of and uses for satellite-based rainfall data, and we employ our IFAS to encourage developing countries to make use of this system to build a flood forecasting and warning system on their own so that flood damage can be reduced. Last October, we worked with the IFNet to invite people in charge of flood management from seven countries in Asia, South America, and Africa for training with the cooperation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). We have also participated in international academic meetings and symposiums to promote this system.
Together with these activities, we believe that the use of our flood forecasting system will allow for efficient and effective establishment of flood forecasting systems even in areas such as developing countries that have insufficient hydrological data, thereby contributing to the reduction of flood damage.
(Contact: Hydrologic Engineering Research Team, ICHARM)
1st Engineer Exchange Forum Held in Muroran
 A view of the session |
 Lecture program  Lecture by Professor Tamura, Muroran Institute of Technology |
On Tuesday, January 27, 2009, the 1st Engineer Exchange Forum was held at Hotel Sepias Kadan in Muroran City, Hokkaido. The Forum drew 240 participants from academia, industry, and government.
Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region (CERI) has branch offices in Central Hokkaido, Southern Hokkaido, Northern Hokkaido and Eastern Hokkaido for region-oriented technology development, dissemination of technology, and technological improvement in each respective region. Individual branch offices work to acquire information about regional needs, disseminate research findings and technology, and provide technical guidance, as well as improve improvement of field surveys and tests for research and development.
As part of these activities, the Engineer Exchange Forum was held for the purpose of information exchange concerning technological development sought after by various regions and for facilitating exchange and collaboration between engineers from academia, industry, and government. This first forum introduced front-line workers to various environment-related technologies on the theme of Technologies Leading Environmental Initiatives.
Professor Toru Tamura of Muroran Institute of Technology was invited to
give a keynote lecture entitled, "Introducing Hydrogen Society to
the Muroran Area." Professor Tamura said, "Curbing CO2 emissions is important to counter global warming. Using hydrogen energy
is effective in doing so. Muroran City has ironworks, and making use of
coke ovens at ironworks can generate enough very inexpensive by-product
hydrogen for as many as 13,000 fuel cell vehicles. While there are many
challenges, including infrastructure building, making the Muroran Area
into a hydrogen town is possible through cooperation between the residents
and academia, industry, and government."
General lectures included presentations by six lecturers on environmental issues from various perspectives (see the figure on the right).
Participants attentively listened to the lectures and actively exchanged views in the meeting held following the lectures.
The 2nd Engineer Exchange Forum will be held on February 19 in Kushiro City. For the details, visit the CERI website.
(Contact: Central Hokkaido Branch Office, Cold-Region Technology Promotion Division, CERI)