Implementing Arrangement Concerning Research Cooperation by the PWRI and DOH of Thailand
 Signing of the Arrangement (Left: Dr. Sakamoto Chief Executive of the PWRI, Right: Dr. Pichit, Chief Engineer for Research and Development, DOH) |
 Preparation of Cement Mixed Soil |
PWRI and Department of Highways (DOH), Ministry of Transport of the Kingdom of Thailand concluded an arrangement concerning research cooperation on road earthworks for five years on Feb. 10th, 2010, following on research cooperation concluded on Mar. 4th, 2005.
The DOH has exchanged technological information and conducted joint research for many years, beginning with joint research (1998 to 2002) when the PWRI was an institute of the former Ministry of Construction. Under the previous Implementation Arrangement, the PWRI cooperated in trial executions of the Foam Mixed Solidified Soil method, making light weight soil by mixing air foam to construct levees on the soft ground of Thailand as a measure to prevent flood damage, and helped prepare a Thai manual for the ALiCC method, which is a shortening work date and lowering cost method of strengthening soft ground.
Under the new Implementation Arrangement, which is intended to introduce
technologies which cost less than the prior Foam Mixed Solidified Soil
method, cooperative research will be performed on any civil engineering
works using soil such as the behavior of cement mixed soil, embankment
soil, while linked to the Construction Technology Research Team's themes
(research on improvement of soft ground, research on cement mixed soil
which is improved soft soil, and research on the compaction of embankments).
This is counted on to expand research exchanges between Japan and Thailand,
helping progress construction technologies in both countries.
(Contact: Construction Technology Research Team)
FY2010* PWRI Operations Plan Announced
 Fiscal Year Plan Enactment |
 Example of International Contribution Based on ICHARM Signing Agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) |
The Operations of PWRI are stipulated by MLIT in plan which must be fulfilled
every five years (Mid-term Plan). This is specified by the Act on General
Rules for Incorporated Administrative Agency, and in compliance with this
Act, an Incorporated Administrative Agency must fulfill plans for its operations
stipulated for periods of from 3 to 5 years. Thus, to implement the Mid-term
Plans, at the end of each year, the PWRI enacts a plan for its operations
during the coming year (Fiscal Year Plan). The PWRI publicly announces
each Fiscal Year Plan and submits it to the state ministers in charge (MLIT,
MAFF). The PWRI's Fiscal Year Plan for FY2010 has been approved by the
state ministers in charge, and has been published on the PWRI web site.
The major topics announced are the conduct of high quality research and development projects, returning the benefits of these projects to the public (measures which should be taken to achieve the goal of improving the quality of services and other operations provided to benefit the people), and measures which should be taken to achieve goals related to the improvement of operational efficiency.
The year, FY2010, is the final year of the Mid-term Goals Period of the
PWRI (FY2006-2010), so it calls for the continuation of past endeavors,
and with the achievement of the Mid-term Plan in mind, provides for activities
to contribute to the efficient improvement of good quality public infrastructure
and to continue the development of Hokkaido. Its contents include the incorporation
in the Fiscal Year Plan of international contributions to the task of preventing
or mitigating flood damage, ICHARM for example (cf. photo). The IFAS Training
Workshop in Solo, Indonesia, based on a Partnership Agreement with ADB,
which is introduced elsewhere in this Web Magazine, is part of activities
conducted jointly with the ADB. The Fiscal Year Plan includes the provision:
"Initiatives to promote flood disaster management in river basins
in countries in the Asia and Pacific region in cooperation with the ADB
etc. shall be continued."
And the start of surveys to prepare the next Mid-term plan will begin.
*PWRI's fiscal year is from April to March.
(Contact: Planning and Management Division)
IFAS training workshop in Solo, Indonesia, based on a Partnership Agreement with ADB
 Bengawan Solo River basin |
 Middle Stream of the Bengawan Solo River |
 IFAS training workshop |
ICHARM is carrying out a water disaster mitigation project of the Asia
"Regional Technical Assistance: Supporting Investment in Water-Related
Disaster Management" in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank.
In this project, the ICHARM Hydrologic Engineering Research Team is providing
technical assistance in which the "Integrated Flood Analysis System
(IFAS)" using satellite-based rainfall is applied to the Bengawan
Solo River basin. The project is planned to cover validation of satellite-based
rainfall and collection of ground-based rainfall data, localization of
IFAS, installation of localized IFAS, and training of local engineers.
As part of this project, an IFAS training workshop was held from 2-4 March in Solo, Indonesia, and attended by about 30 local engineers. It was the first of the workshop series planned during the project period. Local participants made presentations about hydrological observation and the disaster situation of the Bengawan Solo River basin, and ICHARM researchers lectured about rainfall observation for flood forecasting, the main features of satellite-based rainfall, accuracy and a correction method of satellite-based rainfall. Moreover, participants were given exercises in which they had to compare observed ground-based rainfall and satellite-based rainfall to understand accuracy of satellite-based rainfall.
Although most of participants learned about satellite-based rainfall for
the first time, the hands-on experience in the workshop helped them a great
deal to understand what it means and how it can be applied to actual flood
forecasting. The next workshop will be about the installation and operation
of IFAS so that local engineers can independently conduct flood forecasting
by using IFAS.
(Contact: Hydrologic Engineering Research Team, ICHARM)
CERI's 6th Engineers Exchange Forum in Obihiro Held
 Professor Fujio Tsuchiya presents the keynote lecture |
 Program |
CERI has branch offices in central, southern, northern and eastern Hokkaido, for site-based technical development, as well as for dissemination and improvement of technologies in local communities. The branch offices are engaged in field surveys and testing for R&D, study of regional needs, dissemination of research results and technical guidance.
As part of such activities, an Engineers Exchange Forum is held to exchange information on technical development required in local communities, and to promote interaction and cooperation among engineers in the industrial, academic and government sectors.
This year, the forum was held at the Hotel Nikko Northland Obihiro on Jan.
26th, 2010, on the theme of "Status and Prospects of Regional Resource
Utilization in Tokachi," and attracted approximately 200 participants
from the industrial, academic and government sectors.
Professor Fujio Tsuchiya of the Department of Agro-Environmental Science,
Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, gave a keynote
lecture entitled "Cold Region Engineering -Prospects of Utilization
of the Winter Cold." In his speech, Professor Tsuchiya spoke of how
the winter cold of cold regions causes snowfall and freezing, and how snow
removal, snow melting and frost heave damage to roads affects social activities.
However, against the backdrop of energy and environment issues these days,
snow and ice are now being revaluated, and are attracting attention as
community-based energy sources. The professor introduced a system to maintain
a low temperature inside a warehouse by artificially creating frozen soil
around it using a heat-transmissive element called the heat pipe and winter
cold. He pointed out the prospects of the use of such cold saying, "This
new storage system that uses natural energy will realize low-temperature,
high-humidity environments suitable for the storage of agricultural products;
it is environmentally friendly, economically efficient and safe and will
also lead to the creation of regional brands." This Keynote lecture
was followed by four other lectures and a panel discussion.
Professor Tsuchiya served as the coordinator of the panel discussion on
the theme of "Considering regional resource utilization in the Tokachi
area." The members of the panel engaged in active discussion before
answering questions from the audience. Professor Tsuchiya concluded the
forum by stating "An industrial revolution occurred by using energy
generated when water evaporates. Let's tell the younger generation that
energy generated when water freezes can also be used."
The CERI branch offices are planning to continue holding the Engineers Exchange Forum in the future, as an opportunity to promote industrial-academic-administrative exchanges in different regions.
(Contact: Eastern Hokkaido Branch Office, CERI)
51st Science and Technology Week - Facilities Opened to the Public -
 High-speed driving test on the test track |
 Explanation of non-destructive and semi-destructive tests (Holes in the concrete behind the speaker are locations where cores were extracted.) |
 A researcher explaining the bridge components and high-school students taking notes |
 Visiting the Pavement Test Field (Actually touching "cool pavement") |
Science and Technology Week was established in Feb. 1960 in order to deepen
the public's understanding of and interest in science and technology, and
thereby, stimulate science and technology in Japan. Organizations throughout
Japan hold a variety of science and technology related events centered
on this period. This year's Science and Technology Week was held nationwide
from Apr. 12th to 18th on the theme, "I want to discover things nobody
has ever known." In Tsukuba City, 44 research institutes opened their
doors to the public.
PWRI opened its research facilities to the public on Apr. 16th in cooperation
with the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, welcoming
257 visitors on a cold day with a high temperature of only 8 degrees centigrade.
This year, visitors were shown a total of four facilities: the Test Track,
Structural Engineering Laboratory, a display of bridge components taken
from actual bridges, and the Pavement Test Field.
On the Test Track, visitors were given explanations of the full-scale test tunnel, the loaded vehicles used to test pavements, then took part in a high speed driving test.
Next at the Structural Engineering Laboratory, the were given an explanation, illustrated with references to physical exams or comprehensive health screenings, of test methods which can be used to verify the strength of a concrete structure or locations of reinforcing bars without damaging the specimens (non-destructive or semi-destructive test), then given brief demonstrations of these methods.
And in the bridge component display area, bridge components removed while demolishing deteriorated bridges throughout Japan were displayed. Then the visitors heard explanations of the need for measures to deal with the deterioration of public infrastructure which Japan now faces and of the components damaged by fires.
Finally, at the Pavement Test Field, an unmanned loaded vehicle used to verify the durability of pavement was displayed. In addition to this truck, which uses GPS satellites to travel automatically without a driver, porous elastic pavement and "cool pavement" used to fight the heat island effect were introduced.
This year, members of two first year classes from the Meikei High School in Ibaraki Prefecture visited the PWRI. They took notes while enthusiastically questioning the researchers. We are confident that by helping to stimulate an interest in science among youth who will lead Japan in the future, we promote science and technology in Japan, which is the basic goal of Science and Technology Week.
(Contact: General Affairs Division)