Contents

国総研ニューズレター

N I L I M N e w s L et t e r■ Full scale Fire Experiment of a Three-story Wooden School Building■ Overview of NILIM FY2012 Budget for Priority Research Projects■ MLIT Begins Full-scale Use of 24/7 Traffic Data
■ Research on Revision of Energy-saving Standards for
Non-residential Buildings■ The 12th Tokyo Bay Symposium

No.39

Winter 2012
Full scale Fire Experiment of a Three-story
Wooden School Building
Building Department
Fire Standards Division

A fire experiment using a full scale building has been plannedin order to revise the building standards so that three-story wooden
school buildings can be built in Japan.

This research will begin with fire tests of walls, columns and othermembers and classroom scale fire experiments, then a full scalebuilding with specifications set based on the results of these tests will
be used for a fire experiment, and data necessary to prepare technicalstandards will be collected and proposed standards prepared.
This fire experiment of a building will be a type of test neverperformed before: constructing a full size three-story wooden schoolbuilding on the site of the NILIM and starting a fire in the building
to confirm its performance: that occupants can evacuate safely, howmuch impact on the surroundings (heat, firebrands, collapsing) a
fire would have and so on. The experiment will be performed at
an unprecedented scale, so a preliminary experiment is planned for2011 and 2012, followed by the main experiment. See the following
web site for information about the experiment.

Because wood absorbs CO2, it effectively prevents global
warming, and using wood to construct buildings protects forest
resources and prevents disasters such as landslides. Its superiorcapacity to adjust humidity contributes to greater interior comfort
and by taking advantage of the technical skills of local workmen, it
contributes to their training and stimulates regional industries.
So the Act for Promotion of Use of Wood in Public Buildings
Etc. enacted in October 2010 requires a review of building standards
guided by necessary research concerning regulation by the Building
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/kisya/journal/kisya20120126.pdf
Standard Law of Japan .
In response to this need, the National
Institute for Land and InfrastructureManagement began a research project
concerning the fire safety of wooden threestory school buildings in 2011 in order torevise fire protection requirements underthe Building Standard Law for three-story
wooden school buildings from fire-resistive
building to quasi-fire-resistive building
with some additional requirements.
Photo: Outline of the Experimental Building (One photo each of the exterior and interior)

Overview of NILIM FY2012 Budget for
Priority Research Projects
Planning and Research Administration Department,
Planning Divisiondisasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake and to achieve
the New Growth Strategy.

The National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management(NILIM) is funded by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,Transport and Tourism (MLIT) as a research institute to performresearch on housing and public works, and technically support theMLIT in its policy making and revisions of engineering standards.
The NILIM also requests budgets directly from the Ministry of
Finance in order to conduct priority research and independently
address various issues with foresight. In 2012, the NILIM will
work on twenty priority research projects including the following
5 new challenges in 2 areas.
The total value of the priority research budget for 2012 is261 million yen (1% higher than last year). Through its research
activities, the NILIM aims to ensure safety against catastrophic

New Research Challenges
Area 1: Safety and security• Research on Risk and Crisis Management Strategy for Excessiveand Multiple Actions of Natural Disasters• Research on the Evaluation Technique and Standard of theEarthquake-Proof Safety of Finishing External Walls• Research on Technologies for Disaster Reduction Planning inCoastal Cities• Research on Calculation Methods and Criteria for Evacuation
Safety Performance in Building Fires
Area 2: Enhancement of urban mobility and international
competitiveness• Research on Trail Data Infrastructure by Information Communication
Technology1

MLIT Begins Full-scale Use of24/7 Traffic Data
Road Department
Traffic Engineering Division

In the winter of 2011, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism began full-scale use of 24/7 traffic data.
To support this program, the National Institute for Land andInfrastructure Management conducts research and development
on data collection and analysis methods.
The system collects and utilizes data obtained from continuous
observation of traffic volume and traveling speed using the basic
traffic survey sections established for the 2010 road traffic census
as its platform.
The results of the road traffic census of 2010 were recently
summarized and a 24/7 traffic data collection system using theresults of the census has been established, thus permitting full-scale
introduction of this program.
The devices used to continuously obtain traffic volume data are
installed and updated, while theobtained data are also used toestimate the values for sections
without such devices, thus allowing
data to be collected efficiently andcontinuously.
The NILIM supports the workthrough the following researchachievements:[1] Preparation of specifications of continuous observationequipment for low-cost two-vehicle category classification[2] Development of methods of processing missing values andsingular values in the continuous observation data
[3] Development of a method of evaluating traffic volume using
continuous observation data
Traveling speed data is prepared by the NILIM by collecting all
ordinary automobile probe (tracking traveling) data such as twoway communication type car navigation and portable navigation
system data which is used to provide drivers with traffic information
etc., then processing these data and providing them to Regional
Development Bureaus, etc.
In the future, probe data obtained by ITS Spots will also beintegrated and used.
The NILIM is studying ways of more effectively using the continuous
traffic data in cooperation with related research departments through“Project Research: Research to Advance the Collection, Analysis, andUse of Continuous Observation Road Traffic Data” (2011 to 2013).
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/gbg/index.htm

Probe data
Accumulation

Real time:
Congestion information
provision
Optimum route guidanceArchivedata
Utilization△△××

Device for Continuous Observation of Traffic Volume○○Road planning
Policy evaluation, etc.

Probe data from ordinary automobiles

Figure: Device for Continuous Observation of Traffic Volume and Probe Data from Normal Automobiles

Research on Revision of Energy-saving
Standards for Non-residential Buildings
Building Department
Environmental and Equipment Standards Division

The actual state of energy consumption of buildings wasclarified, energy conservation evaluation methods were developed,and technological knowledge to be applied to the scheduled2012 revision of energy conservation standards of buildings wasorganized.
The quantity of CO2 emissions from buildings such as offices,stores, schools, hospitals etc., has increased by 31.2% (by 2009)
since 1990, requiring stronger countermeasures along with those forresidential buildings. In response, from 2008 to 2011, the quantityof energy consumed by buildings and equipment systems in actual
conditions of use was surveyed, and methods of estimating energy
consumed were studied based on actual operating hours as part of
Research on Integrated Evaluation Methods and Design Methods
Related to Energy Conservation Performance of Non-residential
Buildings.
Ministry of Construction Energy Standards for buildings
scheduled for revision in 2012 are now being studied using theknowledge obtained. Under the new standards, a method ofevaluation based on primary energy consumption of the entire
building and reflecting the state of use and efficiency during actual

2

operation of the building’s exterior skin and opening performanceand mechanical systems (air-conditioning, ventilation, lighting, hotwater supply, elevators) is scheduled to be introduced. (Evaluation
based on primary energy consumption is already introduced forresidential buildings as Standards for the Judgment of Owners of
Residential Building Projects).

Air-conditioning(heat source/transmission)

LightingElevator

Hot water supply
Figure: Buildings’ Mechanical Systems which are evaluated (examples)

The 12th Tokyo Bay Symposium
Keita FURUKAWA
Research Coordinator for Coastal and Marine Affairs

The 12th Tokyo Bay Symposium was held in Yokohama onJanuary 16. Information related to the Tokyo Bay Monitoring
Campaign by Renaissance Council was shared in a workshop.
The 12th Tokyo Bay Symposium (organized by NILIM and theTokyo Bay Renaissance Promotion Council; Monitoring WorkingGroup) and the Sixth National Conference on the Restoration of theSea (organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportand Tourism, NILIM, Port and Airport Research Institute) were
held at the Pacifico Yokohama Conference Center on January 16,
2012 with great fanfare, entertaining more than 200 members of thegeneral public.
The Symposium held in the morning was, as a public workshopof the Tokyo Bay Monitoring Campaign, divided into two sections
which exchanged information and opinions on two themes.
Section One, titled “River Mouths and Shallows for Land andSea Interaction”, dealt with clarification of pollution mechanisms,
which are the principal target of the survey, by focusing on
dynamics of river mouths and shallows, and by examining in detailthe attributions and roles of river mouths and shallows, which havea variety of characteristics in Tokyo Bay.

Section Two, titled “Towards Future Surveying of Tokyo Bay”,
surveyed living organisms and degree of transparency to pave
the way for understanding Tokyo Bay in more detail and to takefuture action in cooperation with the general public, studied specificproposals for citizen’s surveys, and highlighted the importance ofrecognizing that the “abundance” of Tokyo Bay refers not only
to the habitats of living environments, but also to the pleasures ofpresent and future generations.
At this Symposium, in addition to presentations on achievements andclarification of pollution mechanisms, progress was made in making
people more interested in, and willing to get involved in these activities.
The Conference held in the afternoon began with the keynote speech,“Method of Assessing Natural Symbiosis for Sustainable Watersheds
Management,” given by Professor Tsujimoto Tetsuro of Nagoya
University. This was followed by reports of cases from various regions,a comprehensive discussion session, and a summary of prospects for
future initiatives to restore the marine environment, in order to achieve
the goals of “Restore the Marine Environment by Integrated Approach
Considering Interaction of the Land and Sea,” a common policy under
the Sea Restoration Project, which is now in progress.
Web site: http://www.meic.go.jp/tokyo2012/

Photo: Twelfth Tokyo Bay Symposium and Sixth National Conference on the Restoration of the Sea(Upper-left: more than 200 participants, upper-right: Author speaking at the symposium,
Bottom: Conclusion of the Conference. )3

Schedule of Principal Events (February-March, 2012)
Scheduled Dates

Event NameFeb.13 to 15

The 3rd Joint Workshop on Land Slide and Disaster Management in Sikkim, INDIA

Mar.8 to 10

The 6th Joint Meeting to identify the Research Cooperation Needs of River Policy and Water Resource, as well as to Draft
a New Theme for Bridge Technological Policy and to Modify the Tunnel Technology agreed on by the 3rd WS, both being
identified as the themes in The Declaration for The International Symposium in Bali, OCT. 2010

Mar. 13

Report on the Great East Japan Earthquake (Tokyo)

Mar. 21

Report on the Great East Japan Earthquake (Osaka)

RESEARCH REPORT of National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management(November,2011-January,2012)
No.

Title of Paper

Names of Divisions

47

A Consideration about Port Entry of Bulk Carrier with Using Tidal Level

Port Planning Division48

A study on the combination method of correlated wave and wind actions

Port Facilities Division

TECHNICAL NOTE of National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management(November,2011-January,2012)
No.

Title of Paper

Names of Divisions

645

Annual Report of Basic Date on Road Structures In FY 2009,2010

Bridge and Structures Division

646

Quick Report on Damage to Infrastructuresby the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake

Research Center for Disaster RiskManagement647

Summary of the Field Survey and Research on “The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake”(the Great East Japan Earthquake)

Building Department,
Housing Department,
Urban Planning Department

648

Monitoring of the ecological-type revetment on Port of Akita, Japan: A first year report

Marine Environment Division649

Impact of Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster on Ship Movement and Containerized Cargo Flow

Port Planning Division

650

Recovery Process from Hurricane Katrina Disaster- Implication for Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake -Port and Harbor Department

651

Life Cycle Analysis on CO2 Emission Ascribed to Constructing Two Types of Port Facility

Port Construction Systems Division

652

Study on Application of Time-series Analysis to Air Transport Demand Estimation

Airport Planning Division

653

Study on Cooling Time during Night Time Construction of Airport Asphalt Pavement

Airport Facilities Division654

FY2010 Annual Report of Wastewater Management and Water Quality Control

Water Quality Control Department

655

Report of the Lecture Meeting of NILIM(2011)

Planning Division■ Documents issued by the NILIM can be viewed at our web site. (http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/siryou/index.htm)■ NILIM research activities and achievements are now available on the web site (http://www.nilim.go.jp/english/annual/annual2011/ar2011e.html), as Annual
Report 2011.

National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

No.39

Winter 2012

Asahi 1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0804, Japan(Tachihara) Tachihara 1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0802, Japan(Yokosuka) Nagase 3-1-1, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 239-0826, Japan
TEL:+81-29-864-2754 FAX:+81-29-864-4322
Edited and Published by
http://www.nilim.go.jp/english/eindex.htm
National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management

国 総 研 ニ ューズ レ ター

NILIM News Letter