NILIM News Letter

Early transmission and analysis of damage to buildings

No. 65

Building Department

2 018

After the earthquake struck, in cooperation with the Building
Department and Hokkaido Research Organization, we surveyed
the damage mainly to wooden buildings.
Concerning the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake, the NILIM conducted abuilding damage survey on September 11 in three towns where the earthquake
intensity reached upper 6 on the scale, causing considerable damage to buildingsin Mukawa Town, Abira Town, and Atsuma Town.
Based on the results of quick post-earthquake inspections of damagedbuildings provided by each town office, we implemented the survey in various
ways, determining which buildings were damaged, carrying out visual inspection,measurement and photography, and interviewing local residents, etc. We also
carried out confirmation of the locations and the installation conditions ofseismometers in the vicinity in order to analyze the relationship between theseismic motion and the damage caused to the buildings. We responded to media
inquiries in our survey location, and an overview of the survey results wasreported on TV within the day. Also, we made the survey report public on ourwebsite on October 2. In this survey, we often observed that relatively oldtwo-story houses combined with stores were particularly susceptible to collapse
or significant deformation. We will continue to analyze the damage to thesebuildings.

NILIM's disaster prevention, disaster mitigation and crisis management initiatives
Initiatives for advancement of disaster response based on NILIM’s mission and recent R&DPlanning and Research Administration Department, Administrative Coordination Department

A collapsed dwelling combined with store (Mukawa Town)

Details ‫ ܍‬NILIM website: “Disaster Report (Japan)”
Survey Report on Damage to Buildings Caused by the 2018 Hokkaido
Eastern Iburi Earthquake (Published Oct. 2)
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bbg/saigai/h30/iburi.pdf

Ascertaining situation of damage to harbor facilities in Tomakomai Port, and technical assistancePort and Harbor Department
In response to the partial damage that occurred in TomakomaiPort, we dispatched experts to ascertain the damage to the port
facilities and to provide technical assistance.
Due to the liquefaction caused by the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake,the port and harbor facilities of Tomakomai Port, including the container yard of
the central pier in Tomakomai East Port, were damaged.
In response to a request from Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, NILIM
dispatched staff along with members of the Port and Airport Research Institute toTomakomai Port on September 7 to ascertain the situation of damage andprovided technical support.
As a result of an on-site survey, we observed many cases of sand jet traces,
inundation and subsidence, etc. that are thought to have resulted from theliquefaction of the ground.
Based on this survey, we conducted technical assistance including providing
advice on the survey policy for the cavities formed in the liquefied ground,restoration methods, and regarding the progression of liquefaction.
Also, Tomakomai Port Management Union announced on September 10 thatthe container terminal where we conducted our survey had been provisionallyrestored and is now available for use.

Utilizing technologies cultivated in research and development, theNILIM is carrying out various disaster site relief activities, including
information transmission concerning the extent of damage, ordispatching specialists, as soon as disasters occur. The NILIM is also
working to enhance disaster response by fulfilling duties such asrevision of the operational plans for disaster prevention.
The NILIM, Japan’s only research institute in the field of housing and publiccapital, is striving to fulfill its mission to create a safe, vigorous and attractive landand society, with technology as the driving force.
In our research and development regarding disaster prevention, disastermitigation and crisis management, we are developing “Disaster Perception
Technology” that estimates and ascertains the situation of a disaster as soon as it
occurs.
Also, in the event of a disaster, we utilize the technology mentioned above togather information on the disaster situation and to conduct information analysis,
after which this information is transmitted to the headquarters of the Ministry ofLand and Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or regional development bureaus,etc. In addition, we conduct disaster recovery assistance through dispatching
personnel with specialized knowledge in the various related fields (specialists) todisaster-affected areas to prevent secondary disasters and to implement
emergency response measures. We have been steadily developing the practicalapplication of information transmission technologies since the Kumamoto

Earthquake Disaster of 2016.
For the smooth and appropriate implementation of these disaster response
measures, policies including an “Operational Plan for Disaster Prevention” areoutlined by each phase of disaster relief activities: disaster prevention, disaster
response, and disaster recovery/restoration. Starting from the previous fiscal year,
we have been updating these to reflect recent R&D trends as well as their practicalapplications.
Moreover, in July this year the "Business Continuity Plan (BCP)" was revised,having been established in preparation for a massive earthquake striking theTokyo metropolitan area where our organization itself is affected. We havereinforced the environment for us to continue to fulfill the response duties
without delay even in the event of a disaster that could bring the functions
related with our assignments to a standstill.
The NILIM will continue working on the advancement of disaster response
measures by striving to develop/maintain the system for performing quick andprecise assistance in the event of future disasters.

Details ‫ ܍‬NILIM website: “Research Policy"
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/busyoukai/kenkyuhoushin/00index.htm

Disaster response measures during FY2018
Planning and Research Administration Department, Administrative Coordination Department
The state of on-site survey

Details ‫ ܍‬NILIM website: “Dispatch of Specialists for the 2018
Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake (Report)”
http://www.ysk.nilim.go.jp/oshirase/press-release20180913.pdf● Receive information on research performed at NILIM
・ NILIM email service
Twice a month, we deliver the latest information introducing various research activities conducted by NILIM andlecture meetings, etc. Register here (URL and QR code) ‫ ܍‬http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/mailmag/index.html

In the event of a disaster, we provide the disaster site withassistance through dispatching specialists, as well as technicalsupport, sharing information sharing with and cooperating withrelated organizations.

discussion of countermeasures to be taken.
THE survey result was reported to the leadership at local governments in theaffected regions as advisory information based on technical knowledge for therecovery of the affected facilities.
The table below shows the dispatches of specialists in the outstanding disastersof the 2018 fiscal year.

During FY2018, major disasters struck Japan, including the “Heavy rain of July2018” and “The 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake”, resulting in extensive
devastation.
In cases where there is concern that a disaster may seriously affect society, theNILIM starts working under an emergency system together with the Ministry ofLand, Infrastructure and Transport. We endeavor to share information regarding
the damage in each area by holding meetings of the Emergency Disaster
Response Headquarters, and we launched the emergency system when theabove-mentioned disasters occurred.
We sent specialists to the disaster site in cooperation with the Public Work
Research Institute, Building Research Institute, and Port and Airport ResearchInstitute, etc., to survey the causes of damage, which contributed to theDetails ‫ ܍‬NILIM website: “Disaster-related Information”
NILIM’s Disaster Survey/Technical Assistance for Heavy Rain of July 2018
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/baiu2018/baiu2018.html

NILIM’s Disaster Survey/Technical Assistance for the 2018 Hokkaido
Eastern Iburi Earthquake
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/hokkaidou/saigai̲hokkaidozishinn.html

・ 2018 Annual Report of NILIM

Dispatched specialists (Unit: Number of experts/day)This website introduces NILIM research activities and achievements, as well as details of the latest research activities
to be formally initiated in the future. Go to this website: ‫ ܍‬http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/siryou/2018report/index.htm

Field!

!

Sewage!

Please take our reader survey: http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/siryou/newsletter/nwslttr.htm

River Management!
Facilities

National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
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
No.
2 018
TEL: +81-29-864-2675
FAX: +81-29-864-4322
Editing/Publishing National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management
http://www.nilim.go.jp/

65

English Version: http://www.nilim.go.jp/english/nnl/index.html

Heavy rain inJuly

NILIM News Letter! Disaster
Sediment! Facilities
Road!
Buildings!
Port and Harbor2! 8! 58! 5!
!

FacilitiesNILIM Meeting of Emergency Disaster
Response Headquarters (HokkaidoEastern Iburi Earthquake, Sept. 6)

Advising a head of local government (mayorof Atsuma Town)(Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake, Oct. 2)

Liquefaction!

Total!

Hokkaido Eastern!
Iburi Earthquake!

!

!
!
!3!5!

25

2
773!

42

(As of Oct. 31, 2018)

1

NILIM's activity report on the heavy rain of July 2018
Disaster restoration assistance for damage to expressways in Hiroshima and Kochi prefectures
Road Structures Department
Based on a request from Chugoku Regional Development Bureau, we provided
technical assistance in Hiroshima Prefecture and conducted a survey of damage
situations as well as participating in the “Technical Committee for the Disaster
Restoration of Kochi Expressway” in Kochi Prefecture.
In the heavy rain of July 2018, roads were also damage, resulting in a prolonged suspension of
traffic on some seriously-damaged parts, which caused a considerable hindrance to the trafficnetwork.
On Matsue Expressway (Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture), where the a cut slope wasdamaged by a landslide, in response to a request from Chugoku Regional Development Bureau,
we conducted an on-site survey on July 14 and provided technical assistance on safety checkmethods and restoration toward the resumption of traffic.
We also dispatched our staff to Tajikawa Bridge, where the upper part had broken away due tothe collapse of a mountain slope (Otoyo Town, Kochi Prefecture) on July 20, and we carried out adamage survey and provided the expressway company with advisory points to consider in therestoration procedures from a technical point of view.
Even after dispatching our staff, we are continuing to provide technical assistance, including
participation in the “Technical Examination Committee for the Restoration of Kochi Expressway”.

Details ‫ ܍‬NILIM website: “Disaster-related Information”
Activities in the field of road facilities during the heavy rain of July 2018 - Emergency
support activities http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/baiu2018/katsudoujokyou/douro.pdf

sending the Head of its River Division as a participating member.
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism launched the “Committee for Oda River ofTakahashi River-System Levee Investigation” (with Professor Shiro Maeno of Okayama
University as its chairperson) on July 10, and NILIM participated in the Committee bysending the Head of its River Division as a participating member.
From the middle of July to the end of August, after holding four sessions of meetings,
the Committee concluded that the principal cause of this damage was an overtoppingof water. In addition to carrying out a measure to counter overtopping, a restoration
method in consideration of seepage was to be examined, since the Committee could
not rule out the possibility that the seepage had weakened the levees.
We will continue to examine countermeasures against water/sediment disasters andto support efforts to build a society that is aware of flood disaster prevention, in which
the whole of society works together to mitigate hazards in preparation for floods.

Details ‫ ܍‬Chugoku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website“The Committee for Oda River of Takahashi River-System Levee Investigation”
Survey conducted in the vicinity of Takano IC of Matsue Expressway

http://www.cgr.mlit.go.jp/emergency/odagawateibochosa.htm

Restoration assistance for Mabi Purification Center and examination of city flooding countermeasures
Water Quality Control Department
In response to Kurashiki City, we sent TEC-FORCE to Mabi Town andparticipated in the “Study Group for Countermeasure against CityFlooding” that responds to flooding disasters, including the heavy rain ofJuly 2018.

Damage survey on Tajikawa Bridge of Kochi Expressway

Technical assistance provided for sediment disasters in Hiroshima, Ehime and Kyoto prefectures
Sabo Department
We carried out technical assistance in relation to the sedimentdisaster that occurred in Hiroshima, Ehime and Kyoto prefecturesby dispatching our staff to those disaster sites.

Committee meeting session

Due to the heavy rain of July 2018, 2,512 cases of sediment disasters occurred in
31 prefectures.
On July 10, immediately after the disasters began, the NILIM dispatched staff tothe sites in cooperation with the Public Work Research Institute. We conducted asurvey using a helicopter in 3 affected prefectures: Hiroshima; Ehime, where 200 or
more sediment disasters occurred; and Kyoto, where natural dams were formed. We
provided technical advice to regional development bureaus and the relevant
prefectural institutions regarding the extracted points that needed to be focusedon, urgent examinations, emergency response measures, precautions against thecontinuous rain, and evacuations. We also carried out a survey of the actual status,
including debris/water flooding and measurement of peak debris flow rate, etc. We
will continue to research this disaster through extraction/classification of technicalsubjects based on the actual damage.

During the heavy rain of July 2018, river levee failures led to flooding with adepth of 4.2 meters, causing Mabi Purification Center in Kurashiki City tosuffer a functional breakdown. In the sewer system of the Mabi area, twospans of sewer pipe (approx. 20 meters) were flown out due to scouring.
On July 11, the next day after entering into the disaster area became
possible, in cooperation with the Sewerage Department of the Water andDisaster Management Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism, the NILIM surveyed the damage situation, andprovided advice regarding emergency restoration and gradual restoration, as
well as water quality monitoring, etc.
Also, based on the viewpoint of securing the function of sewerage systems
in response to the lessons learned from the heavy rain of July 2018, theSewerage Department of the Water and Disaster Management Bureau
launched the “Study Group for Countermeasure against City Flooding” in
September to discuss the prospect of city flooding countermeasures utilizing
sewerage. The NILIM participated in this Study Group by dispatching theHead of its Wastewater and Sludge Management Division as a participating
member.

Details ‫ ܍‬MILT website: “Study Group for Countermeasures againstCity Flooding”
http://www.mlit.go.jp/mizukokudo/sewerage/mizukokudo̲sewerage̲tk̲
000587.html

Conducting a damage survey of Mabi Purification Center

NILIM’s disaster response to the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake
Advice on secondary disaster countermeasures after sediment disaster occurred in Atsuma Town
Sabo Department

Conducting a survey using a helicopter, and the disasteraffected area seen from above

Details ‫ ܍‬NILIM website: “Disaster-related Information”
Activities in the field of sediment disaster during the heavy rain of July
2018 – Emergency support activities
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/baiu2018/katsudoujokyou/dosya.pdf

Analysis of causes of levee breach of Oda River in Takahashi River-System, and support for consideration of restoration method
River Department
The day after the levee broke, we dispatched our staff to thedisaster spot and conducted a survey and analysis of the damage,and provided the Committee for Oda River of Takahashi
River-System Levee Investigation with technical assistance.
In the heavy rain of July 2018, Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, located along Oda
River in the Takahashi River-System, suffered considerable damage due to a river
overflow, with the flooded surface area reaching approximately 1200ha.
The NILIM dispatched its staff to the area on July 8, the very next day after thedisaster occurred. Together with the Water and Disaster Management Bureau ofthe Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Public Work
Research Institute, we surveyed the damage conditions of the breach points ofthe river levees.
Also, to analyze the causes and consider how to go about restoration, Chugoku
Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportand Tourism launched the “Committee for Oda River of Takahashi River-System
Levee Investigation” (with Professor Shiro Maeno of Okayama University as itschairperson) on July 10, and NILIM participated in the Committee by2

Field survey

We swiftly provided technical assistance concerning
sediment disasters for the affected local communities andHokkaido Regional Development Bureau.
With regards to the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake, theNILIM analyzed the state of slopes around the focal region of theearthquake based on satellite SAR image taken both before and after
the occurrence of the earthquake. As a result, we grasped the fact thata high density of ground deformations that are presumed to bedenudation of mountain forests or sedimentation from collapsed
slopes occurred on the day of the earthquake, which struck on theevening of September 6. These observations showed the possibility
that a significant number of slope collapses had occurred across anextensive area. We provided this information to the institutions
concerned through the Water and Disaster Management Bureau ofthe Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Also, with the transportation support of Japan Coast Guard, and incooperation with the Public Work Research Institute, we dispatched
our staff to the disaster area immediately on the day when theearthquake struck. Using the “Hokkai” helicopter of Hokkaido Regional
Development Bureau, we surveyed both from the sky and on theground, in which we confirmed the collapses of many slopes mainly inAtsuma Town. Subsequently, based on the results obtained through acontinuous survey by staff dispatched to the area, we provided
information to Hokkaido Prefecture and Atsuma Town, including anexplanation of the occurrence of damage caused by the sediment©JAXA
SAR image (left) and an image provided from the Geographical Survey Institute (right)
disaster, and advice regarding warnings/evacuations. We also advised Hokkaido Regional
Development Bureau regarding risk assessment of secondary disasters, development ofwarning/evacuation systems, and emergency response to the natural dam formed in
Hidaka-Horonai River.
Going forward, we will move from the emergency countermeasures phase to thepermanent measures phase; however, we will continue to provide technical assistance aimed
at the prevention of secondary disasters.

Details ‫ ܍‬NILIM website: “Disaster-related Information”
Activities in the field of sediment disasters during the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi
Earthquake – Emergency support activities
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/hokkaidou/katsudoujokyou/dosya.pdf

3