International Centre for
Water Hazard and
Risk Management under
the auspices of UNESCO

Public Works Research InstituteNational Research andDevelopment Agency, Japan

MissionThe mission of ICHARM is to serve as the Global Centre of
Excellence for Water Hazard and Risk Management by, interalia, observing and analyzing natural and social phenomena,developing methodologies and tools, building capacities,
creating knowledge networks, and disseminating lessons andinformation in order to help governments and all stakeholders
manage risks of water related hazards at global, national, andcommunity levels. The hazards to be addressed include ﬂoods,
droughts, landslides, debris ﬂows, tsunamis, storm surges,
water contamination, and snow and ice disasters.
We envision a Center of Excellence housing a group ofleading people, superior facilities, and a knowledge basewhich enables conducting i) innovative research, ii) eﬀective
capacity building, and iii) eﬃcient information networking.
Based on these three pillars, ICHARM will globally serve as aknowledge hub for best national/local practices and anadvisor in policy making.

MissionThree Pillars of ICHARM Activities

Long-term Programme（Goals for the next 10 years）

Mid-term Programme（Goals for the next 5 years）

Work Plan（Action plan for the next 2 years）(revised on March 3, 2016)

Scheme of ICHARM Programme
ICHARM Programmeの構成

Development and dissemination of Integrated Flood Analysis System (IFAS)
The Integrated Flood Analysis System (IFAS) is designed to help create a runoﬀ analysis model easily by using topographic andland-use data which cover almost the entire globe and are available free of charge via the Internet.
With IFAS alone, users can conduct a series of tasks necessary for runoﬀ analysis including data acquisition, model creation,
rainfall-runoﬀ analysis and result display. With an additional module named Auto-IFAS, the system is capable of executing
automatic functions such as downloading satellite rainfall information, loading ground rainfall information, performing runoﬀ
calculation, and issuing a warning. With these functions, users can built a real-time ﬂood forecasting and warning system though
they are minimal for a device with such a purpose.
IFAS with this additional module is very useful even in areas with limited Internet access. It can perform calculation whilecollecting data regularly according to a predetermined time schedule. In this way, the network and the computer can avoid
being overloaded with information processing, which thus enables fast runoﬀ calculation and quick ﬂood forecasting andwarning.
IFAS execute ﬁle is downloadable free of charge on at: http://www.icharm.pwri.go.jp/research/ifas/.
Calculation flow of IFAS

Innovative Research-Advanced Technology-

Development of RRI modelResearch Activities on Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction
Creation of Community-level Flood Contingency Plans
ICHARM has conducted research activities to support the creation of community-level ﬂood contingency plans based on scientiﬁc
approaches using the RRI model, while discussing with local government oﬃcials and residents in Calumpit Municipality of Bulacan
Province in Pampanga River basin of the Philippines.
For these supporting activities, the mayor of Calumpit Municipality issued a letter of appreciation to ICHARM.

Inundation Probability Map

Open discussion with residents
Example of assessment indices

Flood risk assessment and information sharing system
This research explores simple, eﬀective ways to deliver information on ﬂood andlandslide risks using RRI and other models. A pilot study has been in progress fortwenty districts along the Aga River in Aga Town, Niigata Prefecture, and a ﬂood risk
assessment method (named “Flood Chart” ) has been developed to evaluate ﬂood risks
associated with several types of ﬂood hazards using eight assessment indices and RRI
model simulations. This method enables each district to understand ﬂood
characteristics in their area and plan appropriate ﬂood risk reduction measures.
ICHARM is also developing the ICHARM Disaster Risk Information System (IDRIS) to
share various kinds of ﬂood information not only at emergency but also in normal
times. The system is a portal site designed to be a one-stop information center for users
to view all kinds of disaster-related information relevant.

Eﬀective Capacity
Building

Eﬃcient
Information Networking

Local Practices

Education and training programs
ICHARM has been providing training programs thatempower both individuals and organizations in
disaster management. ICHARM also oﬀers
post-training follow-up activities, such as seminars for
ex-trainees in their countries, to grasp their facing
issues and establish new training courses.

To predict the behavior of large-scale inundation in low-lying areas ina short period of time, ICHARM has developed a new numericalmodel called Rainfall-Runoﬀ-Inundation (RRI) model. The model
simulates various hydrologic processes including rainfall-runoﬀ,
stream-ﬂow discharge, and inundation over ﬂoodplains in an
integrated manner.
The RRI model is expected to help assess future ﬂood risk for various
regions with diﬀerent climate conditions, for example, based on
climate change projections. Similar to the IFAS system, the model isalso applicable to large-scale ﬂood prediction on a near real-timebasis by using satellite-based topography, land-use and rainfall
information.
The RRI model was awarded for its excellence in 2014 by the Japan
Society of Civil Engineers. The ICHARM researcher who developed themodel also received 2013 Young Scientistsʼ Prize by the Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and received the15th Infrastructure Technology Development Award by the Ministry
Schematic diagram of the RRI modelof Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism in 2013.
The RRI model has been available for public use since May 2016 on the website of ICHARM. Download for free at:
http://www.icharm.pwri.go.jp/research/rri/rri̲top.html

Flood Hazard Map for Extreme Flood

Practice of Localism
ICHARM emphasizes localism, i.e., project
implementations tailored to local needs andconditions, by creating an eﬃcient worldwide
information network based on innovative
research and eﬀective capacity building.

Over 105-9
1-4
No. of ICHARM M.Sc.
Program students

1. Short-term training program: Participants learn knowledge and technologies relevant towater-related disaster risk management for a period of several days or weeks. Training courses
are conducted in Japan and abroad in cooperation with United Nations Educational, Scientiﬁcand Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) andJapan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
2. M.Sc. program: This one-year M. Sc. program, "Water-related Disaster Management Course"of "Disaster Management Policy," has been provided since 2007 jointly with JICA and the
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). The program is mainly designed forgovernmental oﬃcers involved in ﬂood risk management in developing counties. Students
attend lectures, hands-on activities, and ﬁeld trips in the ﬁrst half of the course, and work on amaster's thesis in the second half. As of October 2018, a total of 132 students graduated with amaster's degree in disaster management. Currently, 8 students are studying at ICHARM.
3. Ph.D. program: The Ph.D. program, "Disaster Management Program," has been provided
since 2010 in collaboration with GRIPS. JICA has recently established a new scholarship for
Ph.D. students, and ICHARM and GRIPS have subsequently strengthened the policy study
courses in the Ph.D. program this year. As of October 2018, a total of 9 students graduated witha doctor's degree, and 6 students are studying at ICHARM.
4. Follow-up activities:
Post-training seminars, workshops, and meetings are organized mainly to support alumniʼ sand ex-trainees' development in their counties.

(）

Capacity building session among
ex-trainees in AWCS2016 (2016.3）

Graduation ceremony at GRIPS (2016.9)

ADB projects (ADB TA-8456)

UNESCO Pakistan project

Cities in Myanmar are expected to be further developed
at an alarming rate, and it is a pressing task for thecountry to strengthen urban functions and train
personnel who can be assigned to that mission. In
response to this situation, the Asian Development Bank
implemented a project, “TA-8456: Transformation of
Urban Management,” to promote sustainable urban
development in Myanmar cities by strengthening theinstitutional capacity of local authorities in leading theprioritized needs-based provision of essential
infrastructure.
ICHARM participated as the project leader in Part II(Flood Management) of this project with CTI
Engineering International Co., Ltd., CTI Engineering Co., Locations of the three large cities
Ltd., and PASCO CORPORATION. ICHARM was mainly in Myanmar
responsible for technical transfer in ﬂood management
speciﬁcally for the countryʼ s three large cities (Yangon,
Mandalay and Mawlamyine). The project was
conducted from July 2014 to November 2016, during
which in cooperation with the 3 private ﬁrms, ICHARM
led the enhancement of the organizational capacity of
the Myanmar government in ﬂood risk reduction by
providing them with the knowledge and skill in ﬂood
risk assessment and other relevant areas.
For the eﬀective implementation of the project, acollaboration framework was set up by involving
n at i o n al an d lo cal agen ci e s ; a t its c o r e wa s th e
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of
Myanmar, networking 14 governmental organizations
Flood hazard map of Yangon
including the three cities. This framework, through(Return period: 100 years)
which meetings and workshops were held forstakeholders to share and discuss ideas and problems,
was one of the factors contributing to the success of thisproject.

After the unprecedented ﬂoods in Pakistan in 2010,
ICHARM conducted a cooperation through UNESCO
to provide technical assistance for development of aﬂood forecasting system in the Indus basin(Indus-IFAS), ﬂoodplain hazard mapping andcapacity building for the related agencies in Pakistan
during 2012 to 2014 (phase 1 project). As a result andsuccessful achievement, Pakistan Meteorological
Department (PMD) is providing ﬂood forecast
information based on Indus-IFAS on website.
This project is a good example of eﬀective technicaltransfer by not only supporting in development of asimulation model, but also supporting in thedevelopment of competence in understanding of themodel and operation of the systems. Since 2015,
phase 2 operations has started which includes
improvement of Indus-IFAS through integration of
the eastern rivers, development of calculation
module for melting snow in upstream regions,introduction of new correction methods forsatellite-based rainfall data as well as provision oftraining necessary for ﬂood prediction and riverdischarge observation using aDcp (acoustic Doppler
current proﬁler).

Flood hazard map of Yangon(Return period: 100 years)

Contribution to Typhoon Committee
The Typhoon Committee is an inter-governmental body under the joint auspices of the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Paciﬁc (ESCAP) and the World Meteo-rological Organization in 1968 to promote andcoordinate the planning and implementation of reduction measures for human/property damage by typhoons in the
Asia‒Paciﬁc region.
A chief researcher of ICHARM has been serving as the chairperson of the hydrology working group.

http://www.ifi-home.info/

International Flood Initiative (IFI)

Program for Risk Information on Climate Change (SOUSEI program)
ICHARM was a member institute of an MEXT 5-year research
project, “Program for Risk Information on Climate Change(SOUSEI program),” since 2012. In this project, we worked on
the development of a quantitative method to project possible
changes in ﬂood/drought risks in Asian river basins due toglobal warming and to evaluate resulting socio-economic
impacts. We projected risk changes based on theﬁfth-generation of CMIP climate projections with uncertainties.
More speciﬁcally, we aimed to develop a locally-tailoredmethod to use ﬂood/drought hazard projections based on
basin-scale GCM projections calculated with uncertainties, aswell as basic technology to evaluate ﬂood/drought risks. The
ﬁve target river basins selected for this project were those ofIndus (Pakistan), Chao Phraya (Thailand), Solo (Indonesia),
Mekong (Cambodia), and Pampanga (the Philippines).

Rice Crop Damage Estimation in Pampanga River Basin

The International Flood Initiative (IFI) is a worldwide framework topromote collaboration in ﬂood management among internationalorganizations such as UNESCO, WMO, UNU and UNISDR. ICHARM
has been serving as its secretariat.
Group photo of the meeting in Sri Lanka (24th Aug. 2017)
On October 31, 2016, IFI hosted a side event in advance of the 8th
High-Level Expert Panel on Water and Disaster (HELP), and theparticipants discussed the implementation strategy and theframework for action proposed to achieve better ﬂood management
throughout the world.
The meeting adopted the Jakarta Declaration to facilitate
interdisciplinary collaboration to further advance sustainable
development and ﬂood risk reduction. Based on the declaration,
ICHARM is conducting activities to support countries in theGroup photo of the meeting in Myanmar (1st Nov. 2017)
establishment of the “platform” to discuss and formulate strategies
for the reduction of disasters in collaboration with other IFI partners. This eﬀort has already started in Asia-Paciﬁccountries such as the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Pakistan, and is expected to expand to other countries.

Public Works Research Institute (PWRI), ICHARM Tel: +81-29-879-6809 Fax:+81-29-879-6709 Email icharm@pwri.go.jp

URL: http://www.icharm.pwri.go.jp/
Revised on Oct. 1, 2018