2017. 5. 1

Japan Society of Civil Engineers
International Activities Center

IAC News No.55
JSCE set up International Scientific Exchange Fund (ISEF) with the funds contribtred by the members and others
as part of JSCE’s 75th anniversary proejcts under the control of trustete Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Bank in Jaunary
1989.
The ISEF was initially aimed for assistning Japanese engineers and researchers to attend conferences held in andoutside Japan. It has developed targeted projects significantly and suppored various proejcts over the years: 1) itassists bi- and multi-lateral exchanges which are planned by research committees and ACECC TechnicalCommittee (TC)s, 2) it implements the Study Tour Grant (STG) program which proivdes young engineers
overseas with opprotunites to get hands-on exposure to the Japanes civil engineering, who will play key figures
to liaise between Japan and their coutries, and 3) it strengthens the activities of JSCE International Chapters, andlays the basis for communication hubs overseas.
This issue introduces three projects funded by the ISEF: the joit seminar held in Indonesia in this March hostedby Concrete Committee, ACECC TC on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) , and two reports of 2016 STG
participants.

Report on 2016 Joint Seminar held in Makassar, Indonesia.
- Seminar on JSCE Standard Specification on Concrete Structures JSCE Concrete Committee, JSCE Indonesia Sectionand Hasanuddin University (Makassar, Indonesia)
organized “Joint Seminar on Maintenance of Concrete
Structures based on Standard Specification forConcrete structures of JSCE,” on 17 March 2017 onGowaCampus,

Hasanuddin

University(http://unhas.ac.id/) in Makassar, Indonesia.
The Concrete Committee has held internationalseminars abroad to develop a partnership with foreigncounterparts once a year for these fifteen years.

Joint Seminar at Hasanuddin Univ.

Responding to the requests from the Indonesian side,
the committee chose the topic of this year’s seminar as “Introduction of the Standard Specification on Concrete
Structures, especially, Maintenance Part.”
Speakers and presentation titles are as follows:
1) Prof. Takumi Shimomura, from Nagaoka University of Technology, presented as a title of “Standard
Specifications for Concrete Structures.” Presently, he is a secretary general of the committee on the revision of1Standard Specification.
2) Prof. Koichi Kobayashi, from Gifu University, presented as a title of “Standard Specifications for Concrete
Structures: Maintenance.” Presently he is a vice WG leader of the working group on the revision of “Standard
Specification for Concrete Structures, Maintenance Part.”
3) Mr. Mototaka Morota from Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd, presented as a title of “Project Outline
and Quality Control of Construction of Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit Project.”He is presently Deputy Manager
and Design Manager, PT. Hutama Karya Joint Operation, Construction of Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit Project.
Mr. Morota came to Makassar from Jakarta to join the Seminar.
4) From Indonesian side, a presentation was prepared by Mr. Qodri Sihotang, presently Lead Engineer, PT. Tyfo
Fibrewrap Indonesia. His presentation title was “Innovation in Structural Engineering.”
The seminar counted 105 participants including
university faculty members and students, engineers inprivate companies in the Makassar area. The entire
audince attenvely listend to any presentation and madeseveral comments and questions.
The population of Makassar city is about 1.34 million,
which is the larget city in Sulawesi Island and the 7thlargest one in Indonesia. Now, the city is developing atvery high speed; accordingly, demand for developing
infrastuctures is growing. On the other hand, the city has
a long history and old concrete structures. Therefore,All Japanese participants and Dr. Rita Irmawaty(Hasanuddin Univ.)

those structures are in need of adequate maintenance. Concrete technology is very important as well as key
technology for the development of city.
In sum, the seminar was very fruitful and informative for all participants, not only for the Indonesian side, butalso for us the Japanese side. We could get to know many researchers and engineers coming from local areas.
We confirmed the relathionship with them, that should help us to introduce and spread the JSCE Standards andthe Japanese concrete technology.
Technology transfer, especially in the civil engineering field, should be done with a deep undertanding andappreciation of technology levels, cultures, climates, economies and others of a host country. In this sense, grassroots efforts in which face-to-face disucssions can be implemented, is indispensable. We are convinced that weshould continue our efforts to hold the seminar in the future.
【Reported by Prof. Hidenori Hamada (Kyushu Univ.) 】

Activity Report of ACECC TC-16
Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC) TC-16 is a technical committee (TC) which deals with“ITS based Solutions for Urban Traffic Problems in Asia-Pacific Countries.” The TC-16 has examined and sortedout ITS solutions for urban traffic issues and common challenges in Asian countries such as congestion, accidents,2and environmental issues caused by rapid
urbanization coupled with economic growthand motorization. Then, it has held a series ofdiscussion on the methods to introduce ITS
according to the level of economic growth andnational land development of each country.
In FY2016, as an outcome of the TC-16
activities, we developed the guidebook “ITSIntroduction Guide” for government officials

TC-16 Workshopand engineers in the Asian countries in order toexplain the ITS-based solutions for urban
traffic issues and ITS introduction processes.
The guidebook was published on the website ofACECC as well as the one of Japan Society of
Civil Engineers (JSCE).
We also made a presentation on the contents ofthe aforesaid guidebook at the 7th Civil
Engineering Conference in the Asian Region(CECAR7) held in Honolulu at the end ofITS World Congress site

August. We received questions about how to
introduce ITS by utilizing public–private partnership (PPP From the floor,)from the audience.
Furthermore, at the “23rd ITS World Congress Melbourne 2016” held inOctober, we promoted the “ITS Introduction Guide” at the Japan Pavilion, andheld a workshop with overseas members to discuss the future actions andpolicies of the TC-16 and related items. As a result of discussion, we decided
to finalize the activities of the first term with the completion of the guidebook,and carry out the second term under a new organization with the current vicechairman Shunsuke Kamijo (The University of Tokyo) as the new chairman.
We also decided to collaborate with the International Association of Traffic andITS Introduction Guide

Safety Sciences (IATSS) to update that guidebook from a multifaceted
perspective.
Since ITS technology keeps evolving day by day, engineers are required to learn new techniques constantly.
Therefore, the TC-16 will continue to collect and study new cases of ITS in Asia and make efforts to solve urban
transport problems in every country of the area by updating the “ITS Introduction Guide.”This publication is supported by International Scientific Exchange Fund (ISEF) of JSCE.
【Reported by Kazuya Tamada (ITS Division of National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management),
Secretary of ACECC TC-16】

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Japan and Civil Engineering: My JSCE-STG Experience
Japan is busy taking the lead in shaping our world.
What can a young civil engineer or a civil engineering student learn about thepractices in our chosen field in Japan? Literally, a lot! My one-week-study tourin the country from September 4 to 10, 2016 gave me a great opportunity toexplore such a beautiful country.
My visit in Japan was made possible by Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE)
through its International Scientific Exchange Fund’s (ISEF) Study Tour Grant(STG) program. This program annually invites young civil engineers and civilengineering students to Japan for a week with all expenses paid by the ISEF. The

Mr. Alben Rome
B. Bagabaldo

prospective participants who are nominated by JSCE’s Agreement ofCooperation (AOC) societies and screened by the JSCE will join the program. And I am very fortunate to be oneof the seven (7) grant recipients of the grant 2016 as a representative from the Philippines. Other recipients arefrom Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Turkey, and Mongolia.
So here comes the week of the tour, I arrived in Japan onSept. 4. Upon arrival at the airport, I was cordiallygreeted by Mr. Tsuyoshi Hashimoto of the International
Activities Center of JSCE. Then, on Sept. 5-9, came thebusy yet fun-filled days. We visited research laboratoriesof the Public Works Research Institute, National Institutefor Land and Infrastructure Management and Kajima
Technical Research Institute. We also went toconstruction sites, some of which were the Tajiri Area
Project of the Tokyo-Gaikan Expressway, JR Tokyo

The Presentation at the International Summer Symposium

Station Extension Project, and the disaster-affected areas
in Imaizumi and Takata where restoration works wereconducted. I was also mesmerized by the grandeur
buildingsofTokyo

MetropolitanGovernment.

Additionally, we shared our research projects at the 18thInternational Summer Symposium and got to know theofficers of JSCE during a dinner reception at Tohoku
University, Sendai; not to mention the fact that we rode
the Shinkansen Hayabusa to travel to Sendai from Tokyo.
Then, we were also given some time to explore beautiful

At the site of the restoration work in Rikuzentakata

and remarkable tourist attractions both in Sendai and inTokyo. On Sept. 10, the last day of our stay in Japan came, and we bade farewell to each other.

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My seven-day stay in Japan made me appreciate thecountry and my desire to pursue further studies there alsoincreased. The JSCE STG program served to its purpose
well to learn Japanese civil engineering technology andprojects. Given the geographical features of Japan and its
similarities to those of my country, there are many things
that we can learn and adopt from them, especially in termsof the technologies that can be used to improve theresilience of buildings and infrastructures.
Furthermore, Filipinos can inherit two of the best

With the JSCE President at the networking reception

practices in Japan which are placing a high value on timeand being well-disciplined. I liked that what were listed in our itinerary were strictly followed as written. Anotherthing is cleanliness. That can be found everywhere you look even in construction sites. Other than that, thedevelopment goals of Japanese private companies are aligned to the ones of the government, resulting in noconflict of interests and faster improvements in their country.
Many streets in Tokyo and other places were really busy all day long, but that should not have happened without
the infrastructures developed by civil engineers. Subways played an important part of utilizing limited space of
our urban areas; without us civil engineers, there would have been no sturdy tunnels built. The streets andsubways worked together with the trains which were the strong backbone of transportation in Japan, which isanother thing that I look up to and dream of having in the Philippines and motivated to be interested intransportation engineering. The STG program helped me broaden my view and expand my knowledge of mychosen field. Given the opportunity, I would always want to come back to Japan that will keep its rich culture
while taking a leadership of innovation.
In the end, I will always be thankful to JSCE for a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My gratitude also goes to thePhilippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) for nominating me to the STG and for all of their support. Myappreciation to my fellow STG 2016 recipients as well with whom I shared a truly unforgettable experience.

REPORT FOR 2016 JSCE STUDY TOUR GRANT
1. 2016 JSCE Study Tour Grant
STG is organized under the International Scientific Exchange Fund (ISEF) of Japan
Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) to promote international exchange andcooperation. According to bilateral relations between Myanmar and Japan, allyoung civil engineers were invited by Myanmar Engineering Society to competeand participate in the STG program. I prepared to apply for the 2016 STG program
because I had a passion to study engineering in Japan.
2. Public Work Research Institute (Day 1)
According to the schedule, the first day of STG visit was Public Work Research
5Mr. Aung Myat Thu

Institute (PWRI) located in Tsukuba. Mr. Tsuyoshi Hashimoto picked me up at Narita Airport. He was always
smiling and taking care of us along the program. Along the bus route, I found peaceful urban areas. At a structural
engineering laboratory, I found the 30MN universal testing machine which is the second largest in the world.
We found the liquefaction map of Japan. Without doubt, I saw that Japan was developing not only in structural
engineering, but also in geotechnical engineering.
3. Tokyo-Gaikan Expressway Construction Site,TAJIRI-Area Project
Although Japanese food tasted different from Myanmar
food, I could enjoy and felt it Oishii (delicious). Afterlunch, we went to the Tokyo-Gaikan Expressway
construction site, TAJRI-area project. That project was
the large scale construction project which wasconstructed by East Nippon Expressway Company.
4. Kajima Technical Research Institute (Day 2)
In the morning of second day, we studied at Kajima.
The motto of Kajima Technical Research Institute isField trip to TAJIRI-Area“Exploring today, building tomorrow.” At Kajima, I saw base-isolated buildings and two types of damper. Then,we went to a wind-tunnel-testing building. Before that day, I had only seen it in videos. I had wished to see it
and finally my wish came true. After that, we studied about fire testing and an artificial garden on the roof.
5. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
We travelled to see the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. I really love skyscrapers; therefore, visiting
and taking photos of that structure was still like a dream for me. I googled it and found out its architect Kenzo
Tange and structural designer Kiyoshi Muto who are Japanese.
I also would like to design tall buildings like them in my country. We travelled to Sendai by the bullet train. It
took only one and a half hours to travel nearly 200 miles. I really liked bullet trains because in my country it
took about 10 hours to travel 400 miles by express trains. Good transportation is necessary for any country.
6. 18th International Summer Symposium at Tohoku University (Day 3, Sept. 7.)
It was an excellent opportunity for young civil engineers. My presentation was “The Highest Building Projectin Shan State, Myanmar. After my presentation, three students asked me one question each. This was my firstexperience to attend an international seminar, and I felt those international students and their words in my heart.
7. Sendai City
We visited some areas in Sendai City and enjoyed walking, shopping, taxi riding, praying at a temple, and sightseeing. It was a beautiful city. At night, we participated in a JSCE annual dinner and met the president and senior
engineers of JSCE. We got a lot of visiting cards and made new friends which would develop good friendships
in the future. I came to realize that Asia was not very different, but we were the same under the umbrella of civilengineering family. I really enjoyed “sake.”6

8. Visit at the 2011 Tsunami-affected Areas (Day 4, Sept. 8.)
Along the trip, I saw the retaining walls and shotcrete areas that reinforced the side of mountains. My native
town has many mountains and one of thehilly regions in our country. There are many
possibilities of landslides and rock falls.
That is why I like that way of maintenancefor transportation. Loving environment
helps us. We saw many developments in theearthquake-stricken city of Rikuzentakata inIwate Prefecture. Next we went to the site
office of Shimizu Corp. Joint Venture (JV)and stood on the top of the seawalls tooverlook the entire construction project. We

At Shin-Kesennuma Bridge

also saw the so-called “miracle” pine, theonly one which stayed alone among 70,000 trees which had stood along the town's coastline after the disaster.
That pine is now considered as a symbol of hope. After visiting the Tsunami-affected areas, I felt that I was
growing respect for the Japanese engineering.
9. Sightseeing
The last day of our STG visit was a sightseeing tour in Tokyo. Firstly, we visited to Asakusa Temple by a HATO
bus. I prayed for a chance to come back to Japan. We went to many souvenir shops. I bought Japanese traditional
cloths for my teacher. Then, we went to Tokyo Sky Tree, the world’s tallest free-standing tower. Japanesetraditional sense of beauty and engineering was integrated to its design. As far as I study, the structural characterof this tower is different from other domestic structures. It is one of my favourite structures in the world. Tokyo
is the wonderful mega-city for me. I will miss the days in Japan and STG friends also.
10. Speech of Gratitude
I would like to express my gratitude to Japan Society of Civil Engineer for my STG visit and their effort inmaking all the necessary arrangements and accommodations. It was a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Then, I
would like to thank Mr. Win Myint and Mr.Ye Gaung from Myanmar Engineering Society, Taunggyi Chapter.
The program serves to its purpose nicely. It does not only promote the growth of participants, but alsoharmonious relationships among them. Since coming back from Japan, I have been increasing my desire to study
at the master’s level in Japan. Dr. Kazunori Wada told me to come back and study in Japan. I still remember hisvoice. I will try to visit and study in Japan in the future. I will plan to build my dreams to become a reality.
To JSCE, thank you very much. Arigatogozaimasu!

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Updates◆The summary of feature articles in the May 2017 issue of the JSCE Magazine is available on the JSCE website.
http://www.jsce-int.org/pub/magazine◆Five projects introduced in the booklet “TRANSFER OF CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY INSERVICE” published on the occasion of the 100th year anniversary of JSCE are introduced on the JSCEWebsite.
http://www.jsce.or.jp/e/archive◆Journal of JSCE
The Journal of JSCE a collection of research papers can be viewed on the JSCE website.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/journalofjsce◆Concrete Committee International Newsletter No. 48
http://www.jsce.or.jp/committee/concrete/e/newsletter/newsletter48/index.html◆Disaster Fact Sheet
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/disaster/◆IAC Students and Alumni Network
http://www.jsce-int.org/IAC_network§ IAC News Subscription §The IAC News is one of the communication tools to share information and ideas with the members. We would like to invite
you, your friends and colleagues to join the communication and to subscribe the IAC News. Please register online:(http://www.jsce-int.org/node/150). We look forward to meeting you.
§ IAC Facebook §Recent activity of International Activities Center is introduced on this Facebook. By all means, please see this home page.
(https://www.facebook.com/JSCE.en)
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