■ Introduction to Research〓 Research Area : Management of Environmental Infrastructures

Interacting behaviors between ground and tunnel lining with voids
The maintenance of damaged irrigation tunnels
has become a major social concern; and thus,
evaluating the damage conditions of current tunnels is of crucial importance. Voids behind thetunnel lining may be created during or after construction by the conventional method, and thesevoids are the main factors in its failure. Hence,
it is imperative to comprehend the behaviors ofthe ground, the tunnel lining and the voids. Weinvestigate the interacting behaviors between theground and a tunnel lining with voids by numericalsimulation and model tests.

Soil classification and correlation between Swedishweight sounding test results and strength parameter
Characterizing the properties of soils is of importance due
to design and maintenance concerns. These properties aregenerally evaluated by laboratory and in-situ tests. Swedishweight sounding (SWS) tests are field tests used to obtainthe static penetration resistance. From the value of the resistance, the N-value, the unconfined compressive strength, andthe bearing capacity can be computed in order to evaluate
the soil strength. However, the strength parameters, such as
cohesion and the angle of internal friction, is not presented.
We investigate the soil classification and the correlation between the SWS test results and the strength parameters.

〓 Assoc. Prof.
SHIBATA Toshifumi〓 Research Area : Environmental Economics

Political economy of natural resource development
and its social impact in Southeast Asia
Recent economic growth in Southeast Asia has resulted in rapid depletion of natural resources. Yet many villagers near theresource development area have not enjoyed improvementsin their lives as expected. Rather, some are even sacrificed byresource development projects and environmental conservation
policies. Our research examines how relevant stakeholders,such as governments, firms, villagers, and external agencies,
have interacted in certain resource development projects, suchas in the palm oil industry, pulp and paper industry, aquaculture,
forest conservation, and climate change adaptation, and how
this interaction has affected rural societies in Southeast Asia.

Harvesting oil palm by an Indonesian plantation worker(Sarawak, Malaysia, 2011)

Political processes and impacts of capitalization/financialization of nature in Southeast Asia

〓 Prof.
UBUKATA Fumikazu
Photo：Vanishing Tropical Forest inSoutheast Asia. Deforestation is believed
to be a significant source of carbon emission. (Sarawak, Malaysia, 2008)24

In recent years, many agencies in developing coutries have applied the approach to procure funds by
the use of financial instruments and direct payments
to mitigate environmental problems. Common examples include the use of carbon credits and systems
to pay for environmental services. Taking examples
from Southeast Asia, we examine processes thatlead to the formulation of these funding mechanisms,
and regards them as new developments that mainstream the commodification of nature (capitalization/financialization of nature). At the same time, we also
examine its socioeconomic impacts and the changes
in governance of society and the environment.