Oct. 31, 2013

Japan Society of Civil Engineers
International Activities Center

IAC News No. 13
International Panel Discussion: Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal
Problems of infrastructure maintenance and renewal are almost the same everywhere, i.e.
lack of awareness and understanding of the importance of infrastructure maintenance,
limited budget, lack of engineers’ competency etc. One of the common problems among
countries is the availability of allocated budget for infrastructure maintenance and renewal.
To tackle this, some countries have developed tools, e.g. infrastructure report cards, thatmake the existing conditions of infrastructures become visible to government anddecision makers. This of course will influence the priority of using the available national
budget for infrastructure maintenance and renewal.

Prof. Imran Iswandi
Institut Teknologi Bandung

The development of report cards requires the assessment of theinfrastructures’ conditions. For this kind of assessment, different
approaches are basically needed for different types of infrastructures oreven for different locations. It is known that different infrastructures may
have different behavior and be posed to different threats. In addition, theassessment/ inspection standards, supervision and the competentinspection engineers are basically needed in order to avoid wrong
assessment/ inspection results.
Int’l Panelists and Commentators

As the natural threats are increasing due to global climate change, thecriteria for evaluating the assessment results should be updated as well.
In addition, specific approach is sometimes needed for monitoring
infrastructures in certain location. In some cases, early warning systems
are required. For these specific requirements, the technology for
infrastructures’ health monitoring will be the most important tools neededfor infrastructure maintenance. Japan is known as one of the leading
countries in this regard. Many monitoring technologies for different
infrastructures are being developed to maintain safe infrastructures.

Prof. Imran makes comments.

The failure to monitor and assess the condition of the existing infrastructures may lead catastrophic failures ofinfrastructures. In the last ten years, many examples of failures of infrastructures can be found in many places,
including Indonesia. In Indonesia, the causes of the failures are not only because of aging, but also fromlacking of maintenance. Decision makers are sometime not aware of the importance of maintaining theinfrastructures. They are sometimes reluctant to approve the spending of big budget for maintenance.

In addition, in civil engineering field in Indonesia, the focus in design activities is still on “design to construct”
and not on “design to maintain”. As a result, in many infrastructure designs, aspects of maintenance are rarely
taken into account in the design process. This for example can be seen in some bridges in which no access isprovided for replacing the bridge bearings. This “design to construct” approach makes the conditions ofinfrastructures vary significantly from one place to another in Indonesia. Because of that, several assessment
approaches need to be developed to suit those different conditions of infrastructures. The infrastructures inIndonesia have many similarities with those in Japan in term of the surrounding environment. Right now, Japanhas progressed significantly in coping with the problems of their infrastructures. It is interested to see howthese are developing. There should be many things to observe and learn from these activities.

Report for “The 7th JFES-JSCE-AIJ-WFEO Joint InternationalSymposium on Disaster Risk Management”
The International Symposium associated with disaster risk management (DRM) wassuccessfully held by the effective collaboration among several international anddomestic organizations: Japan Federation of Engineering Societies (JFES), Japan
Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE), Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ), and World
Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), and supported by Science Councilof Japan (SCJ), at Nihon University (Narashino City, Chiba) from 9:00 to 12:00 in Sep.
5, 2013 during the 2013 JSCE annual meeting. This international symposium has
been sequentially running since 2007 to provide the global community the opportunity
to discuss disaster restoration, better mitigation techniques and prevention plans forsevere future disasters based upon experiences world-wide. In this time, we invited 8

Nobuaki Kimura,
WFEO-CDRM
Deputy Secretary

guest speakers from domestic and foreign (Iran, Taiwan, and Philippines) universities
and institutes who have the research background of DRM or disaster prevention. They had uniquepresentations for DRM based upon the varieties of themes through civil engineering, architecture engineering,financial policy, and legal policy viewpoints. After that, the speakers and the audiences (approximately 50people) had useful and practical discussions.
The detailed presentations and discussions are the followings. In
opening remarks, Dr. Ishii (WFEO Committee on DRM [CDRM], Chair)emphasized the importance of the DRM to prevent economical loss
and human damage. Sequentially, the guest speakers’ presentations
about (1) Development of a forecast system for guerrilla-type heavy
rain (Prof. Yamada, Chuo Univ.), (2) Example of typhoon-induced
severe damage in Taiwan (Dr. Lai, Cheng-Kung Univ.), (3) Resistant
WFEO Symposium is ongoing.

tests for the higher buildings under huge earthquake (Prof. Nakajima

Kyoto Univ.), (4) Gap between reality and ideality in the recovery
processes from damage due to the Great East Japan Earthquake (Prof. Ubaura, Tohoku Univ.), (5) How tohandle trans-boundary disaster risk management (Prof. Ali, Iran University of Science and Technology), (6)Spatial mapping of economic loss against disaster vulnerability (Prof. Kazama, Tohoku Univ.), (7) Developmentof the investment model for disaster prevention used in the world-wide political framework (Dr. Takeya, JICA),and (8) Example of the legislation about disaster prevention and risk management in Philippines (Prof.
Pacheco, Univ. of the Philippines Diliman) were conducted. After that, Q & A between speakers and audiences
resulted in the valuable discussions, such as gaps between civil engineering viewpoint and architecture one on
DRM and political problems in Tohoku (Japan) reconstruction processes. Finally, Prof. Komatsu(Subcommittee on CDRM leader) closed the symposium by addressing the importance of DRM again.

WFEO Symposium Speakers and Secretariat Members

This symposium, held by several engineering associations, offers multi-faceted examples and ideas about
DRM. We are planning to have a new symposium in the next year in AIJ 2014 annual convention (Kobe City,Japan).
(Note) WFEO (a professional group for engineering) has a mission that they world-widely provide somesolution for poverty problems and for sustainable development in stable social infrastructure and economics
through appropriate technology and innovation. CDRM is one of the committees of WFEO and working fordisaster risk management.
※ For further details, please visit The 7th WFEO Joint Int’l Symposium.

Report on the International Workshop for Young Engineers:
JSCE 2013 Annual Meeting International program
After last year’s success, International Students Network Group, the International
Activities Center (IAC) held the 15th International Summer Symposium at College ofIndustrial Technology, Nihon Univ., as one of the international programs of JSCE 2013
Annual Meeting. This year, the International Workshop for Young Engineers was jointly
held with the Symposium, co-hosted by IAC and the JSCE 100th Anniversary Planning
Committee International group

The theme of the workshop was, ’’Your Career
as a Civil Engineer and Our Future Society”. 35

Kohei Nagai
Int’l Student NetworkGroup Leader

participants were mainly international students
and young engineers who submitted their papers to the Summer
Symposium, and the others were the nominees whom JSCE chapters
had recommended. The workshop included group discussion that theparticipants discussed possible tasks due to changing society andParticipants enjoy exchanging opinions witheach other.

environment expecting the future in the next 40 years, the roles of civilengineering, and their prospective career. At the end of the workshop,
each participant made a presentation.

The workshop began with the opening remarks by Prof. Yozo Fujino(the University of Tokyo), the 100th
Anniversary Planning Committee Chair, regarding the history of civil engineering in Japan and hopes for youngengineers. As a representative of former international students working for Japanese company, Dr. Phan Huu
Duy Quoc (Shimizu Corporation) made a presentation about his experiences and information on working inJapan, and attracted the audience’s attention.
In group discussion section, the participants were divided into groups of about sixpeople. They expressed their opinions that each had prepared in advance, anddeepened the ideas through discussing similarities or differences between them.
The opinions of the participants from variety of countries were different according to
the country’s development or maturity, and there were active exchanges of ideas invarious fields such as education, technical development, the global environment
and international cooperation. Every participant made a one-minute-presentation
with a handwritten poster of A2 size then. Unique and colorful posters were createdwithin a limited time, and spiced up the presentations. The poster session enhanced
mutual exchanges between participants. The workshop provided young engineers agreat and meaningful opportunity to consider their future tasks and career plans,Participants present theirresearch projects.

and supported the participants networking each other.
The upcoming workshop will be held on a large
scale inviting young engineers from overseas, asa part of JSCE’s 100th anniversary celebration
events, during JSCE 2014 Annual Meeting (atOsaka University).

All workshop participants are relaxed after the workshop.

International Communication and Collaboration (ICC) Group Meeting
During the JSCE Annual Meeting 2013, International Communication andCollaboration (ICC) Group Meeting was held on September 4th at Nihon UniversityTsudanuma campus. Since International Activity Center (IAC) has founded at JSCE,
it was the second meeting with JSCE president, IAC Senior Director, BoardDirectors, and Group members of International Section from overseas to discuss
about latest project and future plans.

Satoru Kobayakawa
Information Networking
Group Leader

Prof. Tamon Ueda (IAC Senior Director) opened the meeting, and theparticipants made brief self-introductions. Then, Mr. Tamio Shimogami (aBoard of Director, Leading Director of Int’l Affairs of JSCE) and Prof.
Kiyohiro Ikeda (a Board of Director, Director of Int’l Affairs of JSCE)
delivered opening speeches. Then, Prof. Ueda presented the overview ofIAC, and Mr. Yamakawa (IAC Director, Int’l Cooperation & CollaborationGroup Leader) introduced the ICC outline. The member of International
Section from Indonesia, Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan, USA, and Vietnam

Prof. Ueda delivers an overview of IAC.

were participating and reporting their project, joint-seminar and meetings
with JSCE. Moreover, the ICC secretariat reported their activities from themembers from Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand groups who could
not attend this meeting.
After reports from each section, we discussed about IAC’sfuture activities. In the discussion, many proposals weredelivered to improve the membership service for non-Japanese
speaking members and information to attract new members.
These discussions became the future subjects to build a student
network independently and to provide the information about
Japanese University for the foreign students.
Int’l Sections reps make reports on their activities.

The time was limited for this meeting but it was a good opportunity to share the information with IAC andInternational sections. I was realized the importance of corporation with International sections to continue IACactivities.

Technical Tour
Technical Tour in the 2013 JSCE Annual Meeting International Program visited Keiyo Junction on Tokyo Outer Ring
Road and Hamacho-Minami Elevated Bridge on Higashi-Kanto Expressway with the cooperation of

East Nippon

Expressway Co., Ltd.

1. Site Visits【Keiyo Junction】
Tour participants listen to a project supervisor.

【Keiyo Junction】
A construction site in bird-view.

【Hamacho-minami Elevated Bridge】
An inspector explains state-of-art inspection
equipment and machines that are used there.

【Hamacho-minami Elevated Bridge】
Inspectors do inspection on the deck and pierson a lift2. Technical Tour Schedule【Ichikawa Interchange】
Construction Site on Tokyo
Outer Ring Road
【Depart from Nihon Univ.】◆ Information Room for Keiyo-Junction◆ Visit to Keiyo -Junction【Depart fromIchikawa】【Makuhari】
Presentation of Operation &Maintenance Technologies◆ Demonstration ofInspection Technologies【Depart formMakuhari】【 Arrive at theHotel in Makuhari】

IAC Current News (Kotaro Hashimoto The 101st JSCE President)◆2013 JSCE Annual Meeting Report

It was a successful Annual Meeting, which was held at Nihon University Tsudanuma Campus, Narashino City,
Chiba on September 4 to 6 this year. We welcomed the Mr. Kensaku Morita the Chiba Prefecture governor atthe banquet. About 19,000 members participated and 2,919 papers were presented during the three days.
Under the main theme “Civil Engineering-Past Achievements towards Future Challenges,” which was aprecursor of the 100th Anniversary Celebration events next year, we held a special meeting focusing on
infrastructure maintenance. Mr. Akihiro Ota Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism delivered
the speech “ Future Public Works “ and shared his views and opinions with the audience.
In the International Program, International Chapter Meeting, International Panel Discussion on Infrastructure
Maintenance and Renewal for Achieving Sustainable Society, International Summer Symposium forinternational students, which was offered as part of regular sessions in the annual meeting,
WFEO-JFES-AIJ-JSCE Joint Symposium on natural disaster management, International, Workshop on Your
Career as a Civil Engineer and Our Society were held as main meetings by IAC. Over 100 participants
including international students from 15 countries participated and exchanged ideas and views with each otherin these meetings. We are very thankful to those participants, and Mr. Gregory E. DiLoreto ASCE President
and Prof. Jongsung Sim KSCE President particularly who have not only participated in these meetings andoffered kind support and cooperation with us.
Completing the annual meeting successfully, we keenly realize the importance of cooperation with ouroverseas counterparts, and will strengthen our network with them.
Thank you very much.

What’s Happening
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Nov 7-9：39th PICE National Convention (2013), (Davao, Philippines)
Nov 8-9：Symposium of 40th Year Celebration of Diplomatic Relationship Japan between Vietnam(Hanoi, Vietnam)
Nov 22：2013 CICHE Annual Meeting (Taipei, Taiwan)
Nov 28：Joint Seminar of PICE and JSCE-Philippines: Civil Engineering Responses to EnvironmentalIssues (UP-Diliman- National Center for Transportation Studies, Manila, Philippines)

UpdatesThe summary of feature articles in the JSCE Magazine is available on the JSCE website.
http://www.jsce-int.org/pub/magazine
Concrete Committee International Newsletter No. 34
http://www.jsce.or.jp/committee/concrete/e/newsletter/Newsletter.htm

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Y’s Murmuring
Do I know how old the bridge that I cross every day is? Do I check how sturdy the roads that I walk on
every day are? Do I ask civil engineers how strong the tunnels that my train runs through every day?
The answers are “no.” I assume that the bridges, roads, and tunnels that I use every day are healthy. I
never expect in a million year that they fall down, cave in, or collapse. Out of the blue, they do, though.
Two weeks ago I attended ASCE’s annual conference in Charlotte, and had chance to listen to somemembers who work on the Idaho State infrastructure report card. They said that they had interviewed
professionals, pubic officers, scholars, young researchers and others in order to complete the report card,and then, analyzed collected day and released their evaluations to the public. Not only publicizing theevaluation, but also interviewing those local people can raise awareness and interests of structures thatthey use daily. I hope to see and work for such report card here in Japan.

【Comments and Questions】
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