JSCE Newsletter No. 32, June 2010

Japan Society of Civil Engineers
International Activitie

NewsletterNo. 32, June 2010
Contents

June 2010- May 2011
President
SAKATA Kenji
Vice-Presidents
ISOBE Masaiko
KITOH Heizo
SHIRAKI Wataru
HIROTANI Akihiko
MIURA Seiichi
Executive Director
FURUKI Moriyasu

Photo Report ----------------------------------------- p.2
JSCE Study Tour Grant 2009 Report ------------- p.3

Information-------------------------------- p.6
Event Calendar---------------------------- p.6

The Inauguration of the 98th President
Prof. Kenji Sakata, JSCE Fellow

International Activities
Committee
Chair
FURUTA Hitoshi
Vice-Chair
HIROTANI Akihiko
Secretary General
KAGAMI Shuichi
Deputy-Secretary
GeneralFUKUDA Atsushi
Members / Secretary
KOBAYAKAWA Satoru
SASAKI Kuniaki
TAKAHASHI Shu
TAKEDA Shinichi
NODA Masaru
MATSUSHIMA Kakuya
YAMAGUCHI Eiki
International Chapter
Taiwan Section
Der-Her Lee
Korea Section
Dong-Uk, Lee
U.K. Section
SOGA Kenichi
Mongolia Section
Enkhtur Shoovdor
Turkey Section
Zeki HasgürIndonesia Section
Sutanto Soehodho
Thailand Section
Samart Ratchapolsitte
Philippines Section
Benito Morelos Pacheco
Vietnam Section
Yotsuya 1-chome,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
160-0004 JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-3355-3452
Fax: +81-3-5379-2769
http://www.jsce-int.org
iad@jsce.or.jp

SAKATA Kenji, Dr. Eng.
President of JSCE
Emeritus Professor of Okayama University

I was appointed the 98th JSCE President (2010-2011 Term) in this May. I
completed my tenure as a professor at Okayama University in March 2009 after I
served as an educator and researcher in the concrete engineering discipline for morethan thirty years. Within the JSCE, I worked with mainly Concrete Committee, andfrom 2006 to 2008 did as the board member who supervised the operation of
Research and Studies Division as holding the vice president position. While
working with the JSCE, I served as the president of Japan Concrete Institute from2008 to 2010 and of Japan Society of Dam Engineers from 2009 to 2010.
I view that the year 2010 will become a new beginning for the JSCE as apublic interest incorporated association. The JSCE, whose activity is public-interest
oriented, will need to shape its business plan and operation to more focus on thecontribution to society and human well-being.
Also, the year 2014 marks the JSCE’s 100th anniversary. There are a few years
left till then. It should be the time for us the JSCE members to review our activities
and accomplishments for the past hundred years, to draw a future vision, and toplan strategies to realize that vision in the next hundred years.
Outside the JSCE, we have seen political chaos like a change of power and theresignation of the prime minister one after another and a significant cut in public
investment in infrastructure development. We should squarely face these baffling
situations and their impact on the civil engineering industry, and then make the best
move using our wisdom and knowledge to perform our professional roles, duties
and responsibilities for society. I would like to remind us all that civil engineeringis the engineering to contribute to society and human well-being.

Also available on web: http://www.jsce-int.org/

1

JSCE Newsletter No. 32, June 2010

Photo Report from JSCE Magazine-1

Renovation of the Roadway
Tunnel Crossing Kanmon Channel

The renovation project will ensure the users“a safer, more secure and comfortable driving
environment” in the Kanmon Roadway Tunnel amajor artery connecting Kyushu and Honshu
islands.

Kanmon Roadway Tunnel is 3,462 meters
long, being consisted of a 780-meter undersea
section and two ground sections:1,371-meterlying in Yamaguchi Prefecture and 1,311-meterin Fukuoka Prefecture. It opened in March 1958,
known as a tunnel with a cycling and pedestriantunnel under it.
Average 2000 cars per day used it in thosedays. Later, because of motorization in society,tunnel users have grown to seventeen times
larger, and the economic activity of the areas
around the tunnel have developed significantly.

Kanmon Tunnel(Yamaguchi andFukuoka Prefecture)▲ Workers pave the tunnel floor▲ Workers place FRP RC panels on the floor▲ Ceiling panels are being replaced (Moji area)

It has been fifty-one years since the roadwaytunnel opened already. Thus, a three-year
renovation project has been implemented toprevent that tunnel from deterioration over timesince 2008, in which the closures of the entire
tunnel are needed to carry out works. In the firstyear of that program, engineers worked aroundthe clock to replace precast concrete panels on
the ceilings of the total 2,682-meter-long groundsections and completed that in sixty days during
which the tunnel was closed.
In 2009, the tunnel was closed for one
hundred nine days to strengthen the floor of theundersea sections by replacing the panels
covering about 380 sq. m. with FRP RC panels.
Then, in the following year, the floor panelson the remaining 400-square-meter-area of theundersea section will be replaced.
2▲ FRP PC panels are transferred(Photos by West Japan Expressway Co., Ltd)
Photo Report from JSCE Magazine-2

Railroad grade separation projectof JR Chuo Line between Mitaka
and Tachikawa Stations.
Elevation of the railway between Mitaka andKokubunji Stations on the inbound line and removal of
13 railroad crossings

There was the first run of an inbound train
on the elevated railway between Mitaka andKokubunji Stations on the JR Chuo line on
December 6, 2009. The elevated railway made it
Also available on web: http://www.jsce-int.org/

JSCE Newsletter No. 32, June 2010

possible to remove 13 crossings, or so-called
closed crossings, placed between those twostations. Over 11,000 workers began to move therail track laid on the ground to the one built
above the ground at 22:00 on December 5 andcompleted that work eight hours later. At thiscompletion, the elevated platforms of the threestations Musashisakai, Higashikoganei andMusashikoganei on the inbound line were opened.
The JR Chuo Line railway grade separation
project has been conducted by the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government and JR East Japan
Railway Company since 1999. In this project,
the elevation of approx. 6 km-railway between
Mitaka and Kokubunji Stations was completed inJuly 2007, and that of approx. 3 km-railway
between Nishikokubunji and Tachikawa Stationsin January 2009, and upon the aforesaid rail track
elevation work done, the eastward railway
between the subject sections have been
completed. Next, the track on the westward
railway will be laid by the end of the year, and 5
crossings placed between Kokubunji andTachikawa Stations will be removed.

Around the new channel, Tokachi Ecology
Park (409.2 ha) is laid out, where a symbiotic
relationship between the people and naturalenvironment will be developed. Many people
visit and enjoy the park: it is a place for children
to learn about ecology and for citizens toappreciate the green-rich environment provided
by the Tokachi River.

Chiyoda New Channel(inHokkaido)

This project has resulted in much smoothertraffic flow in the areas and the integration ofcommunities divided due to the crossings, andfurther the development of the communities will
be expected.

(essay by Kenichi Nagayama, Tokyo Construction Office,
JR East Japan Railway Company)

Chiyoda New Channel
Construction to provide people
Utilization as the real-size test
water channel, the country’s
largestChiyoda New Channel is situated in the
middle part of Tokachi River, the second longest
river in Hokkaido, and near it, there is the old
Chiyoda Weir which attracts tourists by offering
a good salmon fishing spot. The new channel
was constructed to cover the flow capacity of theriver. The area of the new channel experienced
many floods in the past, and in August 1981 wasaffected seriously by the flooded river which
exceeded the design high water level.
The new channel, which was completed in
2007, is designed to minimize the damages
which may be caused by river flooding; thediversion weir on the upper river opens to letwater flow into the new channel during the timeof flooding. The test channel set up within the
new channel, which is the nation’s largest one,has been used to conduct actual-size experiments
since 2009 to develop solutions to flooding andeffective flood control management plan.
Also available on web: http://www.jsce-int.org/▲ A Fishway is studied in an Observation Tank.

(Photos and essay by Akira Usami, Hokkaido Regional
Development Bureau, MLIT)

JSCE Student Tour Grant 2009
study Tour Report (No.3)
In February of 2009, I was informed that theJapan Society of Civil Engineers sent out
invitations to four countries, including thePhilippines, for their Study Tour Grant. The
Grant will give its recipients an opportunity tovisit Japan for seven days to study the latest
Japanese Civil Engineering technologies. As
stated in the invitation letter, it also aims toenhance the communication between JSCE and
its Agreement of Cooperation (AOC) societies in
the civil engineering field.
I submitted my curriculum vitae and essay
regarding the Engineering sites in Japan that I’dlike to explore. Attached, too, were my past andcurrent researches. With the feeling of eagerness
to contribute to my society in the future, I wasvery happy to be chosen as the first Filipino
student to be the recipient of the JSCE Study
Tour Grant in early July. Indeed, being chosen isan honor.
3

JSCE Newsletter No. 32, June 2010

The following are my day-to-day activities
from the time I flew to Japan to the very last dayof my stay. My reflections on what I havelearned are also included. A table summary
showing my itinerary can be found on the last
pages.
After I graduated from high school, I knewthat I wanted to build. I wanted to build
structures that encompass visual beauty, andstrictly adhere to the complex rudiments of mathand science. At first I didn’t even know what
profession does so. I had to describe the job I
wanted to do to my brother just to learn theprofession’s name. Civil Engineering! And
indeed it is. Four and a half years after thatconversation with my brother, I found myself ona very momentous and memorable study tour toJapan sponsored by Japan Society of Civil
Engineers. I found myself in what I consider as
the Mecca of my chosen career. I have been
deeply privileged to witness Japan's beauty, notjust with its glorious cherry blossoms; but more
importantly, with its front running Civil
Engineering innovations which the rest of theworld, the Philippines included, revere andimitate.
In college, engineering that does notcompromise human safety and the ecosystemcaught my interest. I wanted to involve myself inthe planning, designing, and construction of
structures while making sure that nature’s flow
isn’t obstructed, or worse, destroyed. I wanted to"build green". But where shall I draw knowledge
from? Where shall I draw the inspiration, or
rather the hope that that kind of engineering is
indeed feasible?
When I was informed that I was chosen to
be one of the Japan Study Tour Grant recipients,
I was excited beyond imagining. I was certainthat everything I wanted to see so far, everything
I envisioned civil engineering in the Philippines
should be, I will see in Japan. I wanted to see
Japanese technologies and methods that
harmonize
civilengineeringwiththeenvironment, which is crucial especially in ourtime and generation wherein there is already somuch that should be done, and much more thatshould be undone.
Sure enough, when I arrived in Yotsuya, theplace is so urban yet I couldn’t smell any smokefrom cars. I could hear the crows and see thedoves on the sidewalks. It was a perfect pictureof nature and engineering technology in balanced
and amicable coexistence. I wanted myhometown to be just as healthy as this place.
On our second day of visit, the Integrated
Flood Analysis System or IFAS retained on mymind. Such tool would help countries like mine
where typhoons are frequent. I could use it
together with the program of the University of
Yamanashi’s Virtual Academy on River Basin
4

Management, where I am currently enrolled in, tominimize the damage brought about by the 20 or
so typhoons that ravage my country annually,
destroying crops and infrastructure, and eventaking toll on human lives.
The visit to Kajima Technical ResearchInstitute and Obayashi Corporation gave clarity
to the benefits of intensive research. It may sounda little cheesy, or perhaps even childish, but I get
really excited by the continuous studies formodern methodologies and equipment. But
understandably, the efficiency and positive yieldsof these researches are truly beneficial.
The visit to Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge andconstruction site of Haneda Airport showed me
the application of the theories learned inclassrooms. I have witnessed first-hand theingenuity of the Japanese in building the world's
longest suspension bridge as of date.
At the Disaster Reduction and Human
Renovation Institution, I felt the importance ofbeing in concurrence with nature. Though strong
earthquakes in the Philippines are relatively rare,
the damages they cause pose big impacts to our
economy, environment and our lifestyle ingeneral. Moreover, and in higher incidence,
many places of the Philippines, even in urban
areas, experience flash floods and landslides. I
know that something has to be done and this visit
rekindled my will to be part of whatever solutionthat is.
We went to other places in Japan showing
its historical and modern culture like the Himeji
Castle. Clearly, even in ages long before our own,
Japan has always been the pioneer of building.
Finally, the study tour gave me the chance
to see my options to study my Master’s Degreein Japan, particularly in Waseda University orTokyo Institute of Technology. There is stillmuch to learn about engineering; and this is theplace which intensively dedicates its effort inupgrading its engineering, and the world's forthat matter.
I would like to say that the Study Tour, brief
as it may, really, definitely broadened myhorizon regarding civil engineering. It renewed
my enthusiasm and excitement towards the
career I chose. It defined my reasons to apply
what I have learned, for the betterment of mysociety here at home.
Again, I am really, deeply thankful for theopportunity given to me by the Japan Society of
Civil Engineers and the Philippine Institute of
Civil Engineers. Thank you so much for the
chance to be introduced to Japanese civilengineering. Rest assured that I will convey
everything that I learned to my colleagues. Thankyou very much for the warm hospitality.
It has been a privilege, an honor, and a lifelong gift that I will always hold deep in myperson. Japan has filled my mind with unequalledknowledge, and my heart with overflowing
Also available on web: http://www.jsce-int.org/

JSCE Newsletter No. 32, June 2010

memories I will always be thankful for. My
family and I are boundlessly grateful. This has
been a very unforgettable and enrichingexperience. Domo arigatou gozaimasu!

(Jeramee Villadiego Dimapilis)

JSCE Student Tour Grant 2009
study Tour Report (No.4)
JSCE Study Tour Grant 2009 Report
Pornthep Tangariyakul
Recipient of JSCE Study Tour Grant, 2009
Student, Civil Engineering Department,
Mahidol University, Thailand
It was a pleasure for me to receive the 2009
Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) Study
Tour Grant (STG), which is one of the grants
under the Fund for the International Cooperationand Exchange of Engineers.
I was nominated the Engineering Institute ofThailand under H.M. The King)s Patronage(EIT). I wish to express my deepest appreciation
to both societies, JSCE and EIT, for providingme the opportunity to study the latest technology
and science of civil engineering in Japan. During
September 6-12, 2009, I have been accompanied
by JSCE staff members to visit various
construction sites, research institutes anduniversity. The concise report on my visits isgiven as follows:
Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation
Institution (DRI)
In this place I have learned about the effectsof the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake andlessons learned from the experience that should
be shared with younger generations. DRI also
works to communicate expertise and knowledge
to the public in an easy-to-understand manner so
as to help our cities, communities and ourselves
become better prepared against disaster. Suchefforts are based on the idea that disaster risk
management and mitigation requires involvement
not only of the national and local governments
but also of local communities and individuals.
Also available on web: http://www.jsce-int.org/

Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge
Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge was completed in
1998, and is the largest suspension bridge withcenter span of 1,991 meters (6,532 feet), spans at
960 meters at each side of the central span, and a
vertical clearance of 65.72 meters below. The
bridge was designed to withstand winds of 286
KPH, earthquakes measuring 8.5 on the Richter
Scale, and harsh sea currents.
The two main supporting towers rise 298
meters above sea level, and due to temperature,
the bridge can expand up to 2.0 meters. The total
cost of construction is estimated at 500 Billion
Yen. For the bridge to last at least 200 years, atechnology has been developed using ?dry air
injection system for main cables of suspension
bridges in order to protect the main cable fromcorrosion by drying the inside of main cable.
Waseda University
Waseda University is a private university
located in Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo
Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed"Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its
liberal climate symbolized by the motto
independence of learning. I have been introduced
to Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering in the Graduate School ofEngineering.
Dr. Tomoya SHIBAYAMA, Professor of
Civil
and
Environmental
Engineering,
introduction about the major activities and took
me to the advanced facilities such as faculty
offices,classrooms,
conference
rooms,
laboratories of this department.
11th International Summer Symposium at
Tokyo Institute of Technology
The International Summer Symposiumprovides a platform for international students andengineers to present, discuss and exchange theirresearch interest in English. International
students and engineers are strongly encouraged
to participate in the Symposium. From last time,
full papers will be reviewed. Organized by The
International Activities Committee (JSCE).
During the 11th International Summer
Symposium, I have participated in Keynote
Lecture? Creativity Developing Education at
Tokyo Tech and Tour all around Tokyo Instituteof Technology.
Finally, I would like to thank The
Engineering Institute of Thailand under H.M.
The Kings Patronage for choosing me to thisStudy Tour, organizers of Study Tour and allother people who supported me all the way
including:Prof. OTSUKI Nobuaki, Dr. IKEYA
Tsuyoshi (International Scientific Exchange
Fund Committee,JSCE), Mr.YANAGAWA
Hiroyuki (International Affairs Section,JSCE),
Dr. Tomoya SHIBAYAMA(Waseda University),5

JSCE Newsletter No. 32, June 2010

Dr.Kazunori WADA, Mr.KAWAKAMI Atsushi,
Mr.Hitoshi UMINO, Dr.Susumu Nakajima,
Mr.Naoki YANADORI, Mr.SATOU Yoshiaki(Public
works
Research
Institute),
Dr.Sivaleepunth Chunyakom(KaTRI), Mr.Satoru
Kawauchi(Deputy General Manager, ObayashiCorp), Mr.LEE Tun Sub, Mr.Min Htoo (Studentof Tokyo Institute of Technology).

Information
New annual membership fees – effective April 2010.
Membership Fees

(Unit: JPY)

Memberships

1

RegularMemberStudent
MemberNew 2

Country/ Region

Current

Those not included ineither Group A or B

12,0006,000Group AGroup B
Those not included ineither Group A or B

8,000
4,000

4,000
2,000

Group A

4,000

Group B

2,000

6,000
Free 2*1: Applicable to those who subscribe to the JSCE magazine*2: Applicable to only the members who live in the area or thecountry where a JSCE International Section is located anddo not subscribe to the JSCE magazine

Event Calendar(Pornthep Tangariyakul)

2010 JSCE Annual Meeting
International Program
JSCE Annual Meeting International Program
focuses on current issues and challenges facing
the civil engineering profession. All registrants of
the annual meeting are cordially invited toparticipate in the international program. Pleasetake this opportunity to meet and share ideas andopinions with engineering professionals fromaround the world. .
○Venue：Hokkaido University,
Sapporo Campus

1. International Roundtable Meeting
Topic："Compliance-Oriented Infrastructure
Development”
Date：Wednesday, September 1
Time：15:00～17:00
th

2. 4 WFEO-JFES-JSCE Joint International
Symposium - Disaster Risk Management
Date：Thursday, September 2
Time：9:00～12:00

3. International Session
Date：Thursday, September 2
Time：10:25～11:55※ For further details, please visit the JSCE
website : http://www.jsce-int.org

6

5th CECAR (Civil Engineering Conference in
the Asian Region)
Date: August 8-12, 2010
Venue: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
Website: http://www.cecar5.com/
12th International Summer Symposium
Date: Sept 18, 2010
Venue: Funabashi Campus, Nihon University,
Chiba, Japan
Website: http://www.jsce-int.org/iss/iss2010.shtml
IABSE-JSCE Joint Conference on Advance inBridge Engineering-II
Date: August 8-10, 2010
Venue: Roads and Highways Department, Sarak
Bhaban, Ramna, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Website: http://iabse-bd.org/index.php
ICDCS 2010- 2nd International Conference on
Durability of Concrete Structures
Date: November 24-26, 2010
Venue: Hokkaido University
Website: http://www.eng.hokudai.ac.jp/labo/lifetime/icds2010
ACEC-2010- The 3rd ASIA Conference on
Earthquake Engineering
Date: December 1-3, 2010
Venue: Grand Millennium Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand
Website: http://www.acee2010.net
Send your comments and suggestions to: iad@jsce.or.jp
JSCE Website: http://www.jsce-int.org
Editorial Board:
Information Subcommittee,
International Activities Committee, JSCE
Editor-In-Chief: Dr. KOBAYAKAWA Satoru
Deputy Editor: Mr. YOSHIDA Youichi

Also available on web: http://www.jsce-int.org/