A Shared Vision for Emerging Asia:
The Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council Was Established
An internationally coordinated body among the civil engineering societies and institutions
was formally established under the initiative of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE)
on September 27, 1999. It is named the Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council(ACECC), and the five founding members are the American Society of Civil Engineers(ASCE), the Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering (CICHE) in Taiwan, theKorean Society of Civil Engineers (KSCE) in South Korea, the Philippine Institute of CivilEngineers (PICE), and the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE). Dr. Hiroshi Okada(Immediate Past President of JSCE, and President of the Japan Railway Technical Service)
was elected as Chair of the Executive Committee and Dr. Osamu Kusakabe (Professor ofTokyo Institute of Technology) was elected as the Secretary General of the ExecutiveCommittee. The Secretariat is housed in the Headquarter of the Japan Society of CivilEngineers.
The main purpose of the ACECC is to schedule an international conference called Civil
Engineering Conference in the Asian Region (CECAR) on a triennial basis, where worldwide
members of the civil engineering profession may jointly develop programs of coordinationand mutual action in designated matters. It is also expected to exchange knowledge andexperiences among the members to seek ways and means to solve the tremendous issues in
the Asian region in such fields as urban infrastructure, environmental preservation, naturaldisaster prevention, advanced technology management, technical cooperation, engineers'qualifications, engineering education, international technical standards, and other related
issues. Consequently it is envisaged that the mobility of human, capital, information andservices will be enhanced greatly among the industrial, governmental and educationalorganizations in the civil engineering and construction field. Thereby, mutually beneficial
exchange of views will be activated on how the infrastructure in the whole Asian region in the21st century will be directed.

The first CECAR was held in February 1998 in Manila, Philippines, jointly sponsored by
ASCE, PICE and JSCE, having Ex-President Mr. Fidel V. Ramos as Honorary Chair of theConference. The 2nd CECAR is planned to be held in Tokyo in April 200l, for which thepreparatory works have been initiated by the Local Organizing Committee (Chair: Dr.
Yukihiko Sumiyoshi. Secretary General; Dr. Masaaki Terashi). It is quite an achievement thatthe international council aiming at the multinational cooperation among civil engineers wasestablished in this short period under the leadership of JSCE.

JSCE 54th Annual Conference in Hiroshima Was Hit by Typhoon
The annual Conference is the largest event of JSCE. The 54th Conference was held at thecampus of Hiroshima University and the International Conference Center Hiroshima from 22to 24 September 1999. Unfortunately the last day's program was all cancelled due to atyphoon which passed through nearby Hiroshima vicinity. This time, the Conference gathered
total of 5,544 participants all over Japan and special guests from foreign countries. TheConference consisted of three parts, a series of special lectures by the President of JSCE
(Professor Okamura) and a distinguished speaker (Dr. Mizuno, Director-General of theIndustrial Science Research Center of Hiroshima), presentation of academic researches
totaling 3,921 articles, and panel discussions on 16 different topics.

The International Activities Committee sponsored one panel discussion entitled "TechnicalCooperation in Asia and the Role of Japan". This was attended by not only the members but
also representatives from foreign societies including the American Society of Civil Engineers(ASCE), Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering (CICHE), and Korean Societyof Civil Engineers (KSCE). Under part of the academic research presentation, thirty threearticles in English were documented and supposed to be presented on the last day of theConference. Topics under this English session covered a wide area of "hard" and "soft"engineering aspects including methods of construction cost reduction, procurement systems,and case studies of overseas construction works. However, as mentioned earlier, thispresentation was cancelled due to the typhoon. It is expected to expand this English session
for the next Annual Conference in Sendai to give ample opportunity for foreign students
studying in Japan.
In addition to the above activities, the International Activities Committee hosted a round tablediscussion with the representatives of the above mentioned foreign societies to exchange
views of mutual interest. This round table discussion focussed upon preparatory arrangements
for the forthcoming event of the Second Civil Engineering Conference in Asian Region to beheld in Tokyo in April 2001. The representatives from foreign societies were all invited to the"get-to-know" party held on 23 September {see the picture on top of the next page: from rightto left, Dr. Turner (President of ASCE) and Mrs. Turner, Mr. Chern (Executive Director ofCICHE), Dr. Sonu (President of KSCE) and Ms. Han, Dr. Kim (Vice President of KSCE) andMs. Kim, Mr. Lee (Executive Director of KSCE) and Ms. Hwang}. Also, Mr.Tang Meishu,
Secretary General of the China Civil Engineering Society, attended the International Lunch
held on 22 September.

Photo: Representatives from the Foreign Societies

Cooperation Agreements with Thai and Singaporean Engineers Societies
In August 1999, JSCE has entered into two new cooperation agreements with the Engineering
Institute of Thailand (EIT) under H.M. the King's Patronage, and the Institution of Engineers,
Singapore respectively. With these agreements, JSCE holds total of 14 cooperationagreements with foreign societies.
The Engineering Institute of Thailand was founded in 1943, which merged two older
organizations - the Builders Association of Siam established in 1928 and the Chulalongkorn
University Engineering Association established in 1935 among the university graduates. InThailand there is no other engineering association except this Engineering Institute. Particularcharacteristic of this Institute lies in its strong emphasis on promotion of engineering scienceand technology, while social gathering and other service are the secondary priority.
The latter one in Singapore was founded in 1966. As of March 1999, the membership totals
7,258 comprising 11 Honorary Fellows, 210 Fellows, 3,064 Members, 2,350 Graduates, 1,534
Students and 89 Associates. The objectives of the Institute are: to enhance the character andstatus of and to advance the interest of the profession of engineering and those engagedtherein; to promote honorable practice and mutual respect, and to decide all questions ofengineering practice and etiquette affecting members of the Institution; to provide quality

service to its members and the nation, and to provide opportunity for continuing professional
development and promote fellowship among members. To achieve these objectives, theInstitution holds meetings, exhibitions, seminars, conferences and other activities. It also
communicates to members, information on all matters affecting the profession of engineering,prints, publishes, issues and circulates such publications as may be seen conducive to anyobjectives of the Institution.
Indicated in table is a list of URL addresses of the societies or institutes holding cooperationagreements with JSCE. You may wish to hit these web sites of your interest.

Table: Societies Holding Cooperation Agreement with JSCE
Name of SocietyCountry

Year ofAgreement

URL

American Society of Civil Engineers

U. S. A.

1988,10

http://www.asce.org/

The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering

CANADA

1988,8

http://www.csce.ca/

Korean Society of Civil Engineers

SOUTH KOREA

1989,11

http://www.ksce.or.kr/

The Institution of Engineers, Australia

AUSTRALIA

1990,4

http://www.ieaust.org.au/

Swedish Society of Civil and Structural Engineers

SWEDEN

1990,10

http://www.svr.se/

The Institution of Civil Engineers

U.K.

1991,5

http://www.ice.org.uk/

Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering

REPUBLIC OF
CHINA

1992,5

http://www.ciche.org.tw/

Conseil National des Ingenieurs et des Scientifiques
FRANCEde France

1993,6

http://www.cnisf.org/

Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc.

PHILIPPINE

1997,2-----The Mexican Federation of Civil Engineers
Institutions

MEXICO

1998,11

http://www.fecic.org.mx/

European Council of Civil Engineers

E.U

1999,1

http://www.eccenet.org/

China Civil Engineering Society

CHINA

1999,5-----The Engineering Institute of Thailand

THAILAND

1999,8

http://www.eit.or.th/

The Institution of Engineers, Singapore

SINGAPORE

1999,8

http://www.ies.org.sg/

The Outline of the First International Summer Symposium and Call for Abstracts to theSecond International Summer Symposium in July 2000
On 6th August 1999, an historical event of "The First International Summer Symposium" washeld at JSCE head-quarter, Yotsuya, Tokyo in which 86 presentations were performed. The
main aim of this symposium was to exchange the knowledge and information, and also tomake better relationship among the foreign students and engineers in Japan in the field ofCivil Engineering.
To encourage the students and engineers who made presentations in this symposium, theorganizing committee nominated 10 presenters for Honors. They were selected on the basis of
their excellent quality of papers and presentations.
The Winner for Honors are as follows.
Wael Tatar (Saitama University)
Qingyun Liu (Nagoya University)
Piotr Omenzetter (University of Tokyo)
Nimal Wijayaratna (Yokohama National University)
Ju-Hyong Kim (Seoul National University, South Korea)
Rolando P. Orense (Kiso-jiban Consultants Co. Ltd.)
Liu Hongchao (University of Tokyo)
George Emanuel Vulpe (Yokohama National University)
Yeon Seong Jeong (Hanyang University, South Korea)
Jagath Manatunge (Saitama University)
It is believed that the first symposium was successful and delightful. With this success, Japan
Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) appreciates the kind contribution from overseas students
and engineers for participating in the first Symposium. Remarkably, the Symposium provided
a platform for overseas students and engineers in Japan to present, discuss, and exchange theirresearch interests in English. In this year, JSCE schedules to hold the second International
Summer Symposium on July 28th, 2000 in Tokyo, and calls for papers. The overseas students
and engineers are sincerely encouraged to participate in the Summer Symposium. Thesubjects presented at the Summer Symposium cover seven areas in civil engineering: I)
structural mechanics and earthquake engineering, II) hydraulics, III) geotechnical engineering,IV) urban planning and transportation, V) materials, VI) construction management andinfrastructure system, and VII) environment.
1) The abstract should be typed in English and contain:a) Technical area (I-VII)b) Titlec) Full name of authors in the order of the first, middle, and last names. And the name of thepresenting author must be underlined.
d) Affiliation, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and fax number (in case that e-mailaddress is not available)e) Abstract (200 words)
2) Submit the abstract by April 7th, 2000 to International Affairs Division, JSCE.
(Mr.N.Kumagai,e-mail: kuma@jsce.or.jp, FAX :03-5379-0125).
3) The abstracts will be reviewed by International Activities Committee and will be informedby e-mail or fax to presenting authors on April 28th. And the instruction for preparation ofpapers will be sent to presenting authors.
4) Submit the full paper by June 16th, 2000 to International Division, JSCE
5) Please note that attendants to the Summer Symposium will be charged 2,000 Yen at theregistration desk on the event day. And proceedings will be provided to the attendants. The
presentation should be given by the aid of an overhead projector. After the summer
symposium, Drinking & Uniting Party will be provided free of charge for all attendants.
6) For more information, please contact Professor Nobuaki Otsuki (otsuki@cv.titech.ac.jp) or
refertothe
homepageofInternational
Activities
Committee,JSCE(http://www.jsce.or.jp/index-e.html).

ASCE Civil Engineering Conference and Exposition
JSCE President Hajime Okamura and other members from the International Activities
Committee visited Charlotte, North Carolina, USA for attending the 1999 ASCE CivilEngineering Conference and Exposition. JSCE has been dispatching delegations to the ASCE
Conference and Exposition in recent years to strengthen the tie with ASCE.
In the 1999 Conference and Exposition, JSCE contributed to organize an International
Session on the "Tatara Bridge - World Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge" with cooperation of theHonshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority. Messrs. Suzuki, Kawaguchi and Shigetome presented thehighlights of the technical development for the Tatara Bridge that opened in May 1999 in theShimanami-Kaido (west bound Honshu-Shikoku Bridge). In a booth in the Exposition, theJapanese most-advanced technology for construction of long-span bridges was displayed.
President Okamura and Executive Director Miyoshi signed an agreement for extending thecooperative agreement between JSCE and ASCE. ASCE President Dan Turner and Executive
Director James Davis signed it on behalf of the ASCE. The Japan delegation attended theInternational Round Table Meeting on "The Role of ASCE and Other Societies in DevelopingCodes and Standards." Importance in developing international codes with international
cooperation was discussed among the member societies in the round table meeting.
Photo: JSCE President H. Okamura and ASCE President D. Turner, International Dinner andCulture Gala

Voice from a Student
Coming from Vietnam, I am very happy to be a student of Department of Civil Engineering,
Yokohama National University. My purpose of study here is learning and researching themodern technologies in Japan especially those of geotechnical engineering.
I was deeply impressed by many large construction works in recent Japan. Particularly Kansai
airport and Haneda airport are some of them, which are built on soft ground condition.
Therefore, the consolidation of soft soil was a challenging task for engineers. This challenge
resulted in the introduction of many new methods of analysis. I think the new methods arereally useful and the experiences gained in actual construction can be applied in my country
where the geotechnical engineers have to face the similar challenge to overcome a thick layerof soft ground.
Through my study on various issues involved in building works on soft ground, I realized thatsoft soil engineering remains a great field of new concepts, innovations and developments,
especially in the field of improvement of soft ground by consolidation techniques.
In Yokohama National University, besides studying my main thesis, I have taken part inseveral courses of other civil engineering subjects. Our teaching staff often invite specialists
from both academic and practical fields to teach us special engineering topics. This
opportunity gave me a chance to broaden my knowledge through discussions with them andto understand the other aspects of civil engineering.
Since I came here last year, there have been a lot of new things to me about the country andpeople of Japan. Therefore, I am trying to know more about Japan. In this occasion, I would
like to thank all the staff of Yokohama National University and other friends in Japan who
have kindly helped me so many things in my studies. I believe that I will be able to reach mydetermined goal with all my effort.

By Le Ba Vinh, Vietnamese doctoral student,
Prof. Imai' s laboratory,
http://www.jsce.or.jp/committee/iac/NewsLetter/vol3/www.jsce.or.jp/committee/iac/

Updated Website (Deleted)Editor's Note
International Activities Committee publishes the Newsletter twice a year, and next issue will
be published in August. To make this periodical Newsletter more attractive and beneficial forreaders, we are looking foreword to receiving your comments and suggestions to thefollowing;
JSCE Postal Address:
International Affairs Division, JSCE
Mubanchi, Yotsuya 1-Chome, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 160-0004, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3355-3452
Fax: +81-3-5379-0125
JSCE Website Address (English)：http://www.jsce-int.org/
Third issue Editors are:Tsuneaki YOSHIDA

Ellen WANG Jun NOBUTO
International Activities Committee