2020. 4. 1

Japan Society of Civil Engineers
International Activities Center

IAC News No.90
Recent Activities in IAC
I was appointed to be Senior Director of IAC in 2019 as a successor of Professor Tamon
Ueda, who served as Senior Director since its foundation in 2012. On behalf of JSCE,
I would like to express our great appreciation for his considerable contributions to IAC.
I herewith would like to report our recent activities in IAC. First of all, it isestablishment of Steering Committee for IAC. IAC’s activities has been implemented
by five subcommittees, namely Information Networking, International Communication& Collaboration, Professional Development and Education Program, International
Student Networking, and Project, along with Executive Meeting consisting of IAC Hitoshi Tanaka(Senior Director, IAC)

Senior Director and Directors who are the head of each subcommittee. The newly
established Steering Committee, launched in July, 2019, has a responsibility as a decision-making body for
management of IAC, by collaborating with JSCE President and JSCE Executive Council.
Secondly, further involvement of IAC in JSCE Annual Meeting. During the past JSCE Annual Meeting,international activities have been organized by IAC such as International Roundtable Meeting, International
Section Meeting, and International Summer Symposium. However, such international activities has been
incidental to main events for Japanese participants, and accordingly, these international events has been held inparallel with other events mainly for those participants. Considering the importance of international activities
and also the necessity of international exchange, JSCE decided to organize an international panel discussion
targeting both Japanese and non-Japanese during the 2020 JSCE Annual Meeting in Nagoya. Looking forward
to meeting you all at that panel discussion!

【Reported by Hitoshi Tanaka (Tohoku University), Senior Director, IAC】

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Academic Activities Closely Related to Citizens' Lives
Civil Engineering Fureai Festa in Akita
On Saturday, January 18, 2020, the “Civil Engineering Fureai Fiesta” (hereafterreferred to as “Festa”) was held at AEON MALL Akita (Goshono, Akita City) 1F
Center Court, becoming the third venue to host the event (Figure 1).
The aim of the Festa is to have the participants see, touch, hear, and think forthemselves as much as possible while becoming familiar with civil engineering
under the theme of ‘civil engineering that supports our lives and safety’.
Starting at ALVE (Akita City, Akita Prefecture) in April 2009, this is the 13th
Festa. As an event to convey the appeal of civil engineering through various“experiences” and so on planned by the committee members, the Festa is held

Figure 1 Event Flyer

once a year at multi-purpose commercial facilities nationwide with thecooperation of the Tunnel Engineering Committee and the support ofrelated local governments.
On this occasion, nine juniors of Akita University enrolled on theconcrete engineering course participated as capable assistants with thecooperation of the Akita Branch of the Tohoku Chapter of the Japan
Society of Civil Engineers.

Photo 1 Experience Zone “Bridge Test”

The Festa consists of hands-on (tunnels, bridges, pedometers,liquefaction, playing cards) and exhibition-type (civil engineering
heritage panels, hazard maps, coloring-in) content, and places quizzes
inspired by these activities at various locations throughout the venue.
The Festa is designed so that participants can take part in everythingby answering the quiz questions in a rally style format.
Above all, the hands-on experiments were popular with the children.

Photo 2 Experience Zone “Liquefaction
Test”

In the “Bridge Test”, participants can experience checking thestrength of arches and trusses through loading tests (Photo 1). In the“Liquefaction Test”, sand was leveled in a water tank to form theground, a model of a house and manhole was placed on top of it, andan artificially-simulated earthquake was generated by a piece ofvibration apparatus. The staff would then explain the mechanism of
the model while participants watched the model on the sand buried byliquefaction before their very eyes (Photo 2). The participants would
Photo 3 Experience Zone “Tunnel Test”

gasp in surprise when the sand actually liquefied.

In the “Tunnel Test”, a tube of thin paper wound in a circular, square, or triangular shape was inserted into anacrylic box hollowed out in the same aforementioned shapes before them pulling the tube out. The test is to2

compare the strength level by seeing which shaped thin paper canmaintain its form without yielding to the pressure of the sand (Photo3). Participants seeing that only the round shaped paper will not be
crushed by the sand reach an understanding of why tunnels are round.
In the “Pedometer Test”, participants firstly measure the length of theirstep. Next, the “secret distance” is calculated by multiplying thenumber of steps in the “secret distance course” by one’s own step
length. Parents and children enjoyed measuring while competing to

Photo 4 Experience Zone “Bluescreening”

get the most accurate measurements.
According to the results of the questionnaire, the contents related to
the “Experience Zone” were well received (Figure 2), and thenumber of participants was 364 with many young parents withchildren (Figure 3).
For children, the Civil Engineering Card Game - a cute picture cardand easy-to-understand commentary on civil engineering terms

Photo 5 Experience Zone “Civil
Engineering Card Game”(produced by the committee) (Photo 5) - and the pedometer were
popular. Meanwhile, with adults, the “Tunnel Test” and “Liquefaction” activities where one could experience
construction principles first-hand proved to be big hits.
Through this event, we were able to get members of the general public to understand what civil engineering is,and at the same time the staff members were able to reaffirm the thoughts of the general public regarding therole of infrastructure as well as interact with them.

Photo 6 Group Photo of Event Staff

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[Voice of Participants]● It was a very good event to learn about everyday trivia such as ‘Why is a tunnel round?’● It was fun to gain an understanding of things by actually seeing and experiencing things I didn't
understand before.
● I felt that civil engineering plays an important role in our lives.
● I often see tunnels and bridges, but I have wondered why they are the shape they are, so I learned a lot
from it.
● I thought that I’ve taken civil engineering for granted and that these people are working extremely
hard for my benefit. I’m very grateful!
● It reminded me of the time of the Sea of Japan Earthquake and made me aware of the importance ofdisaster prevention.
● It was fun to be able to learn something while experiencing it in a casual manner.
● My children’s father works in civil engineering. I’m glad they were able to learn a little about their
dad's work. It was fun, with many tests which one could experience firsthand. Thank you very much.
● It seems that there are few people who are conscious of civil engineering in everyday life, but I feltthat if you look carefully, civil engineering is indispensable to our lives and that it is thanks to civilengineering that we have convenient lifestyles. I was able to learn a little about civil engineering.

Figure 2 Results of Questionnaire
Impressionable Contents (multiple answers allowed)

Figure 3 Results of Questionnaire: Age Range【Reported by Consultant Committee, Citizen Exchange Research Subcommittee, Tohoku Chapter, Akita Branch】

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The Committee on Rock Mechanics
1. History
The Committee on Rock Mechanics is a long-established committee that was set up in
1963. Its activities range from fundamental areas such as theory and test methods toinvestigation, design, construction, and maintenance of structures involving works related
to rocks, such as dams, tunnels, bridge foundations, slopes, and large-scale undergroundcavities. Its achievements have been compiled into technical guidelines, case books, etc.,
which have contributed greatly to society. Its recent activities are outlined below.
Yoshinobu Nishimoto(Chair of the Committeeon Rock Mechanics)

2. Investigation and Research Activities(1) Rock Slope Research Subcommittee

The collapse of rock slopes sometimes causes large-scale disasters, including fatalities and damage to traffic
infrastructure. The Rock Slope Research Subcommittee has continuously engaged in activities on this theme.
Recently, the Subcommittee investigated methods to identify high-risk slopes, evaluate the stability of slopes,
and inspect the targets. In addition, it compiled a casebook, “Collapse of Rock Slope We Should Not Forget,” topass on the technologies.
(2) Rock Dynamics Subcommittee
Japan has experienced large-scale earthquake disasters once every few years. In order to predict the behavior ofrock structures during an earthquake, it is essential to know the dynamic nature of the rocks. In addition toconventional earthquake engineering methods, the Subcommittee is working on estimating the dynamic behaviorof rock structures, focusing on the property of discontinuity, and various issues related to the dynamics of rocks
such as fault movement and blast.
(3) Committee on Research of Cases Related to Rock Mechanics
Against the backdrop of decreasing large-scale rock projects, two of the most important issues are technology
succession and the development of young engineers. Accordingly, the Subcommittee is preparing an easy-tounderstand technological book on pure and applied technologies of rock mechanics with reference to actual cases.
Voluntary mid-career engineers from industry and academia are working to compile an interesting book withreference also to SNS interfaces.
3. Revision of Rock Mechanics for Civil Engineers
Rock Mechanics for Civil Engineers was originally printed in 1966 and revised in 1978, and has been out of
print since then. It has long been the technical book of reference for many engineers. It was decided that a majorrevision was needed, in view of new knowledge about rock mechanics with technological development since thelast revision. The Subcommittee also considered that such works needed to be compiled to pass on thetechnologies to the next generation. The writing work has just started; the basic edition will be completed in
2022, and the applied edition in 2023.
4. Presentation Activities(1) Symposium on Rock Mechanics
This symposium is the most important event of the Committee on Rock Mechanics. At this annual opportunity
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for technology exchanges, young and experienced engineers gather to listen to and actively discuss thepresentations on the findings of researchers and engineers engaged in rock mechanics and the achievements ofeach subcommittee. Excellent papers are recommended for the JSCE Paper Award.
(2) Rock Mechanics Evening Seminar
The Rock Mechanics Evening Seminar is held in the evening
several times a year, to present new research and technologies
related to rock mechanics, and rock-related projects. The seminaris free of charge and is not only for JSCE members but also is
open to the public. The purpose of the seminar is to deepen
people’s understanding of rock mechanics and rock projects.

Evening Seminar【Reported by Yoshinobu Nishimoto, The Committee on Rock Mechanics】

The First Myanmar Women Engineers Summit (MWES 2020)
The JSCE delegation consisting of Prof. Hitoshi Tanaka, Dr. Thi Ha, Ms. Yukiko Shibuya,
and myself, visited Federation of Myanmar Engineering Societies (Fed. MES) in Yangon,
Myanmar, from January 15th to 19th, 2020. The missions of the delegation were to attend
the Fed. MES Annual General Meeting and to start preparing the third Japan-Myanmar
Joint Symposium among Fed. MES, Yangon Technological University (YTU), Ministryof Construction (MOC) and JSCE. As a part of the missions, I, with Ms. Shibuya,attended and networked with our peers at the “First Myanmar Women Engineers Summit
Kiko Yamada-Kawa（Researcher, Tokyo
Inst. of Technology）(MWES 2020)” on January 17th.
Fed. MES is the integrated organization of engineering societies inaugurated in 1916, by
the name of “the Burma Engineering Congress.” After the suspension
from 1964, it resumed as “Fed. MES” in 1995. Fed. MES now holds
30 technical divisions, including Myanmar Society of Civil Engineers(MSCE), the JSCE’s counterpart. Its Women Engineers Chapter, thehost of the summit, was established in April 2013, aiming to build alarge network among women engineers and to encourage them to stayin engineering practice. The members belong to academia, government
agencies, and private sector. The summit was held at the Fed. MES

Prof. Tanaka Delivers a Keynote Speechbuilding; three keynote speeches and two panel-discussions were
offered. More than 400 participants, which was far beyond the capacity of the venue, gathered for the event. At
the keynote session, Dr. Marlene Kanga the former president of World Federation of Engineering Organizationemphasized on the role of women engineers in SDGs, Prof. Chia-Li Wu, the chair of International Network of6

Women Engineers and Scientists- Asian and Pacific Nations Network(INWES-APNN), introduced INWES and APNN’s activities, and Dr.
Khin Sandar Tun the chairman of Women Engineers Chapter, Fed.
MES talked about the development of women engineers in Myanmar.
Following them, two panel discussions, one reflecting on Kanga’s
presentation and the others on the challenges that women engineers
were dealing with. Thanks to the simultaneous translation between
Burmese and English, we could grasp nearly everything what was
discussed.

Dr. Kanga (right) Receives a Certificate
as a Keynote Speaker

Although the share of women engineers has grown to 50% in
Myanmar, the issues that they are facing are quite similar to the ones
we are facing in Japan where it is 10% for women engineers and 4%
for women civil engineers in 2015. Those issues are 1) gaining few
networking opportunities for career advancement, 2) raising children
while working fulltime being required frequent travel and relocations,and 3) being underrepresented especially at top management levels.
The program was carried out in a warm, welcoming and joyous

Speakers of MWES 2020

atmosphere, part of which was attributed to the “Women Engineers’ Song.” We wish to create a similar
atmosphere at our upcoming events, especially at the third joint symposium which will be held in Mandalay inthis fall.

【Reported by Kiko Yamada-Kawai, Researcher, Tokyo Institute of Technology】“A Beginners Manga Guide to Safety of Construction Sites(Vietnamese & Japanese Version)”
Since our founding in 1947, we at the Construction Research Institute haveundertaken a variety of business activities centered on price surveys of major
construction materials and the publication of related books in order to contribute to
the advancement and development of construction businesses. In November 2016,
regarding construction site safety which is still a major issue, we published “A
Beginners Manga Guide to Safety of Construction Sites”, and in September 2019,
we published a revised version of the book reflecting obligations to wear “fullharness type” fall prevention equipment. Both versions of the book have been wellreceived by readers. In the construction industry, the shift away from the industry
by young people and its aging population are serious, and securing and fostering
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Cover

future leaders is an issue. Thus, overseas construction workers are now playing an active role at construction
sites in Japan. Among them, Vietnamese workers boast the largest population, and therefore we drew up a planto publish a manga in Vietnamese (scheduled for publication in early April 2020). The following introduces thefeatures of the book.
★Features of book:1) Consists of a Vietnamese and Japanese (with furigana)left and right spread.
By positioning Vietnamese and Japanese pages side byside, it can be read while comparing with the Japanesecontent. Hiragana ruby is also included on the Japanesepages, which is useful for studying Japanese.
2) “Unification of Safety Signs for Construction Accident
Prevention” of the Japan Construction Occupational
Main text (double-page spread with Vietnamese on
the left side and Japanese on the right side)

Safety and Health Association are printed in color.

Safety signs are directly connected to safety and need to be understood, and therefore they are printed in color
and the book includes tables that show the Vietnamese and Japanese together.
3) “Terms related to construction site safety” are included with illustrations and explanations.
Among the technical terms related to safety at construction sites, terms particularly necessary on sites areillustrated and explained in an easy-to-understand manner.
With the role of the construction industry supporting disaster recovery and disaster prevention measuresincreasing, issues such as a shortage of workers and aging population are becoming more serious, and various
initiatives raised by both the public and private sectors are being undertaken in order to make the constructionindustry more attractive. At the Construction Research Institute, we will also continue to undertake various
efforts to help solve these issues.

【Reported by Construction Research Institute】

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Transdisciplinary Approach for Building Societal Resilience toDisasters: ACECC TC21
- TC21 Session at the 2019 World Bosai Forum, Sendai, Japan As enhancing the incorporation of scientific knowledge in decision-making of planningand investment for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has become more critical than ever,
we have recognized the fact that disaster induced losses continue to grow. TC21, the 21st
committee of Asian Civil Engineering Coordination Council (ACECC) is promoting theTransdisciplinary Approach (TDA), which is a scheme to optimize organizational
structures and processes to exercise scientific knowledge-based decision-making.
TC21 has conducted surveys and symposiums in its first term (2016- 2019) to clarify and Senro Kuraoka
Koei Co., Ltd.,
share the effects and necessity of TDA, which are summarized in the report: (Nippon
R&D Center)
Transdisciplinary Approach (TDA) for building Societal Resilience to Disasters Concepts and case studies for practicing TDA -, ISBN: 978-4-8106-1014-7(http://www.acecc-world.org/TC21/).
TC21 held a session at the 2nd 2019 World Bosai Forum (WBF,
November 9th～12th) as the first activity of its second term.
The WBF, that brings all sectors and stakeholders together, wasestablished in Sendai, Japan in partnership with theInternational Disaster and Risk Conference (IDRC) in Davos,
TC21 Session at WBF

Switzerland.

The session of TC21 focused on sharing the actual examples of DRR activities
that demonstrate the significance and effectiveness of TDA. The session started
with a keynote address by the co-chair, Hon. Romeo Momo, Philippines, followedby presenters from Japan and invited speakers from abroad: Mr. Sumedi Andono
Muly (Ministry of National Development Planning: BAPPENAS) Indonesia, Dr.
Paudyal Youb (National Reconstruction Authority, Nepal: NRA), Dr. Khamarrul
Razak (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: UTM).
The presentations and discussion clarified that TDA effective in disseminating
scientific knowledge and sharing past disaster experiences with all states andMr. Hon. Romeo Momo,
the Co-chair of TC21

generations.

【Reported by Senro Kuraoka, Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., R&D Center】

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Updates◆Up-coming Events
・Japanese Civil Engineers the Global Leaders Symposium Series No.16 (June, 2020)◆IABSE-JSCE 4th Joint Conference, Advances in Bridge Engineering
http://www.iabse-bd.org/2020/◆ASCE Lifelines Conference 2021
＊The deadline for abstract submission is extended to May 5, 2020, due to COVID-19.
https://samueli.ucla.edu/lifelines2021◆【Call for Abstract】The Second International Conference on Press-in Engineering (ICPE) 2021, Kochi
https://icpe-ipa.org/◆IPS Newsletter Vol.5, Issue 1 March 2020
https://www.press-in.org/en/news/detail/62◆jhappy - JICA’s Grant Aid Cooperation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jhappy20161110/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jhappy_official◆The International Infrastructure Archives– A Compilation of Japan’s Greatest Projects in Transfer
of Civil Engineering Technology in Service –http://www.jsce.or.jp/e/archive/◆IAC “News Pick Up!!” on the JSCE Japanese website
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/node/118

The Second International Conference on
Press-in Engineering (ICPE) 2021, Kochi◆Summary of featured articles in JSCE Magazine Vol. 105,
No.4, April 2020
http://www.jsce-int.org/pub/magazine◆Journal of JSCE
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/journalofjsce§ 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.
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