2018. 8. 1

Japan Society of Civil Engineers
International Activities Center

IAC News No.70
Panama Canal Revisited「万象ニ天意ヲ覚ル者ハ幸ナリ、人類ノ為メ、国ノ為メ」
The above passage reads “Blessed are those who see the will of God in the Nature,
for Mankind and for the Nation,” which is Akira Aoyama’s words. Mr. Aoyama whoserved as a director of Niigata Civil Engineering Branch Office of the Ministry ofInterior conducted the Shinano River Ohkozu Diversion Channel Repair Project inNiigata. That passage is inscribed on the plaque attached to the monument forcommemorating the completion of Shinano River Restoration Work, and also is hungin the offices of Director-General and Deputy-Director, Hokuriku Regional

Yutaka Sunohara
Board of Director, JSCE

Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Mr. Akira Aoyama graduated from the College ofEngineering, Tokyo Imperial University in 1903
(Meiji 36), left for the USA with unwavering andunflagging resolve to join the Panama Canal Project.
He is the first and only Japanese civil engineer who
worked on that project from 1904 to 1911. Upon
returning home, Mr. Aoyama joined the Ministry ofInterior and engaged river, port and harbordevelopment projects like the construction of
Arakawa River Flood Discharging Channel andShinano River Ohkozu Channel Repair Project as the
director. Later he was appointed as the Vice Ministerof Interior, and selected as the 23rd JSCE President.

Members of Atlantic Division of the Panama Canal Construction
Mr. Akira Aoyama, 3rd from left in front row

In the beginning of this May I was in Panama to attend the Annual General Assembly of The World Association
for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) and the International Navigation Congress which is held every
four year. On the post-conference technical tour, I visited the old Miraflores Locks, the new Agua Clara Locks
and Cocoli Locks which opened two years ago, Museo del Canal Interoceanico de Panama and other places
related to Mr. Aoyama. At that Museo, I found him surrounded by his colleagues on the project in a photo, at thesame time, found myself deeply moved and filled extraordinary happiness. Although I can learn his
1achievements and accomplishments reading the Civil Engineering Archives published by JSCE, I had such an
experience that I stood in the places where he stood, saw what he saw, and touched what he did. That was
unforgettable moments and everlasting memories for me, which I will treasure for a long time.

Since the new locks opened in 2016, the Panama Canal has allowed for large vessels to pass: it has been making
significant influences upon the worldwide network of maritime traffic such as the routing of container vessels,
LNG carriers and cruise liners. While the existing locks use electric locomotives to navigate vessels to pass thecanal, the new locks use tugboats to position vessels that causes damaging vibrations to gate fenders triggeringleakage, wall-tearing, and gate-peeling-off.

The Panama Canal marked its Centennial Anniversary of its opening in 2014. American Society of Civil
Engineers (ASCE) held its annual convention in Panama from October 7 to 10 to commemorate that anniversary.
JSCE sent the delegation of 13 members headed by Prof. Masahiko Isobe the 102 JSCE President, considering
for not only enhancing the ASCE-JSCE cooperation, but also organizing the celebrations of centennial
anniversary of the Panama Canal’s at the annual convention and of JSCE’s foundation. The delegation held thesession focusing on Mr. Aoyama’s achievements in the Panama Canal Project at that convention and carried out
a tour to visit the Panama Canal Expansion project, the aforementioned Museo and other places related to Mr.
Aoyama.

Like Mr. Aoyama, those who challenged themselves to pursue their dreams in the unknown world leaving behindhome were rarely found and unique in society in those days. Now we are facing more challenges than ever andhave to deal with various challenges one after another without losing sight of our goals. JSCE has beenstrengthening the internationalization of its activity taking various approaches such as opening international
sections, signing a cooperation agreement with its counterparts oversea, and setting up the International
Activities Center. The Society will further its effort to support engineers to become “Akira Aoyama” while
networking among engineers in and outside the country based on the academic-private and public cooperation.
【Reported by Yutaka Sunohara (The Ports and Harbors Association of Japan)
Board of Director, International Division, JSCE】

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【Alumni of DOBOKU Series】“Global Challenging of Japanese General Contractor andContribution of Foreign Employees- Diversity and Glocalization –”Peerapong SUTHIWARAPIRAK
Bangkok Office, Shimizu Corporation
First Step - Studying in JapanI came to Japan in October 1998 and studied for the master's and doctoral courses in
Graduate School of Civil Engineering, the University of Tokyo. Under the advisesof Takashi Matsumoto Sensei (currently Professor of Hokkaido University), I did
research on maintenance engineering such as fatigue analysis of Reinforced Concrete(RC) slabs and the repair of RC bridge slab with Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC).
Although English was official language in civil engineering classes and the researchstudy, I also focused on studying Japanese language to deeply understand Japanese

Peerapongculture and society. With the effort, I was able to acquire the Japanese Language SUTHWARAPIRAKProficiency Test Level 1 in about two years after I came to Japan.

Shimizu Corporation

After completing Doctoral course, I started job hunting in Japan. Many senior foreign students worked inresearch institutes or Universities in their home countries and became a bridge with Japan by collaborating withJapanese Institutions. However, rather than becoming a researcher or a professor, I would like to gain practicalexperience; therefore, I was looking for a job in a Japanese general contractor.

Working as Civil Engineer in JapanIn April 2004, I joined Shimizu Corporation and I was assigned to the Civil Engineering Design Department inTokyo Head Office. In my self-introduction in Japanese language, I declared that "I would like to be a civilengineer and work Globally as a bridge between Japan and other countries". I have learnt Japanese excellent
technology and I think that these advanced civil engineering technologies for infrastructure development in Japanis also useful in developing countries. I aimed not only be Civil engineer in Japan, but also to be a bridge withother countries. When I joined the company, I was only foreign engineer in the division. I learnt Japanese culture,corporate style and manner and I could work as active as a Japanese engineer.

At that time Japan faced the issue of "low birth rate and aging population", and domestic demand for constructionof new infrastructures was decreasing. Japanese general contractors began challenging global business. This led
more opportunities for foreign engineers to contribute.
I worked at the Tokyo Head Office around three years experienced the various design works of underground andaboveground Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage tanks, Seismic resistant strengthening Buildings, Power
plants, Overseas chemical plants etc. I could learn various Japanese advanced technologies. Utilizing theacquired skills, next step I wanted to contribute to the globalization of Japanese general contractors.

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Global Challenging - Diversity
In April 2007 I was transferred to the Civil Engineer
Technology Department, International Division in
Singapore. In my first overseas project, I worked in
Singapore MRT tunnel construction project. The
tunnel alignment was under Marina Bay andconnected to Marina Bay Sands, a famous tourist spotin Singapore (Photo 1). By applying Japan's high levelof technologies, we could overcome the difficulties ofshafts and tunnel construction in difficult groundcondition. The project completed successfully in year Photo 1: Working as Design Manager in Singapore MRT Project
2010. Singapore work environment where excellent
talent gathered from all over the world, I realized that understanding diversity, motivating cross-culturalorganization and creating teamwork are indispensable elements for project success.
Shimizu Corporation announced, "SMART VISION 2010" as a management policy in 2010. For global businessfield, the policy to contribute to infrastructure development mainly in emerging countries was launched. This
policy increased more opportunities for foreign engineers to work and have better working environment.

During my ten years in Singapore, I served as civil engineering design manager and technical manager of largescale infrastructure projects in various countries such as, Singapore's water supply tunnel construction, Singapore
MRT construction, Jakarta MRT underground line No. 1 construction, Ho Chi Minh first MRT construction. I
felt the pleasure of “Monozukuri” with the completion of construction successfully and "Made by Japan" canguarantee high quality. We could disseminate Japanese State of Art technology to the world. A that time, I feltthat I became a global engineer.

Strengthening the foundation in Home Country - Glocalization
Nineteen years have passed since the first day I arrived
Japan and another turning point came. In June 2017, I
was assigned to work in my home country, Thailand. I
am responsible for tendering and managing for various
construction projects.
I wish to contribute to the globalization of the Japanesegeneral contractor by utilizing my experience and todisseminate

horizontally

Japan'sstate-of-the-art

technology and innovation to the home country andcontribute to the economic development of my country.
Currently, I am implementing ICT such as drone, Photo 2: Working as a Project Director in Food and Cold Storage
BIM/CIM, tablet and smartphone application etc. to Factory Construction Project
promote work efficiency in Thailand construction site (Photo 2).

In 2015, the Thai government indicated "Thailand 4.0" as a vision of economic society to be a long-term goal. I
4believe that innovation from Japanese companies and implementing Japanese technologies are indispensable forfulfilling this vision. I grew up as a global engineer through experience in the International Division, Shimizu
Corporation. As the next challenge, I would like to apply the concept of “Glocalization” to my current work.
Since Japan's technology matches Japanese standards and features, using in Thailand as it is may cause excessivefunctions and specifications. For this reason, we need to consider "Glocalization" by implementing anddeveloping Japanese technologies those can fit to local needs. It is also important to consider how to makeJapanese quality with competitive price. Through this challenge, I am striving to work daily to become a bridge
between Japan and my home country.
Profile: I was born in 1978 in Bangkok Thailand. In 2003, I graduated PhD from The University of Tokyo and after graduation I
joined Shimizu Corporation, Japan. I have worked in Tokyo head office and International Division in Singapore around 14 years.
In June 2017, I was assigned to work in my home country Thailand and now I am working at Bangkok Office.

《Column》Takashi Matsumoto, Professor of Hokkaido University
I think that many colleagues and friends of Dr. Peerapong Suthiwarapirak welcome this article inAlumni of DOBOKU. He has a very broad circle of acquaintances in Japan: all ages, men andwomen, and inside and outside his professional field. He is fluent in Japanese and understands
Japanese culture deeply, after learning hard as a non-Kanji country origin. He is still putting his
career forward by learning new fields at universities and by increasing knowledges and friends
there. Occasionally, he shows a valuable perspective to us about Japanese way of thinking andsociety with good humor. I think that we should listen to his opinion on the globalization of Japan,
because he is our alumni who understands and loves Japan.
※Alumni of DOBOKU Series is in collaboration with Editorial Committee of JSCE Magazine.

CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN PRIZE

Since its establishment in 2001, the Civil Engineering Design Prize has been awarded
to 164 projects. Prize-winning projects include not only structures such as bridges,
roads, waterfronts, dams, stations, parks, and squares, but also public spaces andcommunity renovations of different scales and at various locations. However, what
those projects have in common is the collaborative relationship among the engineers,designers, planners, and community residents, which was developed with the aim ofcreating and conserving landscape that integrates the surrounding environment andcommunity. The Japan Society of Civil Engineers uses photographs of the prize- Sasaki YohChair ofwinning projects for the greeting cards sent to our overseas agreement of corporation Prize Committee, Landscape& Design Committee
societies.

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The prize is managed by the Landscape & Design Committee. The
judges, who are specialists in their respective fields, actually conduct
a field survey to screen the applicant projects. One of thecharacteristics of the prize is that projects must be at least a year old.
In other words, we believe that infrastructure and public space design
projects should be evaluated not by their beautiful appearance justafter completion, but by how they are after passing through at least
one cycle of four seasons, being exposed to wind and rain, and being
used by people. Another characteristic is that the prize recognizes
those who were involved in the project.
The award ceremony is not actually a “ceremony.” Prize winners andthe judges make presentations on the projects, and discuss what is

The Greeting Cards

good about the project, its challenges, and the process to completion.
This provides a valuable opportunity to discuss the theme of civil engineering, with the involvement of theparticipants. We edit the catalogue of the prize-winning projects every year, which also serves as a guideshowcasing Japan's state-of-the-art infrastructure design and its diversity. Compared with architecture, gardening,
and industrial design, Japan’s civil engineering has not been closely examined from the perspective of integration
with the surrounding environment, sophistication of formative design, and coziness of the space. We consider
that this prize, marking its 18th year in 2018, has been
helping to convey the value of infrastructure and public
space design to people both within and outside the field ofcivil engineering. The Civil Engineering Design Prizeseeks to develop human resources and to disseminate
information in order to broaden and enhance civilengineering works that are appreciated by citizens. Please
visit the prize-winning projects when you come to Japan.
Civil Engineering Design Prize Website Top Page

Details of the projects are posted on the website of theJapan Society of Civil Engineers. （http://design-prize.sakura.ne.jp/）【Reported by Yoh Sasaki, Chair of Prize Committee, Landscape & Design Committee (Waseda University)】

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Recent Activities of JSCE Civil Engineering Consultants Committee
1. Civil Engineering Consultants Committee
Civil Engineering Consultants Committee conducts research and study on professional
consulting services. Our tasks are considered to deliver “knowledge and intelligence”
consolidated in JSCE to the society in an easy-to-understand way and to resolve thevarious questions and issue. Therefore, we prepare many opportunities to identify thevarious needs of the society using two-way communication with the society. Here, some Yoko Kabaki
Chair ofCivil Engineering
Consultants Committee

recent activities of the committee are introduced.
2. Civil Engineering Fureai (friendly communication) Festival‘Civil Engineering Fureai Festival’ is held in various locations
once a year. The theme of this event is “civil engineering as
foundation of daily life and safety.’ Our aim is to make anopportunity to enrich public understanding in civil engineering.
Last year was our 10th anniversary, and it was held in Fukuoka.
In this event, we prepare several experiments that participants
themselves can join and learn about infrastructure. By going

Staff of ‘Civil Engineering Fureai Festival’through experiments, participants can learn how civilengineering supports our daily life. Our staff
helps to carry out the experiments, but the
point is to make an opportunity for public tofeel and think about civil engineering. In
order to create a good opportunity for all
Strong Bridge

Strong Tunnel

Liquefaction

Walk-measuring of Distanceages, we also prepare some squares: ‘Panel
Square’that

engineering

introduces
heritages

local
and

civil
disasterprevention maps and ‘Playing Square’
where kids can enjoy coloring books andreadingpicture

books

about

civil

engineering. We receive valuable feedback<Various Experiments in ‘Civil Engineering Fureai Festival’>

from participants that they become moreinterested in civil engineering by attending this event.

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3．Regional Revitalization Symposium
The committee has held a series of symposiums, inviting leaders who promotes their regional revitalization as
speakers. The theme of the third symposium was a road station and regional revitalization. The symposium
focused on an approach and its viewpoints that situates a road station asa basis for regional cooperation and regeneration. The addressed roadstations were ‘Tomiura’ and ‘Hota Primary School’, showing remarkably
vital activities as successful road stations in a suburban area near Tokyo.
‘Tomiura’ has been a regional center of revitalization for a long time bycooperating closely with surrounding communities and agriculture. ‘Hota
Primary School’ is widely known as a road station reusing the abolishedschool. In this symposium, we learned the regional revitalization fromthe viewpoints of infrastructure maintenance and conservation by having
a true figure of these successful cases, and then discussed the role ofinfrastructure engineers in regional revitalization and the expectation for
Leaflet of the Symposium: Road Station

the engineers from the society.

【Reported by Yoko Kabaki, Chair of Civil Engineering Consultants Committee】

3rd JSCE-CICHE Joint Workshop
The 3rd joint workshop between JSCE and Chinese
Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering (CICHE)
was held on June 1 and 2, 2018. The workshop wasorganized alternately, year by year. The previous
workshops were held at Kaosiung Taiwan in 2016, at
Tokyo in 2017. In 2018, the third was held at Feng-chia
University, science and industry park area in Taichungcity.
The workshop began with the welcome speech by
Opening Address by CICHE President Jaw-Lieh Wang

CICHE President Jaw-Lieh Wang. Opening remarks
were given by Professor Masahiro Ouchi, Kochi University of Technology. After the warmhearted remarks,
including the brief history of the workshop by Professor Chi-Wan Hsieh, plenary lectures were given by
Professor Masaaki Okada, Kindai University and Professor Shyh-Jainn Hwang, National Center for Researchon Earthquake Engineering. The former lecture introduced the attractive techno-scape of lime mining cities inJapan and Taiwan. The latter lecture described the challenges of seismic disaster mitigation of the research center

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from both hardware and software aspects.
The JSCE-CICHE joint workshop, particularly, encourages
the young civil engineers in the international teamwork.
The session aims at enhancing international cooperative
ability through a game. This time, the topic was robot
assembling. The participants were divided into several
groups. 7 Japanese graduate and undergraduate students
from Kyushu University, Kochi University of Technology,
and Hosei University joined the game. Each of the teams
was required to assemble a robot with small pieces of Legoblocks by line operation such as selecting pieces,

Session Roomassembling small parts, assembling larger parts, and checking the qualities.
In the afternoon, there held parallel sessions titled “natural hazard and risk management”, “innovation inearthquake engineering”, “innovation in track, foundation and transportation engineering”, and, “new material,
technology and construction method for the civil works”. Two speakers from earthquake committee of JSCE
joined the session, with the consideration of Hualien earthquake in February.
On the second day, technical tours were provided. The city of Taichung has become the second largest in Taiwan,
recently. In order to avoid the traffic congestion, MRT system is constructed. Construction site of one of the
MRT stations was chosen. The other site was Taichung station that was built in 1917 and recognized as one of
the historic stations in Taiwan. While a new station is constructed, old station will be also reserved as a museum.
CECAR8 (8th Civil Engineering Conference in the Asian Region) was also announced by JSCE that hosts theconference and many participants were invited from Taiwan. Needless to say, the next joint workshop will beheld in Japan to keep the communication with Taiwan.
Finally, the workshop was supported by the international exchange fund of JSCE international committee. The
authors, Taiwan exchange group, would sincerely appreciate the support.

Newly Constructed Taichung Station and Historic Taichung Station【Reported by Hiromi Shirahata, IAC Int’l Communication & Cooperation Group (Tokyo City University)】

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Updates◆CECAR8 Online Registration (Early Bird: June 1 – Jan 31, 2019)http://www.cecar8.jp/◆2018 JSCE Annual Meeting International Program in Hokkaido, August 29 and 30, 2018
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/
International Panel Discussion:“Comparison of Infrastructure Maintenance and Resilience among Asian and Western Countries”
The 20th International Summer Symposium:“When a Mega Disaster Strikes... - How would you respond if you were a mayor? -”http://www.jsce-int.org/node/538◆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/◆Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC) International Newsletter archives
http://www.acecc-world.org/newsletter.html◆IAC “News Pick Up!!” on the JSCE Japanese website
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/node/118◆Summary of featured articles in JSCE Magazine Vol. 103, No. 8, August 2018 on the JSCE website
http://www.jsce-int.org/pub/magazine◆Journal of JSCE
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/journalofjsce◆IAC Students and Alumni Network
http://www.jsce-int.org/IAC_network◆ASCE 2018 Convention
https://www.asceconvention.org/§ 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.
§ IAC Facebook §Recent activity of International Activities Center is introduced on this Facebook. Please see this home page.
(https://www.facebook.com/JSCE.en)
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