2017.10. 2

Japan Society of Civil Engineers
International Activities Center

IAC News No.60
2017 Annual Meeting, International Program–Prompt Report–
2017 JSCE Annual Meeting was held at Kyushu University Ito campus on September 11-12, The International
Activities Center hosted the International Program: International Roundtable Meeting on “Implementing ICTs
within the Construction Industry and Infrastructure Maintenance”, which was planned in response to the idea ofMr. Ohishi, Hisakazu the JSCE President, the 19th International Summer Symposium, the International
Workshop for Young Civil Engineers, Networking Reception, and Technical Tour.
At the International Roundtable Meeting (RTM), Prof.
Shinichi Akutagawa (Kobe University, Task Force Chairin Sub-Committee of Tunnel Engineering Committee)
served as a moderator, and Prof. Kazuyoshi Tateyama(Ritsumeikan University, Chair of Robotics Committeein Construction) delivered a keynote speech. Five
Agreement of Cooperation (AOC) societies and one
JSCE International Section participated in this year:
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Chinese
Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering (CICHE),

The Speakers and the audience had discussions at the RTM

The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), Korean
Society of Civil Engineers (KSCE), Nepal Engineers’ Association (NEA) and JSCE Turkey Section. After thepresentations given by those six organizations, the participants exchanged their knowledge and views freely.
About 65 people including the speakers participated in the meeting.
At the 19th International Summer Symposium, a total of 69 young civil engineers, which consisted of 63
international students and 6 participants in the Study Tour Grant program which was hosted by International
Scientific Exchange Fund (ISEF) Committee, gave presentations using PowerPoint. There were an audience ofover 30 people in each session, and they enjoyed discussions.
The International Workshop for Young Engineers on “Innovative Construction Methods a Case of Cut-andCover Tunneling Method,” was organized in cooperation with Dr. Shunsaku Komatsuzaki (Lecturer, theUniversity of Tokyo). 8 facilitators, who were the members of IAC International Student Network Group, and42 young civil engineers participated in the workshop. The majority of the participants were international
students and Japanese engineers and students were not many, but they without hesitation discussed and worked
with each other nicely.
1

In the evening of the first day, annual Networking
Reception were held. Approximately 60 people joinedthe reception including Mr. Ohishi, international guests,
the participants of the international summer symposium
and the workshop, enjoyed conversation and build
friendship in a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere.
On the 2nd day, the Technical Tour visited the Aso
Ohashi Bridge reconstruction area and Kumamoto Castle
where had been severely damaged by 2016 KumamotoEarthquake. In the Aso Ohashi Bridge area, international

Technical Tour participants

guests were shocked at seeing the fallen bridge, at thesame time, showed a strong interest in the up-to-date “unmanned construction technology” which was adopted
in the reconstruction work.

Japanese Civil Engineers the Global Leaders Symposium Series No.10

The Construction of Vietnam's Longest Sea-crossing Bridge“Lach Huyen Port Infrastructure Construction Project(Road & Bridge portion)”International Activities Center hosted “Japanese Civil
Engineers the Global Leaders Symposium Series No.10”
at JSCE hall on August 3, 2017, as shown in the program
below. The symposium was held under the theme of theconstruction project (yen-loan project) of the 15.6kmlong road and bridge which is to serve as an access roadfor Lach Huyen Port, which currently is underconstruction. The purpose of the project is toaccommodate increasing freight volumes. At thesymposium, those from Japan-based Sumitomo Mitsui

The symposium at JSCE HQ auditorium

Construction Co., Ltd., who have been working at theLach Huyen construction site, discussed many subjects including their efforts to implement the project, thecharacteristics of the technologies involved and their struggles to adjust to living in another country away fromJapan, an messages to those who wish to work abroad. More than 100 people attended the symposium, 60% ofwhom were non-JSCE members.
<Japanese Civil Engineers the Global Leaders Symposium Series No.10: The Constructionof Vietnam’s Longest Sea-crossing Bridge “Lach Huyen Port Infrastructure Construction
Project>- Opening Speech
Takao Kakei, Director, International Activities Center, JSCE
- Initiatives of Sumitomo Mitsui Construction in Vietnam
Akio Kasuga, Senior Managing Executive Officer; Chief Director of the Technical & Engineering ServiceDivision; Deputy Division Director of the Global Division, Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd.
- Overview of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam2Kazuo Takeuchi, Senior Deputy Director, Southeast Asia and Pacific Department, Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA)- General Overview of the Construction Work
Susumu Yanase, General Manager, Civil Engineering Department, International Division, Sumitomo
Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd.
- Screening of a Video Record of the Construction Work- Talks by Engineers - Civil Engineering Stories of Dads Who Are Working Overseas
Toshihiro Kurokawa, Takashi Hasegawa, Hiroaki Itahana, Lach Huyen Construction Site, InternationalDivision, Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd.
- Qs & As- Break- Life in Lach Huyen and Overseas Training for Next Generation LeadersHiroyuki Suzuki, Lach Huyen Construction Site, International Division; Kazuhiro Nishimura, Civil
Engineering Designing Department, Civil Engineering Division, Sumitomo Mitsui Co., Ltd.
- Thoughts of a Vietnamese Engineer Who was Once an International Student in Japan
Nguyen Anh Chi, Lach Huyen Construction Site, International Division, Sumitomo Mitsui Construction,Co., Ltd.
- Sustainable Activities and Issues
Hitoshi Yamaji, Executive Officer; Deputy Division Director, Global Division- Qs & As- Closing Speech
Yukihiro Tsukada, Executive Director, JSCE

After the opening speech by Mr. Takao Kakei, the Director of the International Activities Center, Dr. Akio
Kasuga delivered a talk about trends in the international construction market and the initiatives of Sumitomo
Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. in the international and Vietnamese markets. Mr. Kazuo Takeuchi from Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a supporting organization of the symposium, also gave a talk mainly
about the economic climate of Vietnam, and the status of Japan’s support for Vietnam, especially in the area oftransportation systems including the improvement of urban infrastructure.
Following Mr. Takeuchi’s talk, Mr. Susumu Yanase presented a general overview of the construction work withthe aid of a video record. Mr. Toshihiro Kurokawa, Mr. Takashi Hasegawa and Mr. Hiroaki Itahana explained
the technologies applied at the bridge construction site such as negative friction-reducing steel pipe piles, steel
pipe sheet pile foundations, span-by-span bridge construction method and geotubes as well as various ingenious
ideas to reduce the construction time. In particular, Mr. Itahana told his own story, which was featured in a TV
program called “Sekai De Hataraku Otosan (Dads Who Are Working Overseas)” (TV Tokyo), where he had asurprise reunion with his children on a cross-sea bridge.
After a break, Mr. Hiroyuki Suzuki, who is engaged in administrative works in the project, gave a talk about
responsibilities including the preparation of a living environment in Lach Huyen, for many Japanese and workers
from developing country, and points to bear in mind when living abroad. Mr. Kazuhiro Nishimura also outlined
the overseas internship incorporated in the construction work and training programs for new recruits to give aglimpse of the initiatives of Sumitomo Mitsui Construction for fostering global talents.
In addition, Mr. Nguyen Anh Chi, who studied at the University of Tokyo and is in charge of the engineering
work executed at the construction site, delivered a talk in Japanese fluently, about how much he was confusedby being sent from Japan to his home country to do an “overseas assignment,” the advantages and disadvantagesof being an international student, the excellent works done by Japanese workers and workers from developing
countries other than Vietnam, and the good progress made in fostering Vietnamese engineers.
Lastly, Mr. Hitoshi Yamaji shared his own experience including the tough times he had when he was involved
3

in the construction of the Nhat Tan Bridge (Vietnam-Japan Friendship Bridge). In his talk, Mr. Yamaji also
pointed out the matters that should be taken into consideration when continuing sustainable activities. Vietnam
is going through technological changes including reflecting the Japanese standard of designing steel pipe sheet
pile foundations in the Vietnamese design criteria, and the local businesses are growing at a remarkable rate. Mr.
Yamaji urged the need of increasing competition in Vietnam, in order to continue activities under suchcircumstances, by securing ongoing projects, firmly maintaining the capability of procuring equipment, materials
and human resources from outside Vietnam, and using local liaisons and highly-skilled contractors while placing
importance on quality and safety control that is fully ensured by design construction technologies.
After a lively Q and A session, Mr. Yukihiro Tsukada, the JSCE Executive Director, concluded the symposiumby thanking the speakers who delivered the well-prepared talks meeting the theme of symposium and for those
who had prepared the widescreen.
【Reported by Yoshiaki Higuchi (Oriental Consultants Co., Ltd.), Leader of Project Group, IAC】

【Alumni of DOBOKU Series】“The Continued Inspiration from Japan towards Sustainable
Transportation Development in Thailand”
Atit Tippichai
Lecturer, Urban and Regional Planning Program, King Mongkut’s Institute ofTechnology Ladkrabang, Thailand
Since receiving a D.Eng. degree in transportation engineering and socio-technology
from Nihon University in 2010, I have been working intensively in sustainable energy
and transportation development in Thailand by applying the experiences andtechnologies learned in Japan. I, being involved as a project manager in developing thefirst long-term energy efficiency development plan for Thailand and the Thailand’s 20Year Energy Efficiency Plan (EEDP 2011-2030) was endorsed by the cabinet in 2011.
Among all economic sectors, the transport sector is the biggest untapped potential ofenergy saving. Improving fuel economy of vehicles is one of the key measures torealize energy efficiency in the transport sector. There are three main projects, which

Atit Tippichai

related to Japan after I graduated.
Idling-Stop Project in Bangkok
The first project is a Feasibility Study of Using the Idling Stop Devices for Vehicles
in Bangkok, which was a collaborative project with Japanese companies to install anenergy saving equipment namely “Eco-Starter” into Bangkok’s buses. This project
was a testing project aimed to realize energy saving from traffic congestion inBangkok. This project was funded by the Energy Policy and Planning Office, Ministryof Energy of Thailand, in October 2010 and successfully completed in September
2011. Three Japanese companies were involved in this project, namely Ecomotion,
Climate Consulting, and Almec. Prof. Dr. Atsushi Fukuda of Nihon University my4The Idling-Stop Project
Reportformer professor also was one of the advisors in this project.
MRV Study for the Bangkok PortThe second project is a Feasibility Study on MRV(Measurable, Reportable and Verifiable) Model“Introduction of Electronic Gate to International
Trade Port to Improve Port-related Traffic Jam”
commissioned by Global Environment Centre
Foundation(GEC)

throughChuoFukken

Consultants Co., Ltd., in 2012-2013. I was part of theproject as a consultant to collect traffic data at theBangkok Port. The study aimed to improve trafficflow by introducing the electronic gate system andreduce GHG (Greenhouse gas) emissions. I worked

Visit to Chuo Fukken HQ Office in 2013

with hundreds of students to collect data and conduct questionnaire surveys. In 2013, I together with twoassistants were invited to visit and make a presentation at the HQ Office of the Chuo Fukken Consultants Co.,
Ltd. in Osaka, Japan.
APERC’s Peer Review on Energy Efficiency
The last project that I would like to mention was theone when I was working as a visiting researcher at
the Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC)
in Tokyo. The project was the APEC Follow-up Peer
Review on Energy Efficiency in Thailand funded by
APEC Energy Working Group (EWG) during MayDecember 2015. The project aimed to assist
Thailand to improve energy efficiency in thetransport sector through the peer-review process. Apeer-review team was formed with six international
experts. Prof. Dr. Atsushi Fukuda also was invited

APERC’s Peer Review Team Visit to Thailand

as a team member. The peer-review team visited Thailand to meet with their counterparts Thai officers during
August 3rd – 7th, 2015. 48 recommendations to enhance energy efficiency in the transport sector of Thailandwere made to the Thai Government.
In conclusion, I am very proud that I have earned a degree in Japan and have very strong connection with myprofessor and other Japanese colleagues who have helped me greatly to pursue my dream which is to develop
more sustainable transport systems in my country. I again would like to thank them for their kindness and greatsupports.
Profile: Dr. Atit Tippichai is a lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning Program at the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology
Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand. After graduated, he was a researcher at the Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment(JGSEE) for 3 years and then he was endorsed by Ministry of Energy, Thailand to work as a visiting researcher at the Asia Pacific
Energy Research Centre (APERC) in Tokyo, Japan for 3 years. Dr. Tippichai was also appointed as the Manager for Policy Researchand Analytics at the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2016.

5

《Column》Atsushi Fukuda, Professor, Nihon University
After studying civil engineering and environmental engineering in Thailand, Dr. Atit
Tippichai entered the doctoral course of the Graduate School of Science and Technology,
Nihon University and did his research work regarding estimation of marginal
abatement cost curves for greenhouse gas in transportation sectors by countries. Withco-supervise of Professor Hisayoshi Morisugi who passed away last year, we could havefruitful discussions, and he completed his doctoral dissertation. After he was awarded
with a doctoral degree, he returned to Thailand, worked as a researcher at the university
for three years and then was sent to the Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC)
as a representative of Thailand for two and a half years. His activity at the center isintroduced as it is in his column, and his analytical abilities were highly appreciated. It is very delightful forstudents who studied in Japan like him to work internationally.
※Alumni of DOBOKU Series is in collaboration with Editorial Committee of JSCE Magazine.

Report on JSCE-MCA Joint Seminar
The Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) Concrete Committee and theMongolian Concrete Association (MCA) held a joint seminar on June 9, 2017, in
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Organized as part of the MCA Annual International
Conference 2017, “Concrete Industry – Current and Future,” the seminar included
two lecturers by representatives from Japan on the JSCE Standard Specifications forConcrete Structures and related researches and international activities. Dr.
Yoshinobu Oshima (Public Works Research Institute) introduced the Standard
Specifications and its history before discussing the quality control of concretematerials and structures, and the role that plays in assuring the long-term

Yoshinobu Oshima

performance of road bridges in Japan. Dr. Michael Henry (Hokkaido University)(Public Works Research Inst.)

then introduced the Standard Specifications for maintenance, and talked about Japanese activities for promoting
maintenance management of concrete structures in Asian countries. Both presentations from Japan were
simultaneously translated into Mongolian by representatives from the MCA for ease of understanding.
Mongolian participants were interested in quality control and rehabilitation as well, and then the practicalcounteractions in construction against possible deterioration were discussed in the seminar.
Their presentations then were followed by 10 presentations from various Mongolian industry and academic
representatives as well as one presenter from Norway, who introduced the usage of admixtures for sprayedconcrete. Roughly 100 people were in attendance during the seminar. The seminar attracted the interest ofMongolian engineers, and the representatives from Japan were interviewed by a Mongolian national TV and aradio station about the current situation of Mongolian concrete industry. Quality control interests Mongolianengineers, and this may open up the possibilities of the use the Japanese concrete technology along with JSCE
Standard Specification for concrete structures to fabricate “strong, durable and beautiful concrete” in Mongolia.
The representatives from Japan would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Narantuya Batmunkh, Vice Directorof the MCA, for her cooperation and support in arranging this joint seminar.
6

Presentation at the Joint Seminar

Presenters from Japan and Dr. Narantuya with aninterpreter

Updates◆Summary of feature articles in JSCE Magazine Vol. 102, No. 10, October 2017 is available on the JSCEwebsite.
http://www.jsce-int.org/pub/magazine◆Journal of JSCE
The Journal of JSCE is the collection of research papers which can be viewed on the JSCE website.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/journalofjsce◆CECAR8 Call for Abstract has started on August 1st.
http://www.cecar8.jp/◆Concrete Committee International Newsletter No. 50
http://www.jsce.or.jp/committee/concrete/e/newsletter/newsletter50/index.html◆ [Previous Announcement] Japanese Civil Engineers the Global Leaders Symposium Series No.11 “theConstruction Project of Osman Gazi Bridge in Tukey – one of the world’s longest suspension bridge”(tentativetitle) will be held on January 24, 2018.
http://committees.jsce.or.jp/kokusai/◆IAC Students and Alumni Network
http://www.jsce-int.org/IAC_network§ 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. By all means, please see this home page.
(https://www.facebook.com/JSCE.en)
Comments and Questions
Please send us your feedback and comments to help us improve the IAC news. We look forward to hearing from you.
JSCE IAC: iac-news@jsce.or.jp

7