国総研ニューズレター
NILIM News Letter

No.50Autumn 2014

■ An outline of a torrential rain-caused sediment disaster in Hiroshima Prefecture in August

2014 and subsequent response

Sabo Department

NILIM provided technical support to the Chugoku Regional
Development Bureau and Hiroshima Prefecture on preventionof secondary disaster and emergency response in the wake of atorrential rain-caused sediment disaster that struck Hiroshima
Prefecture in August 2014.
From the evening of August 19 to the morning of August 20,
2014, torrential rains fell in Hiroshima Prefecture, primarily in theAsakita and Asaminami districts. The rains resulted in a series ofdebris flows and slope failures that caused great damage, killing
74 people and injuring 44, and completely destroying 133 houses,partially destroying 122 houses, and damaging 174 houses (dataannounced by Hiroshima Cityʼs disaster management office).
Immediately following the disaster, the Sabo (SedimentDisaster Prevention) Department joined with the Public Works
Research Instituteʼs Erosion and Sediment Control ResearchGroup to send a total of 114 experts to the affected areas between
August 20 and September 17. These experts primarily provided
technical support for:・ Secondary disaster prevention activities (see photo)・ Ensuring the safety of search and rescue personnel (police,fire, and Self-Defense Forces)
・ Emergency mountain stream assessments by TEC-FORCE(Technical Emergency Control Force)・ Planning of emergency countermeasures work for earth
removal and flood control
In particular, the NILIM and PWRI Team advised the searchand rescue team to continue watching rain areas and monitorchanges in stream turbidity and flow volume, as the search andrescue personnel had
to engage in search
operations before thesituation upstream could
be confirmed.
Emergency mountainstream assessments havebeen conducted by TECFORCE (comprised ofPhoto: Onsite inspection ofexperts of the regional
disaster conditions
development bureaus andNILIM) in a total of 324 mountain streams. These assessments
have targeted streams in areas where debris flows tend to beconcentrated, streams where debris flows occur frequently, andareas adjacent to those streams. The main items of the assessments
were the conditions of sediment in mountain torrents, accumulationof driftwood, and slope changes near homes (e.g., occurrence ofcollapses, etc.) in mountain streams. Based on the results, the debris
flow risk of each stream was assessed. The findings were thenreleased to the public. The released findings were subsequently
used in studies of warning and evacuation systems.
Looking forward, the Sabo Department intends to press forwardwith onsite surveys and analyses of debris flow occurrence,
downstream circumstances, sediment accumulation, and otherphenomena while also studying solutions as part of measures toprevent sediment disasters.

Details * Sabo Planning Division webpage “Disaster Information”
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/rbg/■ Using “tweets” to find early warning signs of sediment disasters
Sabo Department, Sabo Risk-Management Division

The Sabo Risk-Management Division is moving forwardwith a joint public-private sector study toward the practicalimplementation of methods for detecting “early warning signs”
and “actual occurrence” of sediment disasters by receiving“tweets” that can only be issued locally by residents.
It is said that approximately 40% of people killed by natural
disasters die in sediment disasters. Indeed, the sediment disasterthat occurred in Hiroshima City on August 20 of this year claimed
a great many lives. When the risk of a sediment disaster arises,
it is important to execute appropriate evacuation in response to
the issuance of sediment disaster warning information. In fact,
the Cabinet Office sets this as a rough standard for evacuation
advisories in its “Guidelines for Producing a Decision andDissemination Manual for Evacuation Advisories and Orders.”
However, information on the possibility of sediment disasters
are issued at the initial stage when the danger of a landslide
first arises, and therefore separate indicators are needed for

subsequent judgments on the situational urgency. Given this,the guidelines list the occurrence of such early warning signs as“mountain rumbling” and “driftwood outflow” among examplesof criteria for issuing evacuation orders. For administrative
officials to grasp the occurrence of these early warning signs,
they must depend on information provided by local residents
who detect them. However, reports are rarely provided at
the actual times that such signs occur, and this makes theminadequate from the standpoint of use as disaster management
information.
Against this backdrop, the Sabo Risk-Management Division is
studying the establishment of technologies for quickly analyzing
in real time the vast quantities of social media data (so-called“big data”) that exist and for grasping information on the early
warning signs and sediment disaster conditions that can be foundin messages posted by social media users expressing concern orfear about heavy rains, etc. This study is a joint undertaking with
Fujitsu Laboratories, Ltd.

1The study will make it possible to “narrow down” those regions
where danger exists and to quickly ascertain “signs” and “actualoccurrence” of sediment disasters. Additionally, it is expectedthat supplying various types of information quickly and ina pinpoint manner in combination with GIS technology will
facilitate quicker decisions by the local governments that issue

evacuation orders as well as independent evacuation by residents,
and thereby lower the human cost of sediment disasters.

Details * NILIM web site (press releases)

http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/kisya/journal/kisya20140714.pdf■ Publication of research achievements at the 2014 World Congress on ITS in Detroit
Road Traffic Department, Intelligent Transport Systems Division

The 21st World Congress on ITS was held in Detroit, Michigan,U.S.A., from September 7 to 11, 2014. Publications of researchachievements by NILIM were included in the schedule.
This yearʼs World Congress on ITS was held under the themeof “Reinventing Transportation in our Connected World.” It wasattended by more than 9,100 experts and concerned persons from 65
countries. It featured enthusiastic discussions of ways for resolving
various traffic problems by utilizing vehicle-to-infrastructure andvehicle-to-vehicle communication among other topics.
The Intelligent Transport Systems Division participated in theconference together with the ITS Policy and Program Office ofMLITʼs Road Bureau. It took the podium at four Special Interest
Sessions and four Technical/Scientific Sessions, and madepresentations on research achievements concerning technologies
that utilize probe data and technologies that support theappropriate operation of heavy vehicles. It also took advantageof the opportunity presented by this gathering of ITS personnel
from around the world to gather information, and it held separate
meetings with participants from the United States, European
Commission, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, China, andSouth Korea for the purpose of exchanging information and views.

This yearʼs conference featured a large number of research talks
and case presentations, particularly on automatic driving andother cutting-edge technologies as well as on cloud-based services
that utilize smartphones and the collection and analysis of “bigdata.” It also included numerous discussions on “business models”
for diffusing and developing these ITS technologies.
Using the fruits of its participation in the conference as areference, the Intelligent Transport Systems Division will move
forward with surveys, research, and development to further refine
and defuse Japanʼs ITS technologies, which are leading the way
in terms of practical application in Cooperative ITS services, forroad users.

Photos: Presentations in an individual meeting and a Special Session■ Launch of a Northern Sea Route webpage: Analyzing actual navigational conditions using

Satellite AIS

On September 17, the Port Planning Division of the Port andHarbour Department launched a new webpage for Satellite AISbased analysis of actual navigational conditions in Northern Sea
routes within the NILIM website.
In recent years, reduced sea ice area in the Arctic Ocean during
the summer months has made it possible for ships to navigate
through it. This is attracting attention in terms of commercial
use, as the distance between Europe and Asia is shorter along theNorthern Sea route than through the Suez Canal.
NILIM and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
are engaged in joint research to ascertain actual navigational
conditions in the Arctic Ocean by receiving from satellites
Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals that are transmittedby ships. The conventional method for grasping the actual
navigational conditions of ships is to use AIS signals acquired
from land bases. However, utilizing this satellite technology has
made it possible to ascertain navigational details (position, speed,etc.) over a broad area without the need to establish land bases.
Against this backdrop, the Port Planning Division launched awebpage that presents analyses that have been conducted thus far.
Its plan is to present new analytical results and other informationon the webpage as they become available. The chart at right wasprepared by overlaying ship speeds on top of a sea ice conditions(sea ice concentration) in July of this year. By displaying

2

Port and Harbour Department, Port Planning Divisiongreen areas that turn yellow at points where ships cross sea ice,for example, it shows how ship speeds in the region decrease.
Moreover, the division plans to conduct quantitative analyses of
the relationship between sea ice conditions and ship speed. It
is also continuing its joint research in a reinforced manner withthe addition of the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau andAomori Prefecture as partners since October.

Figure: Relationship between sea ice and ship speeds(July 19 to 25, 2014)
Notes: Ship speed (△) Red: 5 knots or slower; yellow: 5 to 10 knots;
green: 10 knots or higher
Sea ice: White indicates the highest density of sea ice; the density falls
as the color changes from orange to green.

Details * NILIM web site

http://www.ysk.nilim.go.jp/kakubu/kouwan/keikaku/ais.htm.

■ Technical Information and Web Programs on Energy-saving Standard
Housing Department, Residential Environment Planning Division

The Residential Environmental Planning Division presents
technical information and web programs on energy-saving
standards for housing and other buildings. The web programs
were updated in October.
Primary energy consumption was added as a new indicator
to energy-saving standards for housing and other buildings thatwere publicly announced in January 2013. This now makes it
possible to evaluate building envelop performance (insulation,screening of solar radiation, etc.) and performance of heating andair-conditioning, ventilation, water heating, lighting, and otherfactors in an integrated manner for an entire building. This inturn makes it easier to make objective comparisons of buildingsʼ
energy-saving performance.
NILIM1 and the Building Research Institute have developed
methods and web programs for calculating building envelope
performance and primary energy consumption in cooperation withacademic experts and persons with practical experience. They
are made available as technical information on energy-savings
standards and other items via a webpage (left rear of the figure).
These web programs that quantifiably calculate primary energy
consumption in accordance with design details are expected tobe more than just tools for evaluating conformity with standards.
They will also be used as design tools in, for example, studies of
the cost effectiveness of energy-saving technologies (comparisonof initial costs and operational cost; right front of the figure). The
web programs were updated in October.
These tools are being used by a great number of people. At
the beginning of October 2014, the average number of weekday
visits to the website was 1,499, while the number for the web
program for calculating primary energy consumption for housing

and that for the web program for non-housing were 696 and 272,
respectively.
Because energy-saving technologies come in a broad varietyof forms, the Residential Environmental Planning Division willcontinue research activities and program updates for the furtherenhancement of evaluation and calculation methods.
Note: Residential Environment Planning Division, Housing Department,and Environment and Equipment Standards Division, Building
Department

Figure: Sample views of the webpage (left rear) andweb programs (right front)

Details * Technical information on the energy-saving standards

for housing and other buildings and certification standards of lowcarbon buildings. (Building Research Institute web site)
http://www.kenken.go.jp/becc/index.html■ Exhibition to Techno-Ocean2014
Administrative Coordination Department, Planning and Coordination Division

NILIM joined with the Kobe Research and Engineering Officefor Port and Airport (Kinki Regional Development Bureau) toorganize an exhibition presenting research and project details
concerning port and harbor environment projects at “TechnoOcean 2014,” held at the Kobe International Exhibition Hall
from October 2 to 4.
Techno-Ocean is Japanʼs only convention concerning theocean. This yearʼs convention, the 15th organized thus far, washeld under the theme “Mother Oceans.” Featuring not onlyexhibits but also organized sessions, a “student poster session,” anunderwater robots competition, and an exhibition of sea-relatedart, it attracted more than 9,000 visitors who were representativesof private enterprises, universities, research institutes, and thepublic sector as well as private citizens and children.
NILIM and the Kobe Research and Engineering Office forPort and Airport presented a panel exhibition concerning
environmental topics under the banner “protecting the blueocean.” It featured a model of the ocean-surface cleaningand oil recovery vessel “Dr. Kaiyo” that operates in Osaka
Bay; activities concerning water-quality surveys, such as theOsaka Bay Environmental Database; and research on marineenvironments, such as restoration of the natural environmentsof seashores.

To raise awareness among visitors to the booth, we explained
research on marine environments, such as the distribution of
shoals in Tokyo Bay, and oil-recovery work following a tanker
explosion off the coast of Himeji on May 29 of this year.
It is hoped that the researchers and exhibitors who attended
Techno-Ocean 2014 will promote the building of new networks
and further advance research and technical development
concerning the sea.
NILIM will proactively promote public understanding andpublic relations activities by being an active participant in many
events and presenting research results.

Photo: A View of the exhibition3

● Schedule of Principal Events
Scheduled Dates
December 3

Event Name
2014 Conference of the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management
http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bbg/kouenkai/kouenkai2014/kouenkai2014.htm● Publication (research achievements) < August, 2014-October, 2014 >Download from here * http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/siryou/index.htm

PROJECT RESEARCH REPORT of NILIM
No.

Title of Paper

Project Leaders45

Development of urban system technology to achieve a low-carbon society
based on hydrogen energy systems

Director of the BuildingDepartment

46

Research on Restoration of Environment for Port and Harbor Regions using
Integrated Environmental Planning and Mnagement Systems

Director of the Coastal, Marine andDisaster Prevention Department

RESEARCH REPORT of NILIM
No.
54

Title of Paper

Names of Divisions

Measurement and application of average residence time of marine plastics on beaches Coastal Zone Systems Division

TECHNICAL NOTE of NILIM
No.

Title of Paper

Names of Divisions

789 Collection of Cases for Electric-pole Elimination

Advanced Road Designand Safety Division

792 Manual for field observation using turbidity meter at mountain river

Sabo Planning Division

793 Proposal on river environment information sharing system to Promote Cooperation withResidents in the Basin for River Management

River Department

796 Sediment conditions and eelgrass (Zostera marina) in Miyako Bay, October 2013

Marine Environment
Division

797 Study to Ensure Smooth Passage of Container Terminals through Gates

Disaster and Emergency
Management Division

799 A Detailed Analysis on the Vessel Movementsts in the Northern Sea Route byAIS Data

Port Planning Division

800 A study on internationalization of technical standards for port and harbour facilities of Japan (Part 2) Port Facilities Division- Study Example of eﬀorts to assist in the development of port design standards in Vietnam 801 An Estimation of Cargo Flow of International Ferries and RORO ships based on a Sacrifice Model Port Systems Division
802 Guideline for introducing a Technology for highly eﬃcient nitrogen removal using the fixed-bed
anammox process

Wastewater and Sludge
Management Division

803 Guideline for introducing a technology for low-cost production of sewage sludge solid fuelusing waste heatWastewater and Sludge
Management Division

804 Guideline for introducing utilization of heat from sewage with a pipeline-based heat recovery Wastewater and Sludge
technology
Management Division
805 Guideline for introducing a Technology for High Eﬃciency Phosphorus Recovery
from Digested Sewage Sludge

Wastewater and Sludge
Management Division

806 Reference book on Road Traﬃc Noise abatement measures（2014）

Road Environment Division● We provide you with research information.
・ 2014 Annual Report of NILIM

This web site introduces NILIM activities throughout the year, including research activities and achievements,
future initiatives, etc.
Go to this web site: * http://www.nilim.go.jp/english/annual/annual2014/ar2014e.html

National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Asahi 1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0804, Japan(Tachihara) Tachihara 1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0802, Japan(Yokosuka) Nagase 3-1-1, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 239-0826, JapanAutumn 2014
TEL:+81-29-864-2754 FAX:+81-29-864-4322
http://www.nilim.go.jp/english/eindex.htm
Edited and Published by National Institute for Land and Infrastructure ManagementNo.50

国 総 研 ニ ューズ レ ター

NILIM News Letter