Topics

Initiatives for knowledge succession
in dam engineering

River Department
FUJITA Koichi, HeadRiver Department, Water Management and Dam Division
TORII Kenichi, HeadKAWASAKI Masaki, Senior Researcher(Key words) Dam engineering, knowledge management
1. Present state and problems with theknowledge succession in dam engineering
Dam engineering has been developed andsucceeded by constructing many dams in Japan. A“knowledge cycle” has been established as follows;① Various technical standards and know-how
possessed by dam engineers have been applied
to the construction of dams.
② New knowledge has been learned.
③ Further research and development has been
conducted based on this knowledge.
④ At the same time, many experts with thisknowledge have appeared one after another.
⑤ Advanced knowledge has been applied to laterdam construction through improved technicalstandards and by experts.
In recent years, technical information and humanresources which support this “knowledge cycle”
have shrunk and become regionally unbalanced due
to a decline of dam construction sites.
On the other hand, there has been a gradualincrease in dam alteration projects such asconstructing additional large outlets to use theexisting dams and reservoirs more effectively. We
are forced to carry out design and execution underharsher condition than any previously experienced.
We have to continue challenging such new
subjects to make dams safer, more economical andmore efficient. For this reason, we need to ensure arequisite “knowledge cycle” for knowledge
succession in dam engineering.
Therefore we have studied knowledge
management methods to share technical information
between regional blocks throughout Japan andpermit future generations to succeed to thisinformation.
In 2011, we have, jointly with the Water andDisaster Management Bureau and nationwide
regional development bureaus of the Ministry ofLand, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism(MLIT), and the Public Works Research Institute(PWRI), begun initiatives to do so.
2. Specific methods(1) Sharing information through dam engineering

study meetings
We organized a dam engineering study meeting(administrator: River Department of the NILIM)
which included dam engineers in the Water andDisaster Management Bureau, nationwide regional
development bureaus, the PWRI and the NILIM sowe could share the results of each activity forknowledge
succession.
Wealsocreatedopportunities for dam engineers in nationwide
regional development bureaus to study skills andexchange opinions on dam construction sites invarious regions (Photo 1).
Furthermore, we built a data base to pigeonhole
the contents of technical guidance by experts andpreserve them because they will be very importantto revise technical standards and have in many cases,
been forgotten over time.
(2) Technical guidance by dam engineering advisors
It is also necessary that technical guidance begiven smoothly by experts in the future. Therefore
the River Department of the NILIM will centrally
appoint persons with rich experience and technicalguidance achievements as “dam engineeringadvisors” to provide advice concerning the selectionof appropriate persons according to the needs ofconstruction offices.

Photo 1. Technical Committee on Tsuruda Dam
Redevelopment Project
Thirty-one dam engineers from regional development
bureaus throughout Japan attended(November 17, 2011)- 1 -