WECC2015 Session Descriptions (As of March 13, 2015)
Track

Sessions

Descriptions

Track 1: Resilient Infrastructure for Society
Reconstruction innovation

Discussion about the construction of resilient infrastructures and how to take swift acton for therecovery and reconstruction of disaster-stricken sites.

1-2

Land/city conservation and disaster mitigation

Being braced for the various natural hazards of earthquakes, tsunami, tropical cyclone etc. areimportant to control and stabilize the development of the regions in the world. Urbanization andconcentration of population to cities intensify the threat of the hazard and the vulnerability of the land
and the cities increase. The challenge to engineering are to mitigate those disasters by modifying landand cities resilient to infrequent natural hazards, promoting education and preparing for emergency
response, and beforehand incorporation of an autonomous quick recovery scenario in our social
program.

1-3

Robot technology used at disaster sites and its Discuss the latest robot technologies used at disaster sites and the systems to maintain the robots
operating system
ready for use in a disaster.

1-4

Strengthening national interests and creating
new industries using big data

Propose the potential of the analysis and application of big data for disaster prevention and reduction.

1-5

Creating a resilient economy

Discuss how the private sector, public sector, and utility sector can cooperate on a resilient economy.

1-6

Resilience in manufacturing and energy sectors

There are three factors in having a resilient supply chain: 1) strengthening production sites, 2)
decentralizing the sites, and 3) having a backup system for the grid.

1-1

Track 2: Energy for a Sustainable Society

Wider applications for fossil resources:
Conventional and non-conventional resources

In this session advanced production technologies for environmentally friendly fuels and petrochemicals
from conventional resources will be discussed. Global potential of non-conventional supplies of shalegas, methane hydrate, extra heavy oil etc. will be reviewed. In addition, future prospects oftechnological developments to access and process such resources will be discussed.

2-2Power generation technology

The power generation technology that sustains the base of modern society and industry will be
discussed. Thermal power generation, nuclear power generation, advanced power generation
technology such as an integrated coal gasification combined cycle, distributed power generation andso on will be included.

2-3

Renewable energy sources and energy storage systems will be discussed from the view point of :Renewable energy sources and energy storage -Technologies(Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Biomass, Micro-hydro power, Battery, Thermal energy,
technologies
Flywheel, etc.)-Integration to the power systems

2-1

Energy saving and efficient energy use

High efficiency devices and systems, and the technologies for energy loss-reduction will be discussed,
including:-Power-electronics,-Information and Communication Technology(ICT)-Power transmission , transformation and distribution-Energy efficient manufacturing process-Combined heat and power systems

2-5

Energy management

Energy management and energy saving technologies in demand-side will be discussed mainly fromthe viewpoint of software technology.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:-HEMS(Home Energy Management System), BEMS(Building Energy Management System),
FEMS(Factory Energy Management System), CEMS(Community Energy Management System)-Demand Response(DR)-Thermal management-Solution of Energy service company

2-6

Smart grid，smart community

Smart grid and smart community technologies, and also demonstration projects will be reviewed. The
prospect of the realization of the low-carbon and sustainable society will be discussed.

2-4

Track 3: Natural Resources for a Sustainable Society

3-1

Satellite-based technology, land and marine
survey, resource investigation, disastermonitoring

This session focuses on space utilication such as land and marine survey and resource investigation
as engineering technology to support the sustainable development of the global industry. Other space
utilization technologies such as disaster monitoring will be also discussed.

3-2

Secured supply chain from mineral resources to end-user materials is inevitable for maintaining life
Supply chain of mineral resources and life cycle cycle of human beings. It is achieved by resources development with minimized environmental impact
of human beings.
and maximized social responsibility which fulfill the insufficient supply only by the strong effort toward
reduction and/or alternation of consumption as well as recycling.

1

WECC2015 Session Descriptions (As of March 13, 2015)
Track

3-3

3-4

3-5

3-6

Sessions

Descriptions

Water resource and environmental
management

There are a billion of people still using unimproved sources for drinking water and 2.6 billion of people
do not use improved sanitation (WHO/UNICEF, 2010). The treatment of waste water requires
significant demand of energy. Water pollution problem complicate the issues. Sustainable
management of water resources using integrated approaches is important. As a part of theapproaches, engineering could contribute to improve and develop efficient systems for safe drinking
water, water treatment, water recycling, desalination, sewage service for supporting big developmentof big cities.

Advanced recycling technology

Various valued materials accumulated in the consumer’s market can be considered as a sort of new
deposits. Advanced recycling technology does not only utilize valued elements and separate andstabilize the harmful elements from the deposits but also utilizes the harmful elements as functional
materials This will bring about new phase of the sustainable development. Most advanced trends will
be introduced.

Process technology for sustainability

It becomes evident that clear restriction exsists in the field of energy/natural resouces and global
environmetal capacity. In this session, world-wide development status of sustainable production isreviewed and discussed as well as that of Japan.

Agricultural machinery and food engineering,
agricultural mechanization, agricultural
structures

Reevaluation of the agriculture on the principle of local supply and local consumption has beenproceeded in recent years beyond the resource and energy intensive large-scale farmimg.
Disscussion will cover the issues on agricultural mechanizaion and automation against the backgroundof low birthrate, longevity, and urban centralization of population, moreover the feasibility of plantfactory for adding of value and extreme environment.

Track 4: Urban Development and Infrastructure

4-1

Sustainable and environmental friendly development of healthy and safe housing are required forincreasing population in cities under threatening of non-renewable resources decreasing, global
Environmental friendly and sustainable cities & warming and climate change. Establishment of policy for housing and cities conscious to aging society
housingwith lower environmental impacts are big challenge in advanced countries, while for developing
countries, supplying with safe and reliable housing for low income people in urban area are urgent
issues.

4-2

The environment friendly technique of air-conditioning and sanitary engineering to maintain healthy
Net zero energy building technology, new airand comfortable indoor environment will be focused. Specifically, green building techniques, net zeroconditioning and sanitary technology, green
energy buildings, techniques in air-conditioning and sanitary of next generation, water utilization will bebuilding technology, water utilization technology
discussed.

4-3

4-4

4-5

4-6

Measuring, control, security technology, robot
technology

Discussion on the following issues to maintain sustainable living of humanity by control andmeasurement technologies.
Monitoring technologies to prevent an accident.
Control technologies for safe and secure systems.
Concepts of engineering for social acceptance of next-generation robots.

Next generation broadcasting systems

The discussion focuses on Ultra-high definition TV which is a next-generation broadcasting such as 4K
and 8K, as well as the technologies for highly realistic television broadcasts such as 3D TV and Free
viewpoint TV, accessibility technologies including captioning, sign-language and commentary, andtheir applications for medical or other industrial fields.

Construction technology and management

Innovation in structural engineering design, construction and management for safety and quality
assurance are continuing and enabling advanced buildings, civil infrastructures and lifeline systems
with low environmental foot print, more energy efficient and less natural resource demand. The
engineering innovation includes application of recent IT such as 3D mapping and GPS technology,
which may potentially change the construction management and create new business occasions.

Innovation for maintenance and renovation ofsustainable civil infrastructure

Energy conservation, reduction of environmental impact, service life extension, recycling, reuse,
durability design, diagnosis and rehabilitation of existing facility are key technologies necessary to
improve our society for continuous and stable development. Innovations applied to maintain housing
and civil infrastructure are to discussed.

Track 5: Mobility and Communication Technology

5-1

5-2

Railway technology, high-speed train, urban
transportation, maintenance technology

Automotive technology, society and mobility in
2030

The railway technology covered in this session focuses on topics such as environmental friendly, safe
and comfortable transportation systems. Furthermore, advanced infrastructure, domestic andinternational high-speed trains, urban transportation systems, and maintenance technology will also be
discussed.
Toward 2030, it is necessary to make a massive improvement in fuel efficiency in developed countries,
and to achieve a low pollution in emerging countries.
In this session , we aim at forecasting the future of automotive technology and mobility which will beneeded in the automobile society of developed countries toward 2030, as well as seeking collaboration
between countries.
key words : Motorbike, Micro commuter car, Passenger car, Truck, Fuels, Vehicle fleet by type,
Incremental gains in efficiency of new vehicles, ITS, Sustainable mobility

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WECC2015 Session Descriptions (As of March 13, 2015)
Track

Sessions

Descriptions

5-3

Marine technology, ships, ocean energy
utilization, marine resource developments

Discussion and review on engineering technologies associated with oceans as global frotier including
energy-saving technology for ships, marine renewable energy utilizations and developments of ocean
resources such as oil, natural gas and methane-hydrate.

5-4

Aeronautical technology

This session focuses on aviation industry such as technologies for aircraft design, weight reduction,and higher performance, and aircraft operation technology.

Innovative telecommunications technologies

Innovative aspects of telecommunications technologies that realizes secure and safe society are
discussed, including studies on broadband, diverse and intelligent services, researches on vast
number of connected terminals and sensors along with network infrastructures supporting these
activities.

Information security and privacy

Big data generated by social networks and Internet Of Things enriches its value while it threatens
users privacy. Security and privacy issues are discussed not only from technical but also from ethicalpoint of view.

5-5

5-6

Track 6: Industry for Society
6-1

Creating value and solving social issues
through the big-data revolution

Share examples of creating value with big data, such as by combining industrial data and social data.

6-2

Trends in utilizing intellectual property forpromoting innovation

Discuss the conditions necessary for facilitating the utilization of intellectual property, such as
establishing IP markets, harmonizing IP laws among countries, and creating international mechanisms
for resolving IP disputes.

6-3

Role of finance in industrial innovation

Explore case studies about the role of finance in industrial innovation.

6-4

Value-added manufacturing for competitivenessMarkets require solutions that are attained with products. So manufacturers should consider the valuethat products create.

6-5Innovation of cutting-edge technology and next- The semiconductor industry has to continue to transform itself from mass production to customized
generation devices
production.

6-6

Developments of functional materials are indispensable for creating a sustainable society, Thissession covers the latest developments of advanced materials related to energy, environment andresources.

Advanced functional materials

Track 7: Life Innovation
7-1

Design of safe and secure communities,
reflections on human and robot

Prospects for ICT in regional network construction.
Robotics and interfaces in the area of home care, telemedicine and home nursing.

7-2

Molecular imaging in early diagnosis/treatment

Recent progress in optical and PET molecular imaging technology and translational research on early
diagnosis/treatment monitoring.

7-3

Creating innovative vital function control technologies by the modification, synthesis, delivery andRecovery from disease: Part 1 (Nanomedicine) molecular design of functional molecules using nanotechnology.
Prospects for nanotechnologies in drug industries.

Recovery from disease: Part 2 (Minimallyinvasive therapy and personalized treatment)

Discussion of the possibility of further innovation and development of Japan-specific medical
industries, with the focus on innovative intravascular and endoscopic surgery from the view point of
medicine, engineering and industry.
(This session is now being planned in collaboration with the Japan Medical Engineering Commons
Organization (Ikou-Commons).

7-5

Recovery from disease: Part 3 (Regenerative
medicine, tissue engineering)

Present and future prospects for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine through studies ofmethods for the regeneration of organs and biological tissue.
Clarifying the problems of practical use and the requirements for the development of regenerative
medicine industries.

7-6

Prospects for the development of technologies for the enhancement and support of physical function
Sustaining good health (Medical and healthcare through the integration of neuroscience, exercise physiology, robotics and IT.
devices)
Prospects for the medical and welfare industries which are expected to support our aging society, fromthe viewpoint of technical problems in the fields of nursing care.

7-4

3

WECC2015 Session Descriptions (As of March 13, 2015)
Track

Sessions

Descriptions

Track 8: Engineering for Society and Engineering in Society

8-1Social missions of engineering and ehics forengineers

The actions of each country will be presented and discussed about the social missions of engineeringand ethics for engineers, such as the code of ethics, the example of ethical problems for education,
the prevention of corruptions and so on as a basis in achieving social missions.

8-2

Science & technology based on the societal
trust & communication
Part 1: Fukushima Daiichi - lessons learned

Four years and eight months has past since the Tokyo Electric Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power
Plant accident, What has been clarified and what has not must be discussed. Also what is necessary
not to happen this kind of accident and what we have to learn from this accident will be discussed.

8-3

Science & technology based on the societal
trust & communication
Part 2: For the society of robust and secure
infrastructure

There are many incident that social infrastructure has damaged catastrophically by natural phenomena
such as earthquake or tsunami. What can we do for the society of robust and secure society will be
discussed such as how much robustness is required or how to embed resilience into the social
infrastructure.

Engineering qualification systems and ethics

The situations of each country will be presented and discussed about the engineering qualification
systems and ethics, how the engineer ethic is considered in the engineer institution such asprofessional engineers, what kind of activities regarding the enlightenment of engineering ethics, andso on.

8-4

Track 9: Engineering Education and Women in Engineering

Promoting female leaders in engineering

Policy and activity for Women in Engineering (WIE) would be presented by three representatives in
the Middle East, China and Japan , leading the common problems and the regional problems for WIE.

Promoting young women in engineering:
Part 1 Information and communication
technology

What are the issues for young female engineers to be more active to contribute to the society andwhat they have to do by themselves are discussed to get the strategies for the next action.

Promoting young women in engineering:
Part 2 Social infrastructure technology

The perspective of women is expected to be much more important to build our social system in the
future. What female engineers can do for it is discussed.

9-3World human resource development andengineering education

Report on present conditions concerning the engineering education of each country in the World, what
are the features characteristic and how to deal effectively with the globalization process.

9-4

Report on the spread of the Japanese engineering education into the World, the relation between theDevelopment and contribution of the Japanese actual circumstances of each country and the contribution of the Japanese’s style engineeringengineering education to the world
education. Furthermore, report about the unique education system of the college of technology and its
contribution to the World.

9-1

9-2

Track 10: Others4