Report for
the Student seminarat Ram-lab Hokkaido University
andvisit Izumi-lab
at Muroran Institute of Technology
13-15 March 2024
EditedTrinh Xuan Truong
Yu Yang
Daranagama Daranagama Arachchige Samitha
Shoki Shimada
Chihiro Naito
Arliandy Pratama
So Fumiyama
Tomoaki Ito
Huang Feifan
Kim Chae Hyun
Delgorge Didier Kai
Eiko YoshimotoSupported by
One Health One World (OHOW),
Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
SpringGX and JAXA

Organizing Members
Prof. Wataru Takeuchi IIS, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Associate Professor Ram Avter, Hokkaido UniversityReport for Student seminar at Hokudai andIzumi-lab visit at Muroran
Schedule
Table 1. The schedule of the three-day student seminar in Hokkaido.
Date

Activities

Venue

2024/3/13

Flight from Haneda to Sapporo
Student seminar with Dr. Ram lab at Hokudai(day 1)

Hokkaido University

2024/3/14

Student seminar with Dr. Ram lab at Hokudai(day 2)

Hokkaido University

2024/3/15

Move to Muroran Institute of Technology tovisit Dr. Izumi lab at MuroranFlight from Sapporo to Haneda

Muroran Institute ofTechnology

Participants
Table 2. The list of participants from Takeuchi lab.

Name

Grade/ Position

Affiliation

Role

Wataru Takeuchi

Professor

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Organizer

Eiko Yoshimoto

Staff

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Organizer

Khin Myat Kyaw

Assistant professor

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Xuan Truong Trinh

Project Researcher

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Yang Yu

D3

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Shoki Shimada

D2

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Samitha Daranagama

D2

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Arliandy Pratama

D1

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Chihiro Naito

D1

Takeuchi lab, RCAST

Presenter

So Fumiyama

M2

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Tomoaki Ito

M2

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Huang Feifan

M1

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Kim Chae Hyun

B4

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter

Delgorge Didier Kai

B4

Takeuchi lab, IIS

Presenter1. Student seminar Sessions (3/13 & 3/14)● Overview
19 presentations from Takeuchi-lab and Ram-lab mostly focusing on remote-sensing applications onsocial and environmental science. Each presentation was around 15 minutes with 12 minutes talking
and 3 minutes Q & A.
●

Observation, Discussion, Comments

TopicName

Observation
Discussion/Comments

Presentation
sessions

ShimadaThe presentation topics from both Takeuchi-lab participants, Dr.
Ram, and his students were quite diverse. The talks focused onremote sensing applications on the environment, forests, and social
science. Especially the talk from Mr. Hitesh Supe from Dr. Ram lab,
he talked about the impacts of solar PV installation on theenvironment in India. I am also studying solar PV related subjects
based on remote sensing, so we exchanged ideas and contact
information for a potential research collaboration. It was a great
opportunity for us to find new ideas regarding the remote sensing
applications for achieving a sustainable society.

Presentation
sessions

SamithaThe presentation sessions discussed how remote sensing techniques
can help with environmental sustainability and the trade-offs
between using renewable energy and agriculture.
The seminar was a great opportunity for us as the students fromdifferent fields to share ideas and learn from each other.
We realized the importance of collaborative approaches andinnovative methodologies in addressing modern environmental
challenges.

Presentation
sessions

Naito

Dr. Ram and students’ researches were intriguing as many of themfocus on both remote sensing and social work to address theenvironmental and social issues, such as human-wildlife conflict,climate change impacts on the livelihood of indigenous people,
disaster risks related to policies, and carbon credit projects. I believethat assessing both perspectives is important for applying thescientific research achievements to the real world with understanding
the situation of stakeholders in the places.
For my presentation, I received an informative comment suggestingthat the presence of peat may affect the result. Taking this into
consideration, I will collect information on peat in the target area andincorporate it into the analysis.
Additionally, we met persons who have potential to collaborate with
us in the oil palm field. We will see them in the coming conferencein Malaysia.

Presentation
sessions

Fumiyama

In the presentation, valuable insights were gleaned from the studentsof Professor Ram's lab regarding the application of remote sensing inenvironmental assessment. Particularly intriguing was the discussion
on challenges pertaining to the practical implementation of waste
emission assessment using SAR. Effectively conducting waste
emission assessment by SAR necessitates the prior identification oflandfill areas. To achieve this, alternative satellite data and methods
such as anomaly detection may prove effective. This discussion
underscores the significance of considering the combination ofTopicName

Observation
Discussion/Comments
multiple data and methods in addressing complex real-world
problems, making this seminar highly meaningful in broadening
insights into various approaches.

TruongDr. Ram Avtar’s members’ presentations had in-depth insights overa broad range of topics across forestry, solar energy, human-wildlife
conflicts, etc. Members from two laboratories had two days offruitful scientific discussions and exchange of ideas. The students
from both sides also actively volunteered to chair the presentation
sessions, which would be valuable experiences in the future.
Ram Avtar: Focused on forest biomass in Southeast Asia,
particularly Cambodia, using multi-sensor integration to estimate
and project future biomass. His research also touched on forest
management, emphasizing the conservation of forest areas, biomass,and diversity, noting that reduced biomass and diversity in the same
area are concerning. He also discussed oil palm estimation andbiophysical parameters related to disease and species mapping.
Aishwarya: Explored human-wildlife conflicts in Africa, specificallyin South Africa, Kenya, and Botswana, as part of the AJ-CORE
project. She highlighted issues such as zoonotic diseases andpoaching, detailing cases like crop destruction, herd loss, fishing
loss, and human attacks by wildlife.
Stephan: Addressed the estimation of waste dumping using remotesensing, particularly focusing on landfill sites and employing
methods like SAR, differential InSAR, and Bistatic SAR to detectand measure waste dumping.

Presentation
sessions

Ito

I could gain precious experience by giving a presentation about mymaster thesis. I paid attention to my not good points in the final
defense. In addition, I could obtain valuable comments fromparticipants from Hokkaido university. I will utilize this experience
to submit my results to an international journal.
I also learn many topics related to remote sensing techniques. I’mespecially interested in estimating the volume of dumping by using
SAR data. Currently only a few students use Interferometric SAR
techniques in our lab. I could know interesting ways to use SAR
technique and widen my point of view.

Presentation
sessions

Chaehyun

The joint seminar with the Hokkaido university students was anenriching experience in exploring how remote sensing is utilized toTopicName

Observation
Discussion/Comments
tackle real life environmental issues. As a bachelor student who is
not very familiar with remote sensing and its use in sustainability
research, it was a valuable opportunity for me to get an insight on
how remote sensing is applied to diverse topics such as forest
conservation, agriculture, solar energy, waste dumping, biodiversity,and HWC. Not only was it an opportunity for me to learn but also a
motivation for me to research more about my own thesis project. The
presentation sessions in general has taught me the significance of
joint seminars and research collaboration between students fromdifferent institutions.

Arliandy
The student joint seminar aimed to facilitate interdisciplinary
discussions and knowledge exchange among the University ofTokyo and Hokkaido University students and researchers interested
in remote sensing applications. The agenda included presentations
and interactive discussions covering various aspects of remotesensing techniques, applications, and advancements. Several
sessions highlighted the use of remote sensing for environmental
monitoring, such as land cover classification, vegetation analysis, air
quality assessment, and disaster management. The seminar provided
a valuable platform for networking and collaboration opportunities
among participants from different academic backgrounds. Informal
discussions and networking sessions allowed for exchanging ideas,
identifying common research interests, and potential collaborations
on future projects. The seminar was valuable for my research,
providing insightful comments and suggestions to enhance my work.
Presentation
Sessions

Didier

The joint student seminar with Hokkaido University was truly
enriching. Presentations delivered by bachelor's, master's, anddoctoral students spanned a wide range of topics, from renewableenergy to waste management. This experience highlighted to me theendless applications of remote sensing. One presentation by a
Hokkaido University student, focusing on human-wildlife conflict inAfrican regions, was particularly intriguing, especially since I am
currently researching human-wildlife conflict in Japan. The feedback
I received on my presentation was valuable. It led me to consider
incorporating human variables into a species distribution model toanalyse human-bear interactions, recognising the significance ofsocial factors in understanding human-bear conflicts.

Yu

After attending the seminar jointly organized by two universities, I
was inspired and learned a lot. The research topics proposed by theother laboratory not only demonstrated the innovation in scientificresearch but also emphasized their importance in addressing current

TopicName

Observation
Discussion/Comments
environmental challenges. Firstly, the topic "Estimating waste
dumping statistics from remote sensing data" made me realize thepotential of SAR in monitoring and managing waste. Revealing
illegal dumping sites through satellite imagery could lead to more
effective waste management. This research also brings to mind thepotential for managing and detecting small-scale marine debris. The
study on "Probable Maximum Precipitation in Nepal under a Climate
Change Scenario" revealed changes in Nepal’s precipitation
patterns, which are crucial for preparing for future extreme weather
events and mitigating potential disasters. Nepal, being deeply
affected by climate change, understanding these patterns isessential for preparing for future extreme weather events andreducing potential disasters. Furthermore, the case study "Impact of
Photovoltaic Solar Power Expansion on Agricultural Land and Water
Resources: A Case Study of Pavagadh Solar Park, India" raised
important considerations about the need to balance the developmentof renewable energy with the protection of agricultural land andwater resources. Overall, the seminar proved the key role of remotesensing research in tackling environmental challenges. It was avaluable learning opportunity, providing me with inspiration andideas from the innovative work of others, which I hope to integrate
into my own research.

Presentation
sessions

FeifanThe joint student seminar provided a comprehensive overview ofvarious applications of remote sensing in addressing environmental
issues. Dr. Ram and students from Hokkaido University presented adiverse range of topics including environment, sustainability,
pollution, climate, and social issues. The focused discussions during
the presentations offered new insights and ideas for listeners,
particularly in how these concepts could relate to their own researchareas. During the seminar, I had the opportunity to share my current
research works and received valuable questions and comments.
Through discussion with students from Dr. Ram's lab, we considereddifferent methods for data analysis and exchanged approaches. This
experience not only enriched my understanding of environmental
research but also enhanced potential approaches for my own
research topic. Overall, the seminar was a great platform forexchanging ideas and understanding.

●Photos & caption

The group photo of the participants to the joint seminar from Takeuchi-lab (Utokyo) and Ram-lab(Hokudai).

Presentation sessions

2. Visit to Muroran Institute of Technology (3/15)● Overview
We visited Izumi-lan at Muroran Institute of Technology to meet Dr. Izumi, who specializes in
Ground-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for assessing detailed ground deformation. We
listened to the talk about GB-SAR from Dr. Izumi, and he showed us research instruments situated on
the rooftop.
●

Observation, Discussion, Comments

Topic

Name

Observation
Discussion/Comments

SamithaAfter visiting the Muroran Institute of Technology and meeting with
Assistant Professor Yuta Izumi, I gained valuable insights into theprinciples and applications of radar remote sensors, including
Ground-based SAR (GB-SAR).
During this visit, I realized the importance and potential applicationsof utilizing MIMO SAR techniques. Combining MIMO with drones
and integrating it into IoT systems represents an innovative approachthat promises to provide deeper insights and enhance ourunderstanding of various environmental phenomena andinfrastructure health monitoring

Naito

GBInSAR monitoring showed precise measurements of house
movements. I was curious about its accuracy compared to satellitebased measurements for monitoring object deformation. We also
learned some interesting findings in house monitoring. Snowaffected the measurements, resulting in negative changes in thesignal. In addition, there was a collapsed house, while its
surrounding houses were undamaged. This discrepancy was possibly
explained by differences in the construction specification, such as
drainage, which could vary with the age of house. Addition tomonitoring residential area, GBInSAR is also being applied tolandslide monitoring. Collaborating GBInSAR with spaceborne
InSAR could prove effective for disaster risk prevention.

Fumiyama

In Professor Izumi's lab, we mainly learned about GBInSAR
monitoring through presentations and seeing it in action. It was
fascinating because satellite remote sensing doesn't usually let you
see real measurements. Also, Professor Izumi mentioned that formonitoring houses with GBInSAR, you don't need permission from
homeowners as long as you have a license for the measurements.
This may stand out as a difference from street-view-likephotography, where privacy might be a concern.

TopicName

Observation
Discussion/Comments

Presentation

TruongWe could learn about the development of applications of groundbased synthetic aperture radar with different devices, such as theMetasensing’s FastGBSAR and the Multiple Input Multiple Output(MIMO) SAR arrays. We could also mount MIMO SAR devices on
UAVs for measurements.

Experiments

TruongWe could see the ongoing experiment of observing a collapsinghouse in the vicinity of the university. This phenomenon stems fromthe degradation of the wall built on the hills, which could have been
due to the loose regulations when the structures were built. In
addition, snow accumulation poses a risk factor for buildings,
increasing structure loads.

Chaehyun

The visit to the Muroran Institute of Technology was a uniqueexperience as I was able to learn about radar remote sensing
technique and its application to monitoring landslides or potential
danger of the damaged (tilted) house. I was particularly fascinatedby the ground-based SAR and its technology to detect and measure
the negligible movement of an object from a far distance.
Furthermore, it was interesting to compare the data graph of adamaged house movement and amount of snow/rain.

Pratama

The insights gained from the visit to the Izumi Lab at MuroranInstitute of Technology was invaluable for my research endeavors.
The exposure to cutting-edge InSAR technology and the exchange ofideas with students and researchers will clearly enrich myunderstanding of remote sensing applications in environmental
monitoring and disaster prevention. Discussions with members of
the Izumi Lab highlighted the importance of addressing real-world
challenges in understanding landslides and monitoring infrastructure.
During the visit, we also observed their devices, including
FastGBSAR, a family of Ku-band ground-based radars for
deformation monitoring designed to operate in all weather
conditions. The FastGBSAR is equipped with four polarimetricchannels. It produces displacement maps of large areas with submillimeter accuracy, capable of covering distances up to 4 km.

DidierOur visit to the Muroran Institute of Technology, where we met with
Assistant Professor Yuta Izumi and his students, was truly
enlightening. The lab tour offered a glimpse into cutting-edge
equipment such as GBSAR for surface deformation monitoring,which was fascinating. The students were kind and took the time to
explain their research, showcasing how their work directly
contributes to local disaster prevention through the utilization of
remote sensing technology. This experience underscored theTopicName

Observation
Discussion/Comments
significant impact that remote sensing technology can have on realworld applications.

Yu

Visiting the Ground-Based Synthetic Aperture Radar (GBSAR)
research laboratory was an enlightening experience that broadened
my understanding of the cutting-edge technology used formonitoring and analyzing earth surface movements. The lab's focus
on leveraging GBInSAR technology for various applications, fromlandslide monitoring to structural health assessment, truly
highlighted the versatility and importance of this advanced radarsystem. Seeing the GBInSAR setups and the data they collect inreal-time provided a tangible sense of how this technology can makea significant difference in disaster prevention and management.
Learning about the precision with which GBInSAR can detect eventhe slightest movements, offering critical data that can be used to
predict and mitigate natural disasters before they pose a threat tohuman lives and property, was fascinating.

ItoVisiting a ground-based SAR sensor is an especially interesting
experience. Ground-based observation by using sensors can acquireconsecutive and better spatial resolution data to observation objects.
I think these kinds of ground-based observation data are very
precious to validate the results of satellite-based observation data. I
thought that to utilize the data from the sensor, both satellite-based
and ground-based observations are important.

FeifanDr. Izumi’s lab focused on ground data collection techniques andequipment, which is a different experience compared to my researchwhich uses satellites for data gathering and analysis. The
presentations explained in detail the application of SAR monitoringand GB-SAR, and seeing actual monitoring equipment on site is avery interesting experience.

●

Photos & caption

Group photo at Muroran Institute of Technology.

The presentation from Dr. Izumi at Muroran Institute of Technology.

The 1st Joint Student Seminar between Univ. of Hokkaido and the Univ. of Tokyo
on March 13-14, 2024, at Univ. of Hokkaido
13th March: HND JAL511_10:25-CTS 12:10 airport, Sapporo station, arrived at Hokudai Campus and lunch time

Seminar started.

@D101

Prof. W. Takeuchi

Dr. Ram Avatar

DAY1
Time
13th August 2024
Opening
ceremony

nameaffiliation

title@ D101 Faculty of Environmental Earth Sciences

15:00-15:10

Opening speech: Prof. Wataru Takeuchi, Associate Prof. Ram Avtar
Hokkaido Univ.- Dr. Ram Avtar Multi-sensor Remote Sensing Techniques for Estimating Forest’s Biophysical Parameters

Speciallecture15:10-15:30

1

15:30-15:45

Yu Yang D3

UtokyoBuilding damage assessment of Noto 2024 earthquake with PALSAR2

2

15:45-16:00

Deshmukh Aishwarya
Avinash M1

Hokkaido

Understanding Human-Wildlife Conflict in the African Regions

3

16:00-16:15

Arliandy Pratama D1

UtokyoMonitoring health infrastructure by using INSAR

Break

16:15-16:25

4

16:25-16:40

Stephan Albertus Louw D2

Hokkaido

Estimating waste dumping statistics from remote sensing data

5

16:40-16:55

Fumiyama So M2

UtokyoDevelopment of Imputation and Correction Methods for Satellite Nighttime Light Imagery Focusing on Angular Effects

6

16:55-17:10

Stanley Anak Suab D3

Hokkaido

Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Tropical Forest and Plantations Landscape in Borneo using Multi-sensor
Remote Sensing Technique and Geospatial Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)

UTokyo- Research Associate Myat Kyaw Khin, Infrastructure health monitoring with remote sensing
Speciallecture17:10-17:30

https://u-tokyo-ac-jp.zoom.us/j/88979452720?pwd=TEF1RTBlM2pvN3ZwRHFNSVphTGIyZz09
by ONLINE

Group photo as Day 1@Crazy Spice

Dinner

DAY 2Time

nameaffiliation

title

14th March 2024 @ D101 Faculty of Environmental Earth Sciences

Opening

10:00-10:10

SpecialLecture10:10-10:30
Utokyo- Project Researcher Dr.Trinh Xuan Truong, Ground water table measurement with low cost device for CH4 emission mitigation(JAXA SAFE project)

7

10:30-10:45

Huang Feifan M1

UtokyoImpact of human activity pattern changes on air pollution variation in China

8

10:45-11:00

Md. Alamgir Hossen
Bhuiyan D2

Hokkaido

Regional ecosystem service value (ESV) assessment for sustainable development

9

11:00-11:15

Delgorge Didier Kai B4

UtokyoAssessment of human-bear interactions in Akita using remote sensing

10

11:15-11:30

Shivaang Sinha D1

Hokkaido

Disaster Risk Reduction and River Basin Governance: Redefining Institutions in the Face ofFragility in Koshi BasinCafé&Lab. 12:00-13:00

LUNCH

https://marche-cafelabo.com/

11:30-13:30

Lunchtime
With Assoc. Prof. Koji Matsumoto, Prof. Kohei Nagai

SpecialLecture13:30-13:50
Hokkaido- Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Nirmal Kumar, Multi-modeling approach to hydrological processes and transfer learning for building footprint
extraction

11

13:50-14:05

Kim Chae Hyun B4

UtokyoMalayan tapir habitat fragmentation and ecosystem12

14:05-14:20

Sudip Pandey D 1

Hokkaido

Estimation of probable maximum precipitation in Nepal under the climate change Scenario

13

14:20-14:35

Ito Tomoaki M2

UtokyoClassification of air pollution problems in Southeast and South Asia using time-series data on environment,
society, and policy
14

14:35-14:50

Shraddha Krishna Panda D1

Hokkaido

Integrating Sustainability Science and Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Change Adaptationin the Indian Himalayas
Break

14:50-15:00

15

15:00-15:15

Naito Chihiro D1

UtokyoSensitivity analysis of oil palm response to climate variables using satellite time series data in Malaysia

16

15:15-15:30

Hitesh Supe D

Hokkaido

Impact of Photovoltaic Solar Power Expansion on Agricultural Land and Water Resources:
A Case Study of Pavagadh Solar Park, India
17

15:30-15:45

DARANAGAMA DARANAGAMA
ARACHCHIGE SAMITHA D2UtokyoGanoderma disease detection in oil palm plantations using SAR measurements
18

15:45-16:00

Rajat D

Hokkaido

Forests Biophysical parameters estimation using PolSAR and PolInSAR techniques
19

16:00-16:15

Shimada Shoki D2

UtokyoSolar PV mapping and installation date estimate in Asia-pacific countries by Google Earth Engine
closing ceremony

Comments/
Closing

16:15-16:30

Farwell party
and night walk

THANK YOU FOR DR. RAM and RAM’S LABORATORY MEMBERS!!

DAY 315th March 2024
Visited Muroran Institute of Technology: Sapporo 08:43 Hokuto No.6→10:09 Higashi-Muroran 10:53 Higashi-Muroran Nishiguchi →11:08 Koudailunch at campus

Collaboration seminar
1. Introduction on research activity Izumi Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory Dr. Yuta Izumi, Assistant Professor, Muroran Institute of Technology

2. Peatland Monitoring using InSAR, Qoriantu Zahro PhD candidate, Muroran Institute of Technology
3. IMSL residential area landslide monitoring campaign using Ground-based SAR, Fathin Nurzaman, Muroran Institute of Technology
4. Introduction to research activities of Takeuchi lab., Project Researcher Dr.Trinh Xuan Truong, The University of Tokyo

Qoriantu Zahro

Fathin Nurzaman

Dr.Trinh Xuan Truong

Campus TOUR

Back to Tokyo 15:03 Koudai →15:21 Higashi-Muroran Higashiguchi, Higashi-Muroran 15:58- Shin-Chitosekuko 17:02 CTS18:55-HND20:40

Photos and edited by ey