International Center for Urban Safety Engineering Institute of Industrial Science The University of Tokyo VOLUME 10 NUMBER 1 APRIL-JUNE 2010 EXPECTATIONS FOR ITS ASED ON TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ANALYSIS
TRANSITION OF TRAFFIC
ACCIDENTS
The number of fatalities due traffic accidents has been to decreasing since 1992. In 2009, there were only 4,914 fatalities, the lowest number in the last 50 years, and the number of accidents and injuries is also decreasing. This appears to be a desirable situation. these conditions, With the government set a new goal to reduce the number of fatalities to less than 2,500 by 2018. The
By
Yasushi Nishida 1
new goal is ambitious and seems difficult to achieve by only conventional countermeasures. Some innovative counter-measures are needed to achieve this goal. Therefore, the expectations for ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) as a promising new technology are high, as without ITS it may be difficult to achieve this new goal. In this article, the potential for ITS to reduce traffic accidents is explained from several viewpoints and the need for ITS is introduced based on traffic accident analyses.
TO REDUCE THE NUMBER
OF FATALITIES
There are two ways to reduce the number of fatalities: (1) to reduce the number of accidents or (2) to prevent an accident from becoming a fatal one. The former is called preventive safety measures, and the latter is called protective safety measures. Before 2005, the reduction in fatal accidents was mainly due to the effectiveness of protective safety measures, but the effect of (source: Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis) preventive safety measures and less road usage became relatively large after 2005. Therefore, it is essential to improve preventive measures to achieve the above- mentioned goal considering the amount of possibilities. ITS is expected to greatly contribute for preventive measures.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
PREVENTION
BY ITS TECHNOLOGY
From traffic accident analysis, various levels of human factors causing traffic accidents have been identified. A lot of researches and analyses show that people's ability of mental and physical performance for driving declines as they get older. A basic function of ITS is to make up for the decline in driving performance and many technologies have already been put into practical use. ITS also assists road users at the level of driving behavior and road use characteristics.
EFFECT OF PASSENGERS
– FROM ASSISTANCE
TO COOPERATION
Only considering ITS as an assistance system for declining driving performance may limit its full potential. The potential for ITS could expand by considering other ways to support drivers, as will be illustrated in the following example. The accident rate per unit exposure to road traffic (estimated by the number of collisions from behind while standing) is estimated to become less than half in all age groups, including elderly people, when they have other passengers in their car compared to the case with no passengers. Similarly, the accident rate for drivers aged As driving behaviors acquired by experience have some variation to meet various conditions, road use characteristics are selected from them depending on the situation. ×2: Situation judgment and forcasting performance are classified into mental & physical performance and driving behavior depnding on the level Human factors affecting traffic accident occurrence Relative accident rate by age of driver and the number of passengers (2004-2006, belted male driver of passenger car for private purpose) 65 to 74 with passengers appears less than that of younger drivers without passengers. It can also be seen that the effect of passengers (a kind of assistance) is different by age of driver. Just as research on artificial intelligence not only developed computer technologies but also revealed the nature of human mental characteristics, so too can research on ITS contribute to revealing the nature of driving performance, driving behavior and road user  characteristics.
PREVENTIVE SAFETY
MEASURES CONSIDERING
INDIVIDUAL DRIVER
CHARACTERISTICS
The accident rate per vehicle kilometer for elderly and young people is significantly higher than that of middle ages (30s – 50s). However, looking at the accident rate over one year, elderly people's value is not significantly high. The    probability being of involved in an accident in a year depends on not only the driver's accident rate per vehicle kilometer but also how much he/ she is exposed to road traffic. To evaluate this effect, the relative accident rate, which corresponds to the accident rate per vehicle kilometer, is calculated along with the number of collisions from behind while stationary as an index of exposure to road traffic. The result shows that as the number of accident experiences in the last 5 years increases, both the relative accident rate and the accident involvement rate increases. This means that drivers with accident experience may have both poor performance and high road usage. Frequent drivers have reasons to drive, so it is not easy to reduce the  driving  frequency.  Therefore ITS measures, which can provide the most effective safety support system corresponding to each individual driver, are expected to reduce the accident rate per unit exposure to road traffic.
FEASIBILITY OF VISION
ZERO IN JAPAN
Sweden aims to reduce fatalities by traffic accident to zero, but does not aim to completely reduce traffic accidents to zero. As long as the road transportation system involves people, it is impossible to completely eliminate human errors. Therefore, since we cannot completely prevent accidents from occurring, we need to focus on preventing fatalities from those accidents that do happen. In the vision zero policy, it is described that pedestrians should not be killed in accidents when collision speed is less than 30 kilometers per hour. However, looking at pedestrian accident records in Japan, only 15% of pedestrian fatalities can be saved by this standard. That means that protective measures only are not enough to reduce pedestrian fatalities drastically, and preventive measures which prevent collision between vehicles and pedestrians are essential .
EXPECTATION FOR ITS
Some key points to consider for countermeasures towards reducing traffic accidents were shown with examples of specific accident analyses. However, ITS is expected to support not only accident prevention systems but also evaluation systems. When we consider counter- reduce measures traffic to accidents, it  is  necessary  to evaluate traffic the risk of accidents objectively. ITS, which can automatically collect exposure data to road traffic considering driver's attributes, could provide useful data towards this purpose. Moreover, discussion on what ITS should be leads to discussion on what road traffic systems – which consist of people, vehicles and roads – should be. Achieving safety and efficiency through flexible systems which give drivers multiple options would make road traffic systems more human-friendly. ¹Director, Department of Traffic Science, National Research Institute of Police Science Pedestrian fatalities and fatality rate by vehicle speed (2001-2007) Statistics for collisions from behind while stationary by the number of accident experiences over the last 5 years The "vision zero" policy in
The University of Tokyo (Todai) and Tsinghua University have been jointly  organizing  Todai-Tsinghua Week for the purpose of deepening mutual exchange of research and activities. This program was first hosted by Tsinghua University in 2008, and the University of Tokyo hosted the second event, Tsinghua Week at Todai, on May 12 to 14, 2010. ICUS and the Center for Public Safety Research (CPSR), Tsinghua University, organized the International Forum on Public Safety and Disaster Emergency Management on May 12 and 13 as part of Tsinghua Week at Todai. The forum included three parts: a keynote speech at the week's opening ceremony and International Forum for Doctoral Candidates on Public Safety on May 12 and the International Forum on Public Safety and Disaster Emergency Management on May 13. Following the opening speeches by both universities' presidents, Prof. O. Hamada and Prof. B. Gu, two keynote speeches were provided. In the first keynote speech, Prof. W. Fan (Director of CPSR) presented and “Emergency Management Safety Science Public and Technology in China," in which the framework, methodology, application, and recent progress were introduced. Following that, Prof. K. Meguro (Director of ICUS) presented his keynote speech   “Integrated   Information System for Total Disaster Management," in which a new- generation disaster manual based on user, time and purposes was introduced. In the International Forum for Doctoral Candidates on Public Safety, eighteen doctoral students presented their studies covering a wide range of issues in the areas urban safety, including of emergency management for urban disasters, advanced technologies for monitoring and management of urban safety, risk assessment, prediction, early-warning of urban disasters, and so on. Many interesting and fruitful discussions were held during this time. In the International Forum on Safety and Disaster Public Management, Prof. T. Yashiro (Director General of the Institute Industrial Science, the of University of Tokyo), Prof. Fan, and Prof. Meguro provided the opening speeches. The forum then began with Prof. H. Zhang, who introduced the emergency management system and standardization in China, followed by Prof. A. Tanaka's presentation about information management for efficient emergency disaster response. Next, Prof. Q. Zhang presented energy and environmental safety issues within the context of global change. The relationship between climate change and hydrological disaster were presented by Prof. M. Kimoto, then Prof. Meguro delivered a lecture about disaster simulation tools. Risk analysis integrating uncertainties was presented by Prof. Y. Liu, and topics on urban planning for earthquake disaster mitigation and studies on urban safety problems using multi-scale and models were multi-physics introduced by Prof. T. Kato and Prof. H. Huang, respectively. Finally, in the last session, Prof. S. Kato gave a lecture about countermeasures for air-infectious disease and bioterrorism and Prof. H. Zhang made a speech on the methodology for integrated risk assessment of multi-hazard events. This event provided an opportunity to share the latest technologies and information and discuss possible means for joint research with the overall purpose of raising the level of public and safety-related science technology in both countries. (by H. Huang, CPSR, Tsinghua University)
My name is Akiyuki Kawasaki, and I joined ICUS from this April as a project researcher. I’m also acting as coordinator for the Regional Network Office for Urban Safety (RNUS), as well as visiting faculty of the Water Engineering Management field at the School of Engineering and Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. After getting my doctoral degree and working at Yokohama National University, I conducted research at   United   Nations   University, Harvard University, and at the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo. I have over 13 years of experience utilizing GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for multidisciplinary environmental  research  while developing systematic approaches for integrating a wide range of data models, data formats, and research methodologies into a common GIS       computing environment. Using GIS as the main tool, I have been conducting disaster on     both research management such as landslide and earthquake response, and environmental management such as an integrated approach to evaluate the potential impact of precipitation and land-use change on stream flow. By combining my career and ICUS's and RNUS's splendid research resources and networks, I would like to explore comprehensive environmental research which involves disaster management   –   for    example, waster resources management as a strategy for disaster risk reduction. Political boundary (national border) approach vs. natural boundary (watershed/basin) approach Let me introduce my current study in the Mekong River Basin, the longest international river in Asia. The concept of water security   is   becoming   more common because many of the large river basins of the world are shared among several nations. Developing a scientific framework cross-boundary water for resources adaptation is urgently required as water becomes scarcer, and thus conflicts over water more common,    due    to    economic development, population growth and climate change. To contribute to solving this issue, I’m investigating how water and its benefits can be fairly shared among  riparian  countries  using the Mekong River Basin as a study area. Conventionally, river basin policy is divided by "man- boundaries  such made” as national and provincial borders. However, “natural boundaries” such as watersheds, the area of land in which all of the water which is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place, is considered as a promising way for promoting better environmental I’m management. Therefore, examining the utility of the two approaches – a “watershed” approach and a “political unit” (national boundary) approach – for water resources adaptation in  cross-boundary  river  basins by comparing a range of climate adaptation         strategies for cooperation among the riparian nations. GIS is among the best tools for analyzing this kind of regional issue. Although environmental aspects such as climate change and socio- economic    factors    such as population increase have been considered, disaster management aspects such as food risk reduction should also be incorporated, thus supporting decision making on adaptation global     change    strategy. This is an across-the- board, complex and challenging theme, but I would like to address this issue by collaborating with ICUS researchers and beyond using GIS as a multidisciplinary collaboration tool among fields. I always appreciate suggestions support and towards mv research. (by A. Kawasaki)
Slightly-injured patients after the first and the second triage (left) and system utilizing FeliCa reader (right) Prof. K. Meguro, Prof. M. Ohara, and Dr. M. Numada have developed an IT triage system for collecting disaster medical information in real time. FeliCa cards and card readers are used to obtain the number and condition of patients. The system is composed of two elements. First, the number of patients for each triage level and the accepted number of patients in each diagnosis and treatment department are obtained in real including response for time, changing triage level. Second, this information can be shared among hospitals, the administration, and residents in real time who are searching for their family. A disaster drill utilizing this system was held at the University of Yamanashi Hospital with 450 participants from 9:30 on May 22nd , 2010. During this drill, the system displayed the number of patients in real time according to triage level, the number of consultation patients of each diagnosis and treatment department, and easily showed the change in triage level. This system can upgrade the current triage and also support sharing of this information across an entire region, including other hospitals, administrators, and residents, to facilitate quick transfer of patients and support response to patients' families. (by M. Numada)
Project on Amazonian Carbon Dynamics (Part II)
Following our first article in the ICUS Newsletter Vol. 9, No. 3 on the “CArbon Dynamics of Amazonian Forests" (CADAF) project, we can announce that the project has officially begun from the end of May 2010. From May 19th to June 2nd, Prof. H. Sawada, Dr. T. Endo, and Mr. Y. Sawada (project researcher) visited São Paulo and Manaus in Brazil to meet the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) and Japan International Cooperation  Agency (JICA), Japan, and the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA) and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Brazil. In this project, we will survey the Amazonian forest using an airborne fullwaveform LiDAR instrument to evaluate forest inventory such as terrain under the trees, dominant tree height and geographical position. The fullwaveform LiDAR instrument is the latest LiDAR sensor and can receive the returned laser pulses from objects as a continuous signal. We believe this instrument will work well in the Amazonian forest. During our stay in São Paulo, we discussed how to measure the Amazonian forest using the LiDAR instrument with the local survey company, and established plans to begin the first LiDAR measurement in September. After that, Dr. Endo and Mr. Sawada moved to Manaus to confirm the measurement methods for terrain and tree height using the laser distance meter and trained the local staff in the measurement protocol. We will visit Manaus again this September to evaluate the preliminary results derived from the LiDAR data, and will introduce and discuss some of the highlights of the project in part III of this article. (by T. Endo) Airplane used for LiDAR measurement
Meguro (Director, Prof. K. ICUS) Dr. M. Numada (Research Associate, ICUS), and Mr. F. Ito (Senior Researcher, Infrastructure Development Institute, Japan) visited China from April 14 th to 23rd, 2010, for joint research on the application of PP-band method to masonry structures in China. first exchanged We views on how to use the PP-band technology locally in China with the China Development Research Foundation and China Earthquake Administration, then conducted a site survey on masonry houses in the suburban area of Lhasa City (altitude: roughly 4,700 meters). Finally, we gave a lecture and demonstrated the installation of PP-band method to Chinese engineers using 1/3-scale models. The PP-band retrofitting method was conceived and developed Discussion on PP-band technology so that it can be implemented even by low-income people in developing countries using strong and durable but very cheap polypropylene bands as a new, simple, and efficient seismic retrofitting technique. Mesh made PP-bands, a seismic as of reinforcement material, can be easily and inexpensively fabricated at the site with locally-available materials. During the discussion with the China Development Research Foundation and China Earthquake Administration, the research background and purpose of the PP- band technology was explained Meguro, including by Prof. experimental results carried out in Japan. Afterwards, there were questions about  applicability to Chinese structures, and the discussion became a positive skills Demonstration of PP-band technology in Harbin City session. In the site survey of Lhasa City, characteristics such as strong ultraviolet rays, large temperature fluctuations, and strong wind exposure were all identified. The house roofs in this region are therefore heavy with wood and clay layers and are neither connected nor fixed to the walls. This may contribute to collapse during an earthquake. Eleven Chinese engineers from Lhasa City came to the China Earthquake  Administration in Harbin City to participate in practicing the PP-band retrofitting method. The necessary supplies and tools, such as PP-band, welding machine for making PP- band mesh, drills for creating holes in the walls of existing houses, and so forth were prepared locally. The     practice  itself consisted of making PP-band mesh, wrapping, and installing the mesh to the masonry model under the guidance of the Japanese members. During this collaborative activity, the effects of PP-band technology, practical points for its installation at the actual site, and more were covered, with particularly positive discussion on the method for fixing the roof and the PP-band mesh due to the high importance of roof fixation for earthquake resistance. The Yushu Earthquake in China occurred on April 14 th , just after we arrived in China. More than 90% of the buildings in the affected area were heavily damaged, and the number of victims reached as high as 2,000 people. The importance of this joint research can be recognized in light of this devastating disaster. (by M. Numada)
The Institute    of    Industrial Science (IIS) organized and held the IIS Open House on June 3rd, 4th, and 5th. This event provides an opportunity for people of all ages and professions to explore the IIS campus and learn about the research activities being conducted at IIS, the University of Tokyo. ICUS has been participating in the Open House since its inception in 2001, taking the opportunity to educate people about ICUS activities on the different aspects of urban safety issues. This year, over 300 people visited ICUS, with nearly 200 of them participating in the ICUS quiz and receiving ICUS goods such as towels, key chains, and more. Research works on display included disaster simulation and education, seismic retrofitting and evaluation, remote sensing and geospatial  technologies, maintenance and deterioration of infrastructure, traffic engineering andurban planning, with increasing consideration of environmental disaster such as climate change. BNUS and RNUS activities over the past year were also summarized. (by M. Henry)
18th ICUS Open Lecture held at IIS
The 18 th ICUS Open Lecture was jointly organized with the Advanced Mobility  Research Center (ITS Center) and held at IIS on April 27 h , 2010, with approximately 110 participants. Four lectures were given on the theme “Traffic Safety and ITS,” focusing on how traffic safety can be improved and how ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) can contribute towards such improvement. Prof. M. Kuwahara (ITS center, University) IIS, and Tohoku introduced ITS Center's research activities regarding traffic safety. Mr. Y. Nishida of the National Research Institute of Police Science discussed the expectations for ITS based on traffic accident analysis. Prof. H. Akahane of the Chiba Institute of Technology presented how ITS can be used to enhance people's awareness of traffic safety, followed by Mr. K. Yamada of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., who presented state-of-the- art technologies to prevent traffic accidents. Finally, after these presentations, a panel discussion was held and the potential for ITS to enhance traffic safety was explored. Prof. M. Kuwahara Mr. Y. Nishida (by S. Tanaka)
Over the last three months there have been several urban disasters in Bangladesh. The first was the collapse of a five-story building in Dhaka's Begunbari area on June 2 nd , which killed at least 25 people, including 11 women and children. Originally, the owner had permission to construct a three story structure, but it was later changed to five stories. Rescue work was difficult due to narrow access routes, gas leaks, and damaged  electricity  lines.  Most residents of the collapsed structure escaped harm whereas people living in the surrounding tin houses were trapped under the rubble. Similar incidents have occurred before in     Dhaka, particularly in older areas, so the developmental authority is taking measures to inventory buildings with vulnerable foundations and structures and buildings without proper authorization and arrange their demolition or reinforcement. On June 3rd, a large fire broke Aftermath of building collapse in the densely-populated out Nimtoli area in Dhaka. At least people were killed and 117 hundreds   injured.   Investigations found that the fire originated at an oil stove and spread to nearby warehouses. chemical Such factories for chemicals, plastics, rubber, etc. are commonly located on the lower levels of residential buildings. In addition, houses in Dhaka are not equipped with fire- equipment  such fighting as extinguishers, hose pipes, and so forth, nor do they have sufficient space for emergency exits in the stairwells. This incident greatly Five buildings burning in Nimtoli in Old Dhaka exposes the vulnerability to fire in densely-populated areas due to unplanned urbanization, narrow roadways, and lack of awareness. Proper land-use patterns need to following be established development plans and strict building enforcement in order to prevent such events from occurring in the future. Currently, BNUS is conducting a field survey to evaluate     current     fire-fighting systems and develop an evacuation plan for residents of Dhaka. (by M.A. Ansary, BNUS)
Commendation for Science and Technology to Prof. Meguro
Prof.  Kimiro  Meguro,  Director of ICUS, and Dr. Fumiaki Uehan, Railway Technical Research Institute, received the Commendation for Science and Technology from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Prizes for Science and Technology, Development category, 2010. Their award-winning research was on the development of a method to remotely measure microtremors for vibration diagnosis of railway structural systems using Laser Doppler Velocimeter     (LDV) which can accurately estimate the dynamic characteristics of an existing reinforced-concrete rigid- frame structure. We congratulate Prof. Meguro on this prestigious award. (by H. Sawada)
On June 30 th , RNUS (Regional Network Office for Urban Safety) organized a seminar on “Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites (FRCC) and Concrete (FRC)" at Milton Bender Auditorium, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. Two delivered speakers presentations.  First,  Dr.  Praveen Chompreda, Program Director of the Department of Civil Engineering, Mahidol University, gave a lecture on “Strength and shrinkage properties of fiber reinforced cement composite." Following that, Dr. Withit Pansuk, Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, delivered a presenta- tion on “Shear capacity of ultra high strength fiber reinforced concrete beams." About 25 participants joined the seminar, including undergraduate and graduate students from the structural engineering field at AIT and the Department of Civil Engineering and Technology at Sirindhorn  International  Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, as well as researchers ready-mixed from concrete companies. There were many fruitful discussions regarding the challenges and future of FRCC and FRC, and the seminar was considered successful. (by A. Kodaka)
Seminar with Nanyang Technological University at ICUS
OnApril 26 th, 2010, adelegation of five representatives from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, visited ICUS and IIS. The delegation, led by Prof. T.C. Pan, attended a seminar at ICUS on topics related to disaster and disaster management. During the morning, Prof. T. Oki, a former member of ICUS, introduced research works related to hydrological processes, modeling, and flooding. After lunch, both ICUS and NTU members visited Prof. T. Yashiro, Director General of IIS, for the renewal of a joint research protocol between the College of Engineering, NTU, and IIS. In the afternoon, Prof. K. Meguro and Prof. H. Sawada presented ICUS research works covering remote sensing technologies and GIS for urban disaster mitigation, integrated seismic and tsunami hazard assessment, evacuation simulation,      earthquake loss modeling,      vulnerability and strengthening, and more. From exchange this of knowledge, it is hoped that ICUS can support disaster mitigation and management in Singapore and Asia through cooperation and collaboration with colleagues at NTU. (by M. Henry) ● Prof. K. Meguro and Dr. M. Numada traveled to Lhasa and Harbin cities in China from April 14 to 23 rd for site survey and teaching of the PP-band retrofitting method. ● Prof. H. Sawada and Dr. T. Endo visited Brazil from May 19th to
ICUS Activities
May 26 h to oversee the start of the project on carbon dynamics of the Amazonian forest. Dr. Endo remained in Brazil until June 2 nd to conduct equipment training. ● Prof. R. Kuwano attended the 7" International Symposium on Physical Modeling in Geotechnics in   Zurich,   Switzerland,   from June 26 to July 3 rd . ● Dr. A. Kawasaki traveled to AIT in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 16 th to 23 rd for overseeing RNUS activities.
Awards
● Prof. R. Kuwano received the Best Paper Award from the Japanese Geotechnical Society for her paper entitled “Aging effects on small strain shear moduli and liquefaction properties of in-situ frozen and reconstituted sandy soils."
New ICUS members
ICUS would like to welcome four new additions to our center as of April 1*, 2010. Associate Professor Takaaki Kato joined the Urban Safety and Disaster Mitigation Division, and Dr. Akiyuki Kawasaki, Dr. Shinya Kondo, and Dr. Michael Henry joined as ICUS project staff. Prof. T. Kato moved to ICUS from the Department of Urban Engineering. His research field is “urban planning and engineering for social safety systems," focusing on the safety of cities and regions considering spatial structure and composition of urban areas and utilizing social and technical systems. Dr. A. Kawasaki joined ICUS after serving as a JSPS research fellow in Meguro Laboratory. He received his Doctor of Engineering from Yokohama National University, and has also conducted research Nations at United University and Harvard University. He is highly experienced in utilizing GIS for multi-disciplinary research covering both disaster and environmental management. Dr. S. Kondo came to ICUS from the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institute in Kobe, Japan, where he was a research scientist. He earned his Ph.D. in Meguro Laboratory in ICUS while researching a new-style disaster management manual. His research topics also include  disaster information management and simulation and support programs for areas isolated after disasters. Dr. M. Henry entered ICUS after graduating from Kato Yoshitaka Laboratory in ICUS. His Ph.D. research proposed a framework for developing and assessing sustainable concrete materials considering social perspectives. During that study, he focused on the Japanese concrete industry, but will continue his research by extending the scope to include other Asian countries. Please see either this volume or the next volume of the ICUS Newsletter for more detailed information about the new members' research topics. (by K. Meguro)
Editor’s Note
During the period of this issue, the FIFA World Cup was held in South Africa, and a lot of people spent many sleepless nights cheering for their favorite teams. Japan got through the group stage and proceeded to the elimination round, which was a very exciting event for Japanese people – particularly because there had been very little expectation before the games began. From this, we could learn a couple of things. One is of course that believing in one's own way regardless of others' evaluation is important. Another is that people's attitudes and behaviors may change very easily depending on the situation. In the main article, Mr. Nishida showedtheimportanceofconsidering human factors leading to traffic accidents based on analyses from practice. The panelists, including Mr. Nishida, in the ICUS Open lecture held in April also discussed the possibility of ITS to prevent accidents, but it is subject to how people use ITS. As our society is an aggregation of people's activities, we always have to keep in mind that any technologies  or  countermeasures to improve urban safety must be developed considering the existence of people – that is, how people are involved in the system, how they think of it, and how they use it. (by S. Tanaka)
Announcement of Joint Symposium on Geospatial Technologies and 4 th IIS Alumni Party
We would like to announce that RNUS (Regional Network for Urban Safety) will organize the 4th IIS Alumni Party in downtown Bangkok on Saturday, November 27 th , following a joint symposium on the "Forefront and challenges of geospatial technologies for environmental and disaster management in Southeast Asia".  IIS alumni includes not only graduates but also those who had any relationship with IIS (as staff, post-doc, etc). Alumni from the Department of Civil Engineering, RCAST, Hongo campus and other Todai alumni are also warmly welcomed. Some IIS professors will join it and the party is free of charge.  For more detail, please check the RNUS website. <http://www.set.ait.ac.th/rnus/rnusnew/>. If you would like to contribute an article to ICUS newsletter or have any comments or suggestions, please contact the editorial committee at icus@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp. Any article within the scope of urban safety engineering and management will be considered for publication after internal peer review by the editorial committee. To know the scope of ICUS activities, please visit ICUS homepage at http:// icus.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ International Center for Urban Safety Engineering, ICUS Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan Tel: (+81-3)5452-6472, Fax: (+81-3)5452-6476 http://icus.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ PRINTED MATTER