IAC News

2018 JSCE Annual Meeting Report II
International Workshop for Young Civil Engineers

Yoshihiro Okumura
（Kansai University)

International Student Network Group, IAC held the International Workshop for Young Civil Engineers, as part of the 20th International Summer Symposium, on August 29 at Sapporo Campus, Hokkaido University. The workshop targeted the international students who were studying in Japan  and International young civil engineers, under the theme of “When a Mega Disaster Strikes… - How would you respond if you were a mayor? -”.

This workshop is very unique because the mayors in the Miyagi prefecture experienced the same workshop half a year before the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Forty-one participants were divided into seven groups, and they played the mayor of a city damaged by a mega earthquake and tsunami disaster. Each group discussed Common Operational Picture (COP) and Incident Action Plan (IAP); in what situation the city should be in a week. Finally, they reported the objectives and post-disaster policies and practices like a real mayor in a pseudo-press conference. 

 

Participants at the Workshop Closing

The participants's comments are as follows:

・This time the theme of the workshop was regarding preparedness and decision making, as being a Mayor of a town/city after a post-earthquake or post-tsunami event. International students were categorized into different groups of 6-7 members each where we discussed our ideas to support the cause. Every student was involved in teamwork working through different case studies, which I think was the most salient feature of this workshop.

・There were many things to learn regarding post-disaster aftermaths, and how to plan, decide and implement right actions. Also, the interaction with different nationalities at the workshop was an exciting experience. Knowing people and sharing each other’s innovative ideas broadened my thinking and understanding of different study fields as well. The theme of this workshop was really great for brainstorming, interactive learning, building relationships, and problem-solving. Overall, it was a friendly and enjoyable learning environment. Thanks to JSCE International Activities Center for organizing such fruitful event.

A Mayor Reports at a Press Conference 

Participants as City Officers Discuss Post-Disaster Policies

The Workshop was based on ISO 22320, which is the international standard of emergency management. This experience would help them, regardless of the field, company and country they will work.

【Reported by Yoshihiro Okumura, Associate Professor of The Faculty of
Societal Safety Sciences, Kansai University】

【Alumni of DOBOKU Series】
Life in Japan; A Transition Experience From College to Career
KAWIN Saipraserkit,
Senior Professional Level Civil Engineer at
Department of Rural Roads, Ministry of Transport Thailand.

KAWIN Saipraserkit
Ministry of Transport, Thailand

 

Kawin was born in Bangkok, Thailand 1986. He received his B.E. degree in structural Engineering from Chulalongkorn University in 2007, and the M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in Fatigue of Steel Structures from the University of Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan in 2010 and 2012. Shortly after his graduation, he continued his career as an assistant professor in Tokyo Tech., before moving back to Thailand in 2014 to serve his motherland country. Currently, he maintains his position as a senior professional level civil engineer at department of rural roads, ministry of transport Thailand.

Back in 2006, as a senior student in his fourth year in faculty of engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Kawin has a chance to be a part in research involving with the earthquake situation in ChiangRai, a province in northern part of Thailand. This project gave rise to his interest in the study of earthquake. His advisor at that time, Dr. Anat Ruangrassamee who is also an alumni of Tokyo Tech., gave him an advice to continue his study in Japan.  As one of the country that the earthquake most likely to occur, Japan has abundant resources of knowledge, as well as the ability and technology to conduct research in related topic. Considering about these facts, Kawin decided to take MEXT scholarship and continue his grad school in Japan. He chose his field of study in steel and therefore he was assigned to the laboratory under supervision of professor Miki Chitoshi. 

They say life is not a bed of roses, but first year as a Ryugakusei was struggle and full of thorns. Shortly after his arrival in Japan, Kawin found out that his advisor, professor Miki was going to reach his retirement in three years. By this means, Kawin had only three from five years to complete both master and PhD courses, including the minimum requirements of 3-months internship and 5-publications for peer-review journal papers (Requirement for the publication was raised from three to five, in accordance to the shorten of his course hours). Undoubtedly, his first and second year life in Tokyo Tech. was very stressful. After uncountable restless days and nights, tons of physical and mental suffering, Kawin had adapted to work hard like a Japanese. Afterward, however, he realized that in order to achieve quality work, getting plenty of rest is as much necessary. He learnt to maintain work-life balance and eventually had a healthier student life in his third year.
 

At the 64th International Institute of Welding Annual Assembly &
International Conference in Chennai, India in 2011

After all the hard work, along with guidance and support from his advisor Prof. Miki following with Prof. Sasaki Eiichi, Kawin was able to publish his fifth paper on his third year. One of his study was concentrated on the evaluation of the fatigue strength of beam-to-column connections under a number of material-mismatched conditions, combined with the numerous sizes of defects. In this study, Kawin proposed a master curve to evaluate the criticity of strength undermatching under high intensity cyclic loads (eg. earthquakes) as the result of his experimental and analytical work on several types of joints. The study was awarded Henry Granjon Prize for design and structural integrity in 2013.

With Dr. Miki at the 66th International Institute of Welding Annual Assembly &
International Conference in Essen, Germany in 2013

After His graduation, without reluctance, he applied for the assistant professor position in his laboratory. A major reason for apply this job was to extend his research field in steel. Nevertheless, experience as an assistant professor was totally different from what he had gained as a PhD student. Firstly, there was a big language barriers difficulty. Though he didn’t have to speak Japanese when he was a student, as a lecturer all teaching material and script had to be prepared in Japanese, which made it twice harder for him. Secondly, he used to work solitarily when he was a student, becoming an assistant professor meant he has to deal with many people from different role. It was not easy for him at first, however this taught him a lot about human relationship and communication skill at work. Kawin utilizes these experience practically until nowadays. The message he got was that there is no such thing as impossible, it’s just a matter of figuring out how and be well prepared.

Assistant Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology

At present, Kawin is running a feasibility study of the Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge in Phra Samut Chedi district, SamutPrakan province under the department of rural road, in cooperating with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). If the project can be carried out, it will help supporting main transportation system in Bangkok eastern suburbs area, as well as improving provincial logistic and transportation between regions by connecting the southern, western and eastern part of Thailand. However, the design study of the bridge is under processing. If it is approved, this bridge will become a new longest span suspension bridge of Thailand.

Alumni of DOBOKU Series is in collaboration with Editorial Committee of JSCE Magazine.

《Column》  Chitoshi MIKI,  President, Tokyo City University It is my pleasure to introduce Dr. Kawin, one of my first-class supervisees. Despite my unavoidable request for him to complete his MS and PhD study in a very short term, due to my retirement, he successfully accomplished this difficult requirement. From reading his article published here, it is very clear that he had gone through many challenges. As I believe his excellent potential, I pretended not to be aware of his hardship at that time. He had been continuously presented his studies at IIW commission XIII, the world leading society of the fatigue study, and he was once awarded IIW Henry Granjon prize. He is so competitive that I was asked from one leading University in Europe to recommend him for applying to the tenure-track position. If possible, I am confident to say that I really wish if he continues research with me.

The project included the construction of a new 200m long steel pile wharf with concrete coping, relating dredging and land reclamation works with some technical challenges and environmental issues to be overcome on a rather tight schedule; on-time mobilization of all imported steel pipes and hat-type sheet piles and their precision setting , hard schedule coordination with neighboring construction works and site users, and the relocation of coral community found at the construction site. Speakers from TOA CORPORATION, the main contractor of the project gave presentations on project engineering, contractual, constructing and environmental aspects. Interesting facts and experiences in everyday life on/off the construction works in Vanuatu were also introduced from individual perspectives in the session as has ever been done in the symposium series.

 

TOA CORPORATION Delivered a Presentation about the Port Vila Lapetasi Project

【Reported by Takao Kakei, JSCE Fellow, Director of International Activity Center, JSCE】