Earthquake Disaster Management Division, Road Structures Department

Outline of the Division
The Earthquake Disaster Management Division conducts researches on the technologies for formulating pre/post-earthquake measures including improvement of disaster management plans and development of seismic information systems, etc. The division also conducts researches on the characteristics of earthquake ground motions and tsunami for seismic design of public works.

Principal subjects of research and development
Development of seismic information systems for the mitigation of earthquake disaster
The division is developing seismic information systems for the mitigation of earthquake disaster by using rapidly advanced information and communication technologies. This system helps administrations of public works to enhance and strengthen disaster prevention systems. This study includes the development of the system, SATURN (Seismic Assessment Tool for Urgent Response and Notification). SATURN provides rough estimation of damages on public works immediately after an earthquake by the information of the seismograph network installed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (now undergoing trials at the Kanto Regional Bureau)

Development of methods to estimate the seismic risk on road network
The division is performing research on the methods of estimating the possibility that a route among road network will be damaged by an earthquake. The research is also conducted to estimate the importance of each facility among road network in order to decide the suitable seismic performance for each facility. This study is intended to reflect on making regional disaster prevention plans. The division is also conducting the research on decision-making of earthquake disaster prevention projects such as the method to decide the seismic performance for public works from the point of cost-benefit aspect.

Acquisition and management of earthquake motion records by the strong earthquake motion observation network
The division acquires, collates and analyzes earthquake motion data from strong motion observation stations installed on embankments, bridges, and other public works throughout Japan and from high density earthquake observation stations installed in specified regions, and is constructing and operating a data-base to apply this data to research work. The division is also acquiring earthquake motion data from the seismograph network at structures along rivers, roads, etc. Refer to the NILIM home page for the earthquake motion data obtained from the seismograph network.

Development of earthquake hazard map
Seismic hazard maps depict intensity of earthquake ground motions that will be experienced at various sites during a specified period of time. The study is undertaken to produce a seismic hazard map accounting for large-scale earthquakes from active faults and plate boundary zones. Results of this study can be used to rationalize design ground motions in seismic design codes such as the Design Specifications for Highway Bridges, and to prepare earthquake disaster prevention plans.

Development of simulation methods for earthquake motion based on source fault models
Earthquake motion is strongly influenced by the properties of the source fault (source characteristics). This study is intended to develop advanced simulation methods for earthquake motion accounting for source characteristics by using source fault models that numerically represent faultings. The division is also performing research on procedures for setting design ground motions for public works based on the simulated earthquake motions.

Research staff
Head
JOSEN Yasushi
Research management
Senior Researcher
UMEBARA Takeshi
Disaster investigation support technology
Researcher
ISHII Yosuke
Ground motion and Acquisition and management of earthquake motion data by the strong earthquake motion observation network.
Researcher
YAMAMOTO Masaki
Road disaster risk assessment
Researcher
NORIKAWA Junya
Road disaster risk assessment
Guest Research Engineer
TOKUTAKE Yuto
Disaster investigation support technology



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Earthquake Disaster Management Division (Japanese)

NILIM
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management




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