A to Z of Research Projects

Outline :

This study is aimed at estmations of the heat capacity of ecological topes with urban geometric data in GIS and assesses the regional heat balances with satellite sensed thermal images for urban heat island mitigation. For these purposes, we have developed a method called raster, patch and cluster scheme (RPCS) for extraction of the spatial structure of urban canopy layers and thermal images respectively. With RPCS, the textures in thermal images were extracted as urban thermal features (UTF) and the textures of canopy layers in geometric data as urban canopy features (UCF). The results show strong arithmetic correlation between the magnitude of UTF and the local intensity of heat islands by brightness temperatures, between the magnitude of UCF and the local intensity of heat islands respectively. This means that the urban agglomeration will bring about strong heat island effect at local scale. The cooling effects of green spaces are correlated with the indicators of area, land cover composition and density of tree crowns.

Expected outcome :

The conclusions of the study illustrate that the cooling potential is not only affected by the size of green spaces but also their qualities including land cover composition and canopy density. These help us understanding the mechanism of the formation of urban thermal environment, and suggest us to consider design, planning and policy making for urban heat island mitigation in relation to the local climatic conditions. We are trying to apply the above knowledge to policy making for mitigating urban heat islands and improving urban thermal environment with special attentions to urban ecosystems.

Total number of researchers : 1
Duration : 2003.04 ~ 2008.03

Outline :

The objective of this project is to develop an ecological network planning method in urban areas in order to conserve biodiversity. Urban growth has fragmented and isolated wildlife habitat, then it has decreased biodiversity in urban areas. Because of the high price of land, it is always very difficult to establish a new large reservation area for wildlife in urban areas, especially in Japan. The ecological network concept emerged in Western Europe, which is based on the assumption that it is important to (re)establish interconnectivity between natural and semi-natural habitats to counteract physical fragmentation. Birds are selected as the indicator species for a case study.

Expected outcome :

The case study is being conducted for the duration of this project in the Osaka metropolitan area of Japan, through the following procedures:

1. To evaluate ecological values of patches, corridors and matrices in urban areas for birds based on field surveys, especially focusing on the ecological functions of matrices;
2. To detect critical environmental factors to establish ecological networks for birds in the area;
3. To identify environmental structures of study area by remote sensing data and common data using geographical information systems (GIS); and,
4. To propose an ecological network planning method for birds.

Total number of researchers : 1
Duration : 2006.04 ~ 2009.03

The proposed ecological network plan in Nishinomiya City.
Blue arrows represent existing ecological networks; light-grey arrows represent networks that should be developed or enhanced. Areas surrounded by white borders represent areas in which new open spaces (thus, new networks) must be created.

Outline :

This research is supported by Special Coordination Fund for Promoting Science and Technology, Japan, in order to develop environmental management technology as follows:

• a) predicting the degradation of environmental resources with an integrated assessment model including modeling of water, heat and CO2 cycles, estimation of environmental impact through global trade and monitoring the present stocks of environmental resources by satellite networks and ground observation system. Trade-off between food and bio-fuel production under limitations of available water/ land resources and environmental degradation will be simulated; and,
• b) developing the innovative regional management schemes consisting of the optimal application of water-energy and organic material recycling technologies of different scales, with suitable land use allocation in order to utilize bio-fuel as renewable energy source which reduces growing dependence on fossil energy and greenhouse gas emission. The achievement of this project is to function as a fundamental technology platform for finding sustainable solutions by designing innovative technology society in East Asia.

Expected outcome :

Food, biomass energy, water resources and water pollution which are inter-linked among each other would be the most dominant limiting factors for sustainable growth in East Asia. The continuous degradation of environmental resources and imbalanced consumption of natural resources caused by overhasty economic growth and excessive dependence on international trade raised strong concerns to damage environmental security in East Asia.
Management technology of environmental resources will enable the region to choose and design the most suitable sets of technological and societal system, with the bio-fuel energy technologies which is top policy priority for each government, and supporting societal schemes and infrastructures as crucial drivers which are consistent with local and regional characteristics.

Duration : 2007.04 ~ 2010.03

Main collaborative researchers :
Keio University: Wanglin YAN
Keio University: Hironori HAMANAKA
Keio University: Kazunori TANJI

Collaborative organizations :
National Institute for Environmental Studies
Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Korean Environmental Institute

Outline :

KLASI 2008, abbreviation for 'Keio Leading Amenity & Security Infrastructure' and a term coined to connote new lifestyles ('kurashi' in Japanese language), is a multidisciplinary research project propelled by 15 faculty members of Keio University and 7 supportive business enterprises. This attempt is aimed at providing visions for environmental issues as well as making scientific contributions for transformation of currently dominant modes of life into lifeways more comfortable and harmonious with nature. This research endeavor features the concepts of external and internal 'interfacing environment', and is carried out with attentions to the three terms, environment, energy and IT. This research project is also for commemoration of Keio Gijuku's 150th anniversary in the year 2008.

Expected outcome :

KLASI 2008 provides a multidisciplinary future vision of safe, secure, and symbiotic society on the basis of knowledge in the fields of architecture, engineering, and social sciences including economics with special focuses on the following topics: global governance in economics; technology for energy utilization including effective use of cogeneration systems and renewable energy; development of device for keeping indoor air quality; facility management and designing nature-friendly architectures and campuses; reduction of disasters including earthquakes; control theory for small scale power network; and, realization of wireless network to make amenity and secure space including development of environmental information sensor. These concrete topics are for actualization of new lifestyles more harmonious with natural environments.

Total number of researchers : 15
Duration : 2006.04 ~ 2009.03

Main collaborative researchers :
Keio University: Youko WAKE
Keio University: Shigeru TANAKA
Keio University: Kazuyo SEJIMA
Keio University: Kengo KUMA
Keio University: Toshihisa UEDA
Keio University: Hiromitsu OHMORI
Keio University: Toshiharu IKAGA

Outline :

The Earth System is a complex system consisting of lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere. Various interactions occur among them. Our objective is investigations into the interactions in earth system through fieldworks, chemical analyses, experiments, and theoretical examinations. By carrying out these attempts, we try to generate knowledge useful to solve and ameliorate environmental and resource problems. Focuses of our ongoing researches are on the following themes:

• Global material cycle on the earth;
• Geochemistry and pollution of groundwater, riverwater, soil and sand;
• Origin of mineral deposits;
• Variations of paleoclimate and paleoceanography;
• Mechanism of water-rock interactions;
• CO2 behavior associated with underground CO2 sequestration; and,
• Natural analogue study of high level nuclear waste disposal.

The diversity that these themes form can be understood as various aspects of the mass transfer mechanism.

Expected outcome :

By carrying out our project, we are expecting to achieve at elucidations of the mechanism of mass transfer (i.e. chemical reactions, advections, diffusions) between subsystems (e.g. hydrosphere and biosphere). The expected outcomes from this project are advanced knowledge on the various aspects of the earth system. Concrete examples of such aspects being probed by this project are: carbon cycle; paleoclimate and paleogeographic changes; origin and formation mechanism of hydrothermal ore deposits; anthropogenic influences on groundwater, river water, soil and sand; and, interactions between wastes, notably high level nuclear wastes and CO2.

Total number of researchers : 10
Duration : 2000.04 ~ 2013.03

Main collaborative researchers :
Akita University : D. Ishiyama
Tokyo Gakugei University : M. Nakata
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature : T. Nakano
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology : Y. Watanabe

Collaborative organizations :
Akita University
Tokyo Gakugei University
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Field work.

Outline :

The main objective is to study the new mechanism of gravity wave radiation from jet streams in the atmosphere. Although it is well known that gravity waves play a very important role on global circulation and climate system, the process of gravity wave radiation is not fully understood, especially from non topographic source. Using numerical simulation with high resolution and accuracy, detailed future of gravity wave radiation will be investigated. Theoretical study will be also done in the analogy with the theory of vortex sound, which is a classical "Lighthill theory" in fluid dynamics. The final goal is to propose a parameterization scheme of gravity wave radiation from jet streams.

Expected outcome :

This research leads to more reliable prediction of future climate change. Numerical simulation with climate model is only the way to predict future climate. Unfortunately, there are considerable uncertainties of climate models. One of the main reasons is due to coarse resolutions of the models to treat the process of gravity waves. Once the mechanism of gravity wave radiation has been understood in the present research, climate models can treat the process with parameterization scheme. Thus, this research will lead to improve skills of the prediction in climate models and contribute to more reliable future climate scenario of global warming.

Total number of researchers : 1
Duration : 2007.04 ~ 2011.03

Outline :

This project is a practical Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) activity to substantialize sustainable development in the northwest of Kangping County of Liaoning Province, P.R. China. The concrete objective is establishment of several hundred hectares of shelter forest in the southern fringe of the Kerqin Desert. Communities of the target area have been suffering from wind erosion and land desertification. The ongoing process of desertification has threatened up to 160,000 hectare, 73.6% of the total area in the County, and the desert is currently expanding approximately 100 meters southward every year. This phenomenon leads to poor life condition for the local people: they live far below the national poverty level. Through the establishment of the shelter forest, the CDM activity also attempts to ameliorate such socioeconomic predicaments.

Expected outcome :

This attempt is contributing to amelioration of the environments of the target area as well as improvement of qualities of life for the local communities. The forests produced through this endeavor will sequester carbon in a manner that is compliant with the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol. Poplar plantation has been carried out for more than 100 hectares of land since the year 2003. From 2008 to 2012, more than 280 hectares of plantation will be implemented. Results of the plantation activity can be sold on the carbon market, and consequently local project participants become able to obtain some extra income. Thus, the expected outcome from this project includes contributions to the local environments and communities, and actualization of the environmental concept in reality, which will be a useful model case providing practical knowledge for global environments and communities.

Total number of researchers : 15
Duration : 1999.04 ~ 2022.12

Main collaborative researchers:
Keio University: Kanji YOSHIOKA
Keio University: Hikaru SAKURAMOTO
Keio University: Yoko WAKE
Keio University: Xueping WANG
Keio University: Wanglin YAN
Keio University: Tomoki KAMO
Keio University: Junji YOSHITAKE
Keio University: Naoko HIRAYU
Zhangjiayao Forest Management Company Ltd.: LUO Wenjie
The same above: DONG Guojun
The same above: JIA Huanxin
The same above: XIAO Yingqiu
The same above: DAI Wei
The same above: SUI Dongfeng
The same above: ZHANG Zhenhua

Collaborative organizations :
the Forest Bureau of the Shenyang government, China

People participated in afforestation at the 5th anniversary

Current situation of the project site (semi-desert in 2002)

Outline :

The purpose of the project is to investigate biodiversity related policy measures that are financially feasible in the long-term and improve the well-being of local people. These conditions are inevitable for the measures to be sustainable. We focus on the two types of conservation. One of them is the conservation of ecosystem such as tropical rainforests that are being deteriorated and decreased due to conversion to other uses. The other is the conservation of individual endangered species. They are in danger due to overexploitation and poaching. We are especially interested in the ways in whcich the economic benefit is increased through conservation.

Expected outcome :

The project is expected to show both theoretically and empirically how we can offer local people and the government the incentive to conserve and manage effectively the ecosystem and endangered species. For example, we take up a bioprospecting contract and will show what kind of contract achieves both conservation and economic efficiency, in other words, the way of distribution of monetary benefits arising from bioprospecting. We also evaluate the results from the bioprospecting projects in Sarawak, Malaysia. Moreover, we incorporate the community-based management (CBM) into economic analyses and clarify the characteristics leading to successful conservations.

Total number of researchers : 1
Duration : 2007.04 ~ 2011.03