Social background

In recent years, the people strongly wish prevention and mitigation of extensive geohazards caused by natural disasters such as heavy rains and  earthquakes in Japan. They are important problems to be solved in the civil engineering and geotechnical engineering field. In order to do that, all the time field monitoring systems for the change of water level and displacement in the ground and the earth structures (ex. embankments, natural or artificial slopes and river levees) would be needed. It‘s important to establish the way for intelligibly informing the ground information for an early refuge alarm.

Activity outline

Instruments and systems for measuring geotechnical characteristics with the following features has been developed by using the knowledge on geotechnical engineering for hazard mitigation. Early practical application and spread of these technologies are being performed.

1.  Sufficient measurement accuracy
2.  Reasonable cost for installation and maintenance
3.  Withstanding long-term monitoring
4.  Easy operations for residents

Expected effects

Measured geotechnical characteristics are visualized in an instant and are noticed. Therefore, the administrator and residents can notice the something unusual which has occurred to the ground and the geo-structures. These are the disaster prevention technology such of preventive maintenance system. It‘s expected to contribute to reduction and early recovery of the ground disaster and landslide disaster.