A STUDY ON OPTIMAL DEPLOYMENT OF TSUNAMI OBSERVATION INSTRUMENTS IN KOREA

Tsunamis are one of the most destructive natural phenomena (Pugh and Woodworth, 2014). For past decades, the risk of potential earthquake zones has been issued by Japanese researchers, which could occur tsunami, in Niigata and Tottori area located in the west coast of Japan and the Ryukyu trench located in Okinawa as well (Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Japan). Also, there is a Yamamoto Rise on the East Sea, where it strongly affects tsunami propagation. This topography causes high tsunami energy to concentrate on the east coast of Korea (Cho and Lee, 2013). For example, the 1983 Akita and 1993 Hokkaido earthquake induced tsunamis, Japan, respectively cause the property and life damages to the certain cities on the east coast of Korea. Therefore, it is important to propose the optimal deployment location of offshore tsunami observation instruments to contribute to the tsunami early warning system by increasing probability of tsunami detection with the minimal number of instruments considering a large number of potential tsunami scenarios. In this study, by considering various factors, the optimal location of instruments is suggested based on the numerical model results of possible tsunami scenarios.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/q3PLE6EgtrY

Congratulations! The Sixth JDR Award

The Sixth JDR Award ceremony was held online due to COVID-19 on October 6, 2020 and a prize were given to Professor Masato Iguchi, Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Japan. We congratulate the winner and sincerely wish for future success.

Presenting the Sixth JDR Award

It is our great pleasures to present the sixth JDR Award to Prof. Masato Iguchi. Prof. Iguchi, as the top guest editor, published two JDR special issues entitled “Integrated Study on Mitigation of Multimodal disasters caused by Ejection of Volcanic Products.” These special issues, vol.11, no.1 in 2016 and vol.14, no.1 in 2019, were results of a project (2013–2018) of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS). The second special issue set a record for the highest annual download. In addition, he was the first author or co-author of 11 papers published by JDR in 2019. Professor Iguchi, as one of most recognized volcanologists in the world, has been leading observation research of active volcanoes as the Director of the Sakurajima Volcano Research Center of Kyoto University’s Disaster Prevention Research Institute. He has promoted geophysical research on volcanic activity not only in Japan but also in Indonesia, evaluating volcanic activity by incorporating the results of material science and demonstrating the effectiveness of long-term, multi-item observations in those processes. He has made a significant contribution to the promotion of Indonesian volcano research, taking over the strong will of former Kyoto University professors, and his contributions have culminated in the aforementioned two special issues. On behalf of the JDR editorial board, I wish to thank Prof. Iguchi for his efforts and to congratulate him as the winner of the sixth JDR Award.

Development of a New Tsunami Generator for Multiple Sources

The medium-sized experimental wave gengineer7snerator implemented at the Ujikawa Open Laboratory of Kyoto University’s Disaster Prevention Research Institute consists of a piston wave maker, a head storage tank and a current generator for reproducing long waves such as tsunamis and storm surges. The experimental series we discuss predicts the generator’s applicability in testing models. These three operating systems are controlled by a single operating system, and start time iscontrolled separately based on target tsunami and storm surge profiles. A sharp tsunami profile is reproduced when the start timing of the piston wave maker and tank gate opening is adjusted. The generator reproduces different types of tsunami wave, making it a strong tool in the research engineer’s arsenal for predicting the effectiveness of hardware “resiliency.”

Development of a New Tsunami Generator

A middle size experiental wave generator has been implemented is the Ujikawa Open Laboratory, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University. The generator is composed of a pistontype wave maker, a head strage water tank and a current generator to mainly reproduce long waves like tsunami and storm surge.The paper desribes severalexperimental series to predict the applicability of the generator to model tests. The three operating sysemes are capable to be controlled in one operating sysytem and start time is contorolled separately according with the target tsunami and storm surge profiles. A sharp tsunami profile is reproduced in adjusting the start timing of piston type wave maker and opening gates of head storage tunk. Any type of tsunami waves are reproduced in the generator and it becomes a strong tool to predict the effective of ”resiliency” of hardwares.

Special Issue on 2011 Thailand Flood

Numerous global water disasters have devastated many regions, and some may be due to climate change. Severe water disasters not only may inflict heavily damage on industry but may also leave many persons dead or seriously injured. The 2011 Thailand flood is a typical example of such disasters. In it, a wide area of the Chao Phraya River basin, where Bangkok is located, was inundated for a long period. Damage by the flood affected not only the domestic scene but also economies and industries all over the world. Many academicians and researchers have executed field surveys from various academic aspects and have studied flood disasters to clarify what actually occurred and to consider what must be done to mitigate such flood events in the future. The Journal of Disaster Research has planned a special issue on this severe flooding in Thailand. Having participated in field surveys and found the flood worth studying more deeply, I decided to contribute to this special issue as a Guest Editor. This special issue contains 9 articles, 7 papers and 2 reports, all of which have been peer-reviewed. The broad topics covered range from a detailed field survey to flood and inundation simulation. I would like to extend sincere thanks to all of the contributors and reviewers involved in producing these articles. Especially, I would especially like to express my gratitude to Dr. Hiroshi Takebayashi, Associate Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan, for his great support. I look forward with great anticipation to any feedback that readers may be able to provide regarding these articles.

Mobile GIS Application Development for Emergency Damage Assessment in a Disaster

The magnitude 6.8 Niigata Chuetsu earthquake occurred on October 23, 2004. A major responsibility of cities in Japan hit by earthquakes is to conduct effective disaster relief while assessing the changing situation. On such assessment requiring large numbers of temporary workers is damage assessment, e.g., of buildings and lifelines. We organized emergency damage investigation, unifying damage investigation and post investigation information processing based on knowledge from GIS-based support by the Kyoto University’s Disaster-prevention Research Institute. The two-part effort consisted of easy-input GIS applications and technology handling information from field damage investigation, automated geographic information and photographic association at disaster sites and creating reports on investigation results. We thus streamlined emergency damage investigation in aiding affected areas.

SOME CONTRIBUTIONS TO HTDRAULIC MODEL EXPERIMENTS IN COASTAL ENGINEERING

This paper presents some aspects of the hydraulic model experiments in coastal engineering made at the Ujigawa Hydraulic Laboratory, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, including the experiments performed by using an estuary model basin and a high speed wind wave channel. In particular, the problems to which attentions should be paid from view point of similitude between model and prototype will be discussed in addition to the presentation of experimental results.