川崎グループだより　Kawasaki Group Blog: 2024

Friday, November 22, 2024

Korea International Water Week 2024: "Building Smart Water Future by Sharing Experience and Technology"

안녕하세요! This is Qisty writing. I am excited to update about my trip to Korea International Water Week (KIWW) 2024 from November 13 to 16, 2024, at EXCO in Daegu, South Korea. This annual event brought together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders from over 70 countries to address global water challenges and share innovative solutions. KIWW 2024 featured a comprehensive agenda, including:

Water Leaders' Round Table: High-level officials and experts discussed strategies to address water issues worsening by climate change, culminating in an action declaration.
World Water Partnership: Representatives from previous and upcoming World Water Forum host countries shared insights and discuss future directions for global water management.
Technology, Implementation, and Policy (TIP) Platform: Sessions focusing on key water issues, technological advancements, and policy discussions.
World Water Challenge: An international contest seeking innovative solutions to global water problems, with finalists presenting their ideas during the event.
Youth Water Forum Asia: An international exchange event focusing on water issues, specifically designed for the younger generation.
Korea Junior Water Prize: A competition encouraging young minds to develop solutions for water-related challenges, with winners gaining international recognition. The winner would further compete in the Stockholm Water Prize.
International Water Industry Conference: Approximately 250 water industry experts from 11 countries participated, discussing global water market prospects and technological trends.
Water Business Square: An exhibition featuring over 60 domestic and international water companies, facilitating business exchanges, public procurement consultations, and showcasing new products and technologies, related to water, including tap water production, ultra-pure water, and industrial water.

Korea Minister of Environment, Kim Wan-sup stated, “In order to wisely address an unprecedented climate crisis, innovative water management policies and active cooperation from around the world are essential.” The keynote speaker from KAIST, Prof. Hyungjun Kim also highlighted the current state of the climate that human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe. He showed a graph of the near-linear relationship between the cumulative CO 2 emissions and global warming for five illustrative scenarios will produce 4500 GtCO 2 from 1850 until year 2050. He also displayed the illustration of Japan and Shohei Ohtani, concluding a similarity between the two entering the 50/50 club (Japan for experiencing a notable rise in the number of extremely heat days and night with maximum temperatures exceeding 35°C over 50 days; Ohtani for hitting at least 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season).

I participated in the TIP Platform of Youth Researcher Session: Innovative Approaches to Flood Protection Investment in an Uncertain World organized by Japan Water Forum and was opened by Dr. Mikio Ishiwatari as the Board Director . It is crucial to create innovative methods for obtaining funding for flood protection in a time of significant societal and climatic uncertainty. Even while flood protection plays a major role in quality-oriented growth by addressing poverty, lowering inequality, and protecting ecosystems, traditional valuation techniques find it difficult to fully account for these complex advantages. T he session discussed cutting-edge approaches that can equip policymakers with comprehensive evidence for informed decision-making on flood protection investments. My research topic focused on developing a framework for the comparative valuation of the primary benefits (flood risk mitigation) and co-benefits of green infrastructure (green job creation, cropland productivity enhancement, carbon credits, and recreation establishment) and gray interventions in river area. Along with other participants from fellow University of Tokyo student, Kongju National University, and Seoul National University, South Korea, we brought up fruitful discussion about other research topics of the spillover effects for flood control investment, reducing poverty and inequality by investment in flood protection, application and evaluation of Nature-based Solutions for flood mitigation, and the relationship between flood damage and flood vulnerability focusing on property damage and human casualties.

Other photos from the events

There was a session called Youth Water Forum Asia, a platform for high school students from various countries to present water challenges and solutions specific to their regions, share innovative solutions to water-related challenges, promote cooperation among the younger generation to exchange views on both local and global water issues. This year's participants came from high schooler from Japan, Korea, and Indonesia! (my country). Everybody had done amazing things and contributed to the society in such a young age. Japanese participants from Kumamoto city even delivered a presentation with animation video they created to raise awareness of protecting groundwater in Kumamoto which serves as 100% water supply (that's why their tap water tastes really good with balanced minerals and less disinfection chemical solution).

Together with the Youth Water Forum Asia Participants, we explored the exhibitions where companies showcased technologies and services related to water, including tap water production, ultra-pure water, and industrial water. The Korea Institute of Hydrological Survey and the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology of Cambodia also collaborated to support sustainable water management and enhance hydrological survey capabilities in Cambodia, while expanding cooperation between the two countries.

Additionally, a firm showcased its converter device, which prevents electrocution of tools and plugs when they are submerged in water without any sealant or protection.

Then, we met the mascots of this year's KIWW event and the mascot of Daegu Metropolitan City (so cute!)

Aside from the event, I want to share some of Daegu scenes, foods, and transportation.

Suseong-Gu River and Lake, Daegu

Daegu City from Above

Seomun Traditional Market (They are selling everything! from crops, spices, clothes, shoes, traditional cuisines, snacks, and drinks; they usually gather, standing while eating odeng/eomuk 어묵)

I rode three different modes of transportations in Daegu: bus, subway, and monorail. Also, in contrasts with countries like Japan or the United Kingdom, the driving custom in South Korea follows the right-hand traffic system, which means drivers drive on the right side of the road and the steering wheel is located on the left side of the vehicle.

That's all I want to share about. South Korea is very interesting to visit, 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da)!

Warmly,

Qisty

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Autumn Conferences: Annyeonghaseyo to KIWW24!

Hiiiyaaa everyone! I’m excited to share my incredible experience attending the KIWW24 (Korea International Water Week) 2024 conferences in Daegu City, South Korea. Not only was the event inspiring, but the trip itself was unforgettable—especially during the enchanting autumn season.

#Ambience

The ambiance of the city in autumn is ineffable. We were greeted by the breathtaking autumn hues of vibrant reddish orange and golden yellow. The crisp autumn breeze added to the charm, making the ambience so soothing. Here’s pictures capturing the glimpse of Daegu City in autumn.

#Food

Calling all spicy food enthusiasts—South Korea is a slice of heaven! One of the highlights of my trip was visiting Seomun Market, a bustling traditional food market in Daegu. The sheer variety of Korean delicacies was astonishing, and yes, I ATE A LOT.

My absolute favorite? Hotteok! This delightful rice cake, filled with a lightly sweet mixture, was simply irresistible. Here’s a glimpse of the lively market ambiance and, of course, some mouthwatering shots of the food.

#Conferences

The other highlight of my visit was presenting at the Youth Research Session during the KIWW24 conferences moderated by Ishiwatari Sensei. The session discussed on how flood control investments can bring about unintended benefits, an area that lack discussed about.

It was such an honor to share the stage with students from prestigious universities like Seoul National University and Kongju National University. Engaging with fellow young researchers and exchanging ideas was an inspiring experience. Here’s a snapshot of me during my presentation!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story all the way to the end—it truly means a lot!

Oh, also an exciting news: I’ll be attending a conference in the United States this winter, and I’m looking forward to sharing more about that experience soon. Stay tuned for updates and stories here on the blog!

Thank you again for your support and kind attention.

Warm regards,
Leon

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Dam visitation to the Asuwagawa dam and the Managawa dam.

Hi Everyone! this is Kosame and Qisty writing (Yes, I am a new student in Kawasaki Lab :D). This time we took a longer trip to the Fukui prefecture visiting two dams. The difference was that this time, Kosame was attending as a member of the committee, and one of the dams we visited was a dam that was under construction.

(Sep 18th) Day 1: The Asuwagawa Dam

The dam is located in the Kuzuryu bashin of Fukui Prefecture because, in recent years, there is often an embankment break caused by floods in Fukui City, which has caused no small impact on the city's production and life, safety, and other aspects. The Asuwagawa Dam is primarily designed for flood control. In particular, the Asuwagawa Dam is a flowing concrete gravity dam, meaning that it will completely close the gates during flood season to store the flood peak, and open the gate outside flood season to allow the river to pass freely. It features two gates, the primary measuring 5 m x 5 m and a smaller adjacent gate. To release storage after flood event, they will first open the smaller gate before the main gate to prevent a rapid rise in the downstream water level.

Asuwagawa dam is still under construction, with concrete placement about 40% complete and the diversion tunnel and water distribution facilities under construction. The current production is achieving a height of 1 meter of the dam body every week, with completion scheduled for 2028 before to the flooding test in the subsequent year. Work will cease if rainfall above 2 mm per hour during construction. Furthermore, as this is a gravity dam, a concrete strength of 10 N/mm² is theoretically adequate, whereas an arch dam requires more than 24 N/mm². Nonetheless, it is evidently challenging to produce lesser grade concrete, since it tends to be excessively slumpy in practice; therefore, they are constructing the dam with concrete of 20 N/mm² strength.

In construction, Asuwagawa dam uses new technologies to increase the efficiency of construction, such as automatic concrete placement system and concrete consolidation management system. Initially, they only utilize a cabled concrete bucket for transportation. Due to the scarcity of cable crane operators, particularly those with expertise, as the efficiency of the concrete pouring cycle is significantly influenced by the operator's proficiency, alternative methods of concrete transportation are being sought to enhance productivity and minimize overtime. They implemented the utilization of premium belcon (the green sleeve), an effective method for transporting concrete on gradients exceeding 45 degrees. The length possesses a mechanism for shortening as the dam structure ascends. Notably, incorporating an additional choice can reduce the cycle time by 10 seconds. Although this figure may appear little, when aggregated over a whole 42-month concrete pouring schedule, it can expedite the project by 1.7 months and yield substantial cost savings in millions of yen (interesting!).

(Sep 19 th) Day 2: The Managawa Dam

The Managawa Dam is a concrete gravity arch dam that was completed in 1979 in the Kuzuryu Basin. It is primarily utilized for flood management and electricity production, with an annual output of 68,800 MWH in the Fukui region. The dam's discharge mechanisms are highly comprehensive. The system features a valve with a maximum flow rate of 30 m³/s for standard discharge, with two gates with a maximum flow rate of 500 m³/s serving as the primary discharge mechanisms. In emergencies, it can be discharged at a rate of 3500 m³/s through the gate at the dam's apex, a situation that has fortunately never occurred. The complete mechanism is as follows:

a. Regardless of rainfall, if the inflow to the dam is below 500 m³/s, the inflow is discharged into the downstream river without being retained in the dam.
b. In the event of heavy rainfall, if the inflow to the dam exceeds 500 m3/s, the downstream water release is consistently maintained at 150 m3/s to facilitate further water storage in the dam and mitigate downstream flooding.
c. If there is an unusually high rainfall and the dam's flood control capacity is maximized, an equivalent volume of input will be gradually released into the downstream river to prevent a fast increase in water levels.
d. Upon cessation of heavy rainfall, the inflow to the dam is reduced to below 500 m3/s. Upon confirmation of the downstream river's safety, the discharge flow rate will be incrementally elevated to 500 m3/s to expel the floodwater retained in the dam.

Clear sky! This dam also features an aerator fountain to regulate the downstream surface water temperature, so preventing excessive rise that could jeopardize fish life and inhibit rampant phytoplankton proliferation. They stated that if the sunlight is positioned at the appropriate angle, a rainbow may be visible by the fountain!

(Sep 19 th) Day 2: Group work

We also conducted group work on how to further develop and utilize the Asuwagawa Dam, particularly in tourism aspect to attract people and who the target will be. Many interesting proposals have been proposed from different perspectives, such as the cultural history of the Fukui area, the food culture, and the characteristics of the dam. At the same time, due to the presence of many practitioners, our program has also received comments from practitioners in the industry.

After that, Kawasaki-Sensei gave a speech and asked us to hold a stance position (for 5 minutes I think?) to resemble a dam body, which should be strong during hard times to withstand rain and floods on its own. Then we gently rose, stood up, and exclaimed, "Banzai!"

On this trip we went to new locations and visited the Asuwagawa Dam under construction and the already completed Managawa Dam. As young researchers, we gained the latest methods of dam construction and learned about the problems that might be encountered during dam construction. At the same time, we have used our imagination to come up with many interesting ideas on how to use the dam to benefit the region, and based on these ideas, industry practitioners have discussed. Overall very pleasant and interesting! See you on the next blog!