Myanmar stay for the student exchange program day1-4

Hi. This is Genki, the master course student in Kawasaki group.
This is the forth day of my stay in Yangon, so I want to report how I live in Yangon.
Since it is winter in Japan now, I felt really hot in Myanmar at first but now I'm getting used to it.
I'm staying at the Guest House in Yangon Technological University (YTU) and it's very comfortable. I usually read books and papers here after I come back.

Thanks to all the help by Dr. WinWinZin from Civil Engineering Department and other many friends in YTU, I have nothing in trouble so far. 

One of the canteens I usually use is as follows.

Myanmar people are so kind and mild that I sometimes forget the fact that I'm in the foreign country. 

Yesterday, I went to Yangon downtown with my friends. We used train, not taxi, but it only took around 40 minutes from the nearest station from YTU to the Yangon Central Station. Of course it depends on the time but I think it's sometimes better to use train to go to the downtown area, because in Myanmar the traffic congestion is now a big problem and it sometimes takes more than an hour and a half to go by taxi.

Here are the sceneries from YTU to the nearest station.

I was surprised that there are many British style traditional buildings in Yangon downtown area. These buildings were constructed when Myanmar was the British colony. So I think they have more than a hundred history. At the center of the downtown, there is a big independent monument and it was also awesome. 

You can see many pictures I took in the train and downtown.

 People are living near the station and there are markets for residents. Actually we can see the similar scene in Thailand.

The Yangon Central Station. When we arrived there were few people.

 Yangon City Hall. I took a picture with my friends!

Sule Pagoda. It was fantastic but there is a larger pagoda here in Yangon named Shwedagon Pagoda.

A Court. It looks like Big Ben in London. You can feel the history.

Independent Monument. 

I think this is the best picture of this day.

Home electric appliances market. There were many Samsung shops but I also found SONY, HITACHI, Panasonic and other Japanese companies' name.

I also can feel the history!

As you can see, there are many places to visit only in Yangon! I really recommend you to come to Myanmar. 

I'm really enjoying Myanmar. I'm also going to study my research topic about the relationship between flood and poverty during my stay here.

See you soon.

Field Site Visit for Midstream Reach of Bago River and Meeting with YTU

This is Ralph Allen Acierto, project researcher of Kawasaki group from River and Environmental Engineering Laboratory. The site visit to Bago River Basin in Myanmar was done from 27-31 October 2015. The objective of the site visit was to establish the impact of tidal fluctuations and get some observations in Bago River basin primarily near the confluence of Bago River and Yangon River. The map below shows the areas visited during the field site visit. For this post, it details the activities done for sites 5-7 that are located in the midstream area of Bago River.

Figure 1. Annotated Bago River Field Site Visit locations from MotionX Offline map. (1)Excel River View Hotel; (2)Star City Site; (3) Thilawa Site; (4)Yangon Site; (5) Midstream bridge crossing in Bago River; (6) Bago City site observation; and (7) Tawa sluicegate

29 October 2015

In the afternoon, the team was divided into two groups, one for installing camera in Yangon River site and other group went to visit midstream area of Bago River near Bago City. For the Bago River group, we went to three sites as indicated by the numbers 5-7 in Figure 1. On the way to Tawa sluicegate, we encountered a bridge crossing along the Bago River and decided to check the tide level marks on the bridge and nearby area. In addition, we stopped by a nearby area where people were residing to interview them regarding the typical tide fluctuation on the area. According to the locals, an estimated 2-3meter fluctuations is usually seen on this area. This was confirmed by checking the tide marks on the river bank as indicated by the wet (darker) water mark on the river bank soil.

Figure 2. (5) Bridge crossing at midstream of Bago River. Top left and right picture shows the bridge at the site with low tide condition. Left bottom picture shows downstream of the bridge crossing and extent of high tide fluctuation indicated by wet river bank

Then, we proceeded to Bago City where a site observation under Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) as shown in Figure 3. In the picture, we can see the downstream of Bago River and showing the observation instruments for automatic weather station (AWS) and water level gauge as part of the current telemetry system for Bago River. We went to the DMH site observation office and talked to the officers-in-charge to ask about the tide levels. They have informed us that during full moon tide fluctuation can reach up to 0.60 to 0.70 meters. This information establishes that the tide fluctuations affect even up to the midstream reach of Bago River Basin.

Figure 3. (6) Bago City observation site showing the AWS instruments(left top picture) and water level gauge (bottom right picture)

After a short break and discussion at DMH observation office, we proceeded to Tawa sluicegate. Figures 4 to 7 show the different views of the upstream and downstream of Tawa sluicegate. At the time we visited, the sluicegate was closed as shown in the pictures. The downstream side of the sluicegate has little to no water flowing.

Figure 4. (7) Tawa sluice gate showing downstream closed gate condition

Figure 5. Figure 10. (7) Tawa sluice gate structures

 The upstream side of the sluicegate shows a reservoir with a water level at 15.4 meter indicating a 7.4 meter depth given an 8 meter river bed level (based from the downstream river bed level shown in Figure 4).

Figure 6. (7) Tawa sluicegate showing upstream closed gate condition

Figure 7. Upstream area of the Tawa sluicegate

31 October 2015

In addition to the field site visit, we visited YTU campus for a meeting and turnover of two Mobotix camera used in the field observations as shown in Figure 8. During the meeting, three presentations were delivered. Two presentations from University of Tokyo side and one presentation from YTU side. The presentations were to update each other on the current progress of respective researches related to the project. Additional logistical concerns related to an upcoming workshop at YTU for next month were also discussed. After the meeting, we directly proceeded to the international airport and waited for our flight back to Tokyo in the evening.

Figure 8. Left picture shows the turnover of two Mobotix camera used for observations to YTU and right picture shows presentation to YTU counterparts

Field Site Visit on the Downstream Reach of Bago River and Confluence Area with Yangon River and a small tributary

This is Ralph ACIERTO, project researcher of Kawasaki group from River and Environmental Engineering Laboratory. The site visit to Bago River Basin in Myanmar was done from 27-31 October 2015. The objective of the site visit was to establish the impact of tidal fluctuations and get some observations in Bago River basin primarily near the confluence of Bago River and Yangon River. The map below shows the areas visited during the field site visit.

Figure 1. Annotated Bago River Field Site Visit locations from MotionX Offline map. (1)Excel River View Hotel; (2)Star City Site; (3) Thilawa Site; (4)Yangon Site; (5) Midstream bridge crossing in Bago River; (6) Bago City site observation; and (7) Tawa sluicegate 

27 October 2015

The Japanese team was composed of Kawasaki-sensei (Figure 2, 7th from the left), Shimozono-sensei (Figure 2, 4th from the left), Tajima-sensei (Figure 2, 5th from the left), myself (Figure 2, rightmost), and Shota Seto(Figure 2, 2nd from the left), and Masahiro Kambara (Figure 2, 3rd from the left). We were guided by Myanmar counterparts from 27-30 of October for the entire field survey as shown in the group photo below.

Figure 2. Group picture of the site field survey from 27-29 October, 2015

We arrived in Yangon at around 5:20pm (local time). We headed to check-in at Excel River View Hotel. Then, we head for dinner and made plans for the next morning’s site visit to observation sites. There are two main observation devices, pressure sensor and camera as shown below. Pressure sensor was for measuring tide and wave fluctuations while camera was used for observing surface river velocity.

Figure 3. Pressure Sensor and Camera used for Site Observation near the confluence of Yangon River and Bago River

28 October 2015

On the second day of field survey, three pressure sensors were deployed on three sites. The three site include Excel River View Hotel (site 1 in Figure 1, upstream of Bago River before confluence), near Thilawa port (site 3 in Figure 1, downstream of confluence), and near the Yangon River mouth (site 4 in Figure 1, upstream of Yangon River before confluence).

In Excel River View Hotel site, pressure sensor was also deployed. The river bank on this site was also very muddy and slippery to deploy the pressure sensor. The tide fluctuations from low to high tide was estimated to be around 5-7meters based on the wet markings of the structure near the river bank. Also, salt meter was also used to check the salinity of the river.

Figure 4. Deployment of pressure sensor on the (3)Thilawa port site

On the Thilawa port site, it was quite difficult to go to the river bank and deploy the pressure sensor because of the thick mud and silt layer on the river bank due to the combination of significant tide level fluctuation and significant fine particle bedload (indicated by the brown colloidal turbidity of water) of the river. 

Figure 5. Deployment of pressure sensor on the (1) Excel River View Hotel site. Left picture shows the low tide condition in the site. Middle picture shows the deployment of pressure sensor. Right picture shows the measurement of salinity suing a salinity meter

Additionally, a camera was set-up for observing the river velocity through observing floating objects on water and additional post-processing of the images taken. Figure 5 shows the deployment of pressure sensor and Figure 6 shows the setting up of camera observations on Excel River View Hotel site.

Figure 6. Setting up of camera for observing river velocity in (1) Excel River View Hotel site

29 October 2015

In the morning, the group went to check the site near Star City for observing confluence area of Yangon River and Bago River. Camera observation was installed on a guard post as shown in Figure 7.

 

Figure 7. Setting up of camera for river velocity observation at (2) Star City site

30 October 2015

In the morning, the group was divided into boat team and land team. The boat team was tasked to get additional GPS points for the post-processing of images taken by the camera observations for the three sites – Excel River View Hotel site, Star City site, and Yangon site.  In addition, the boat team collected the pressure sensor for the Yangon site. On the other hand, the land team was tasked to gather the deployed pressure sensors from Thilawa site and Excel River View Hotel site.

Figure 8. Near (4) Yangon site boarding the boat for getting additional GPS points for image analysis of the camera observations near the confluence of Yangon River and Bago River

Figure 8 shows the boat used for the survey that was located near the Yangon site(site 4 in Figure 1). Figure 9 shows the view from the boat of the Excel River View Hotel site (left picture) and signaling to camera as marker for the additional GPS points taken along the river. The marker serves as reference point to transform the pixels in images by the camera to coordinate system. Figure 10 shows the upstream and downstream view from the boat of the bridge nearby upstream of Excel River View Hotel site. 

Figure 9. View of (1) Excel River View Hotel site from the boat (left picture) and signaling to camera (indicated by raising the bright orange vest) of the GPS point for image analysis of camera observations.

Figure 10.Upstream and downstream view of the bridge near (1) Excel River View Hotel site

In Yangon site, the camera was collected and additional measurements regarding the camera level in reference to the water level. Figure 11 and 12 shows the location of the Yangon site where camera was installed. 

Figure 11. (4) Yangon site for camera observations as shown in the right picture and left picture shows additional measurement to establish the height of the camera used in observation in reference to water level

Figure 12. (4) Yangon site showing the additional measurements and checking for the camera observations

This concludes the field site survey for the downstream of  Bago River basin focusing on the confluence of Bago River, a tributary, and Yangon River. The field observations were done to investigated tide and water levels and river velocity. An additional post will be released regarding the observations on the midstream reach of Bago River during the field site visit from 27-31 of October, 2015.

9月29日＆10月9日グループゼミ

お久しぶりです、ヨネシンです。

当グループでは今期からグループゼミを定期的に開催しております。

今回は直近に行われた二回についてその模様を紹介します。

9月29日

卒論中間発表から約2週間、どれほどの進捗が生み出されたのか。

ミカイ、私、ムラ先輩の順に発表を行いました。

ミカイはRobust Decision Making、私はSystem Dynamics、ムラ先輩は今後の研究方針について発表しました。

それぞれ特に持ち時間は定められていませんが、川崎先生からの鋭い質問、アドバイスで議論が深まり一人あたり30分は余裕で超えました。

ミーティング後、研究モチベーションがとても高まりました！

発表の準備は大変ですが、考えていることを言葉にしてフィードバックをもらうことはとても有意義ですね。

10月9日

前回に引き続き、各自発表しました。

ムラ先輩は今度ミャンマーに一ヶ月ほど行かれるとのことで気合入っています。

この日も川崎先生はキレッキレで、刺激的なミーティングとなりました。

次回からは留学生も交えてということで英語（！）でのミーティングとなりますが、がんばっていきたいと思います。

文責　ヨネシン

10/25 DIAS フォーラム＆ワークショップのお知らせ

10月25日（日）に東京大学・本郷キャンパスにて、

以下の二つのイベントを開催いたします。

<http://www.diasjp.net/infomation/dias-forum-102515/>

■　第5回DIAS－GRENE-ei環境情報統融合フォーラム

　「ビッグデータが拓く持続可能で活力ある社会」

　日時：10月25日（日）10:00 – 12:40

　場所：東京大学医学部鉄門記念講堂（医学部教育研究棟14階）

　詳細：<http://www.diasjp.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/DIAS-Forum-20151025v2.pdf>

■　第3回DIAS利用ワークショップ – 使ってみようDIAS

　日時：10月25日（日）14:00 – 17:40

　場所：東京大学工学部１号館

　詳細：<http://www.diasjp.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/DIAS-Workshop-20151025v2.pdf>

この機会にDIASでのひまわり８号、Xレインデータの利用公開も

紹介されますので、皆様奮ってご参加下さい！

本フォーラム、ワークショップに参加ご希望の方は、参加申込フォームよりお申し込み下さい！

川崎

インタビュー記事が載りました。

主役は、僕ではありません。

主役は、一緒に共同研究をさせていただいてる慶応大学システムデザイン・マネジメント研究科の神武直彦先生です。

僕はただ神武先生と朝日新聞社が主催する「未来メディアキャンプ」の体験談を語っています。
http://www.asahi.com/miraimedia/juku/20150917.html#vol2
（↑やたらと年齢が強調されている気が。。。）

「未来メディアキャンプ」、実際とてもためになりましたのでお薦めです！


なお、この記事に書かれている『ミャンマーで現地の人たちを対象に「未来メディアキャンプ」を実施』の内容は、以下にまとめています（英語）。

SATREPS Workshop and field survey - Day 2 (18-August-2015)
http://kawasakilab.blogspot.jp/2015/08/myanmar-official-visit-satreps-workshop_21.html?m=0

SATREPS Workshop and field survey - Day 3 (19-August-2015)
http://kawasakilab.blogspot.jp/2015/08/myanmar-official-visit-satreps-workshop_22.html?m=0

ミャンマーでのワークショップの記念撮影

神武先生、引き続きよろしくお願いいたします。

川崎

サマープログラムの動画 A short film summarizing our summer program

今年の夏に開催した国際サマープログラム『ビッグデータ時代における持続可能な水管理』の要約ビデオ（2:30）です。もし良かったらご覧ください。

現在、ムラ先輩の原案をもとにしたレポートも作成中です！

A short film summarizing our summer program, entitled "Sustainable Water Management in an Era of Big Data" organized by The University of Tokyo / UTokyo and ICHARM.

川崎