Myanmar Field Trip Part 6: Get Your Hands Dirty

大家好，我是益嘉
Good morning, I am Yi-Chia.

Installation

After Ralph’s step by step instruction of weather station installation, it is time for YTU students to lead the whole installation process! YTU members include Prof. Win Win Zin, Prof. Zin Marlar Tin San and Ph.D. students Shelly Win, San Win Mng and Hnin Thiri Myo. Also, two IWUMD representative engineers joined the installation assistance.

The empty site before installation

Everybody starts installing weather station!

Enabling modem for data transfer

First, we installed the solar panel and navigate sunlight direction to gain maximum solar power. Then, the weather sensor was installed.

Secondly, the weather box was installed. To finish the installation of weather box, it’s necessary to match all cables to specific slots to connect weather sensor to the data logger. It is especially essential to activate data logger, sensors, solar panel and wireless modem in weather box.

Lastly, data logger and modem are required to connect a computer to enable data transfer. This step is mostly software manipulation and it ensures that automatic data transfer is successful.

Upper: weather sensor
Lower: solar panel 

Finally, after one hour straight under 35-degree celsius sunlight at noon, we successfully installed Tarwa automatic weather station and data started transferring after one hour. Hopefully, with more weather data from Bago river basin, it will be helpful to conduct more scientific research and solve flood/drought problems.

During the lunch, I asked Shelly about her feeling building weather station from scratch by themselves. “I felt exhausted! My hands and body are burned so much by sunlight. But, I felt excited to finish weather station installation!”

Visit new water level station

After taking a break, we headed to nearby water level station to check data logger and condition of station. It was just built beside Tarwa river last week.

New water level station, shot with Phantom 4 Pro

During the installation process, I took high resolution land use map by using drone. Here is the video showing beauty of Bago.

I discussed with YTU Prof. Win Win Zin and Ph.D. student Ms. Hnin Thiri Myo about research interest and challenges in conducting future climate simulation. Ms. Hnin Thiri Myo loves to share knowledge of climate change and flood assessment. Therefore, her long-term goal is to be a professor in Myanmar. Ms. Hnin Thiri Myo has the strong interest in river runoff inundation model (RRI) to conduct flood assessment under future climate change. She also introduced the high-resolution Global Circulation Model (GCM), which has the 20km resolution. (normally GCM has the roughly 100km resolution).

Currently, Ms. Hnin Thiri Myo is doing bias correction and data processing for future hydrological simulation. Prof. Win Win Zin also showed strong interest in RRI and WEB-DHM application in Bago river basin and this may promote further cooperation between The University of Tokyo and Yangon Technological University. The specific challenges for Dr. Win Win Zin to use WEB-DHM were mostly input of high-resolution DEM to hydrological model. Those challenges may be further discussed with Kawasaki group research members. I also briefly introduced my research about the application of deep learning and downscaling methods. They also give me some feedback and encouragement to build the downscaling model.

Fun

When we were roasted under the sunlight during installation, what could be more relieving than a bowl of watermelon! It’s said that Bago river basin largely produces watermelons. It makes Bago have the abundant low price and good quality watermelon. Indeed, those watermelon slices are sweet. Everybody enjoyed eating watermelon and continued the work of installation!

美味しそう

楽しかった

Fun facts: In Myanmar, buses' doors are always open even vehicles are moving. When it's too crowded in the bus, somebody is half out of the bus with one hand grabbing the door handrail.

Myanmar Field Trip Part 5: Reunion

皆さんこんにちは イジャです。
Today's goal is the maintenance of automatic weather station in Zaung Tu area. We drove around 40 min from Aroma hotel to Zaung Tu. We met Prof. Win Win Zin, Prof. Zin Marlar Tin San. Also, Shelly, Hnin Thiri Myo, and San Win Mng after our arrival.

The discussion of server and data update system with Dr. Ralph, Prof. Win Win Zin, Prof. Zin Marlar Tin San, Mr. Okasaki and Dr. Aung Than Do

Long time no see Shelly! Shelly visited UTokyo River Environmental Engineering Lab as a short-term researcher in January 2018. It is especially a jubilant experience to meet REEL member again!

Ralph san started the installation of grounding cables for lightning protection

It’s especially impressive that all professors and students participate in all the processes of installation and maintenance. (It’s around 40 degree Celsius in the field)

Ralph san introduced detailed of the weather station

The green cable is the newly installed lightning cable

The cable is connected to the ground to protect weather station

After successful maintenance of weather station, we arrived ITC (Irrigation Technology Center) to hold training session of weather station installation. ITC is a beautiful research center for water-related research.

Ralph explained the comprehensive processes of weather station installation

After Ralph san's lecture, it's time for YTU Ph.D. students to practice on their own!

The hands-on experience for everyone to build weather station from scratch

Finally successful!

It's a great beginning of the training session! Tomorrow, all members will visit Tarwa, where we will build another weather station, and YTU students will build a real one station by themselves! Hopefully, YTU students could teach more locals to install and maintain weather stations in the future. Then, Myanmar could increase human capitals in water-related researches.

Fun fact: The popular sports (or street game) in Myanmar is called “Chinlone”. It's played by kicking a small ball

Myanmar Field Trip Part 4: Pagoda

Good morning! This is Yi-Chia Chang in Bago, Myanmar.

Day 4 is equipment preparation day! We will have gauge maintenance and training session for gauge installation tomorrow. After the equipment preparation, I have a free half day to go on a tour around Bago. Therefore, I visit some great places, such as famous pagoda and reclining Buddha.

The following picture shows Ralph san prepared the equipment and software testing all day in his room. Please forgive his little messy room. 

The box containing electronic devices is the most complicated part of gauge station. We will install all components in Tarwa and Zaung Tu in Bago.

This is the weather sensor, which could detect temperature, humidity, wind speed, and other atmospheric parameter values.

Kyaikpun Buddha

Shwemawdaw Pagoda

Shwethalyaung Reclining BuddhaKyaikpun Buddha

Fun facts: The yellow decoration that Myanmar locals put on their face is called “Thanaka”. It is the element from trees and mostly looks yellow. It's said that it can protect skins from sunlight and be used as cosmetic.

京大でのセミナーのお知らせ

2015年度より、京都大学 防災研究所 水資源環境研究センターの非常勤講師を務めさせていただいておりますが、これが最後の業務になります！ご関心お持ちの方は是非ともご参加下さい。
http://www.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/news/10161/

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
日時：2018年3月1日　13:30〜15:00
場所：京都大学防災研究所水資源環境研究センター演習室（S217D）

講演　13:30〜14:30
講師：　川崎昭如 　東京大学大学院工学系研究科　特任教授
題目：「発展途上国政府の水害対応能力の向上を目指した国際科学技術協力 」

概要：多くの発展途上国では、気象・水文に関する観測網や解析スキル等を
持ち合わせておらず、水害に対して十分な対応を取ることが難しい。本発表
では、JST/JICA  SATREPSプログラムの一環として、ミャンマーを対象に進
めている研究開発や社会実装の取り組みを紹介させていただく。縦割り行政
が激しい同国政府での部局間連携に向けて、観測施設の共同設置やデータ統
合解析のプラットフォーム開発、能力開発、体制づくりなどの活動も併せて
紹介する。

総合討論 14:30〜15:00

http://www.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/news/10161/

Myanmar Field Trip Part 3: Tidal Cycle

2018.02.17 Bago river mouth

မင်္ဂလာပါ Yi-Chiaです, Hello, this is Yi-Chia! (မင်္ဂလာပါ [maingalarpar])

Flying drone in the morning

At 5am, everybody gathered at the gate of Aroma hotel and got ready to head to Bago river mouth, the same place as yesterday. Today, we have the different goal: observe the whole cycle of a tide. Before traveling to Myanmar, Shimozono sensei and other coastal members already simulated the tide cycle on computers and have the advance information about the timing of tide. Therefore, we start early to observe the full cycle of a tide.

The 3-hour drive from Bago downtown to Bago river mouth

There were no well-maintained roads to river mouth; therefore, we literally drove on the river bed. Just to show a clip of how shaking was our drive to the river mouth.

Shimozono sensei explained the procedures of tide observation. First, we must measure the initial water level and velocity. To measure the water level, the equipment of pressure sensor is necessary. By knowing the water pressure, we could infer the water depth. In fact, the pressure sensor needs to be tided with something heavy to ensure that sensor sinks to the bottom of the water. Therefore, Tajima sensei tided the sensor with a brick. The video shows Tajima sensei throwing water pressure sensor into the water.

Fun

Shimozono sensei interacted with local children

Guess what’s in the dumpy level? This picture shows Shinozono sensei engaging with local residents and shared the experiment with them. Shimozono sensei used a dumpy level to point to the ship far away and invited kids to see the view.

Myanmar Field Trip Part 2: Tidal bore

2018.02.16  Bago river mouth

みなさん こんにちは M2イジャです。今日はミャンマー二日目の研究について話します。

Kawasaki group in front of Bago river mouth

Observation

Today is a sensational moment for our research team. This is the first time for all of us to witness tidal bore in person. The phenomenon of tidal bore itself is astonishing. Even more overwhelming is the high speed of erosion of coastal line. After the occurrence of tidal bore, within 1 hour, the first collapse of soil cluster happened. Then, the continuous collapse keeps happening during the next hour.
On average, each collapse of soil cluster is around 1-meter width, 3-meter long, and 6-meters tall.

Kawasaki sensei observing tidal bore

“こわ!“ Kawasaki sensei said with surprise. Indeed, when such big soil clusters collapsed into river mouth, the ground under our feet was shaking. The feeling is similar to an earthquake.

The occurrence of tidal bore:

The erosion effect of tidal bore:

Satellite Map

According to satellite images and field survey data, it is estimated that 5km erosion of coastal line happened last 1 year. It’s undoubtedly a tremendous loss for Myanmar. The most interesting part is the satellite image on map app. When we open the map to locate our position, we found out that the land around 5-10km in front of us was land and now the lands have been eroded and become part of the river. The following picture shows the location of observation.

Drop pin is observation point in Bago river mouth

Drone

The coastal lab member utilized DJI Phantom Pro 4 to record the tidal bore and compared the coastal line before and after tidal bore. The recorded videos are very interesting. The analysis results and further content will be published once it’s finished.

Mr. Matsuba set up drone with curious local residents

Fun

Playing soccer game with locals

Preparing for observation

First dinner with all survey members

Fun fact: Myanmar has around 135 languages in the country. The official language is Burmese.

Myanmar Field Trip Part 1: Arrival

2018.02.15  Yangon

Good evening everyone! I’m Yi-Chia Chang, the M2 exchange student in Civil Engineering Department, The University of Tokyo. I’m excited to share my experience during the future 8-day field trip in Yangon and Bago, Myanmar. The first-day experience in Myanmar could be divided into 3 parts: Surprise, People, and Life.

Took off from Tokyo!

Surprise

After arriving Yangon International Airport, the first surprise is that airport security division staff had a concern with the drone we carried to do the observation for tidal bore. Therefore, they detained our drone and asked us to bring permission to take the drone back. It is obvious that Myanmar government is paying much attention to the usage of drone and carrying drone into Myanmar requires necessary permission application.

Yangon international airport

People

The first stop is to visit Yangon Technological University because one of the coordinator’s office for JICA project is located in YTU. It is very interesting to meet Mr. Okasaki, Mr. Bobo, and Mr. San Win Mng. Mr. Okasaki is kind to help settle everything. Mr. Bobo is the second year master student in YTU and will graduate in few months. His research is about tidal bore effect, which is what we will observe with a drone in the next few days. Mr. San Win Mng is the second year Ph.D. student in YTU. With his help, Ralph san and I could safely check in the hotel for tonight. While we were in YTU, Kawasaki sensei was arranging the schedule of field survey and Ralph san was preparing equipment for gauge installation in Bago river basin. After finishing arrangement, everybody got into cars and head to Aroma Hotel, located in Bago city.

Yangon Technological University (YTU)

Ralph san prepared instruments in the office

Life

The Aroma Hotel is the one we will stay in the next few days in Bago. The room is, in fact, cozy and comfortable. The little tip might be aware is the voltage in Myanmar is 240V, different from Japan’s 100V. The converter may be required for some situation. The first meal I had in Myanmar, which was also the Chinese New Year Eve dinner, was Chicken Kung Bao rice. It is one kind of traditional Chinese food. The chicken Kung Pao is surprisingly delicious (I did not expect it to be good, or maybe I was just too hungry) and the price is reasonable. It only costs around 4,500 Kyat (around 360 Japanese Yen).

Aroma Hotel room view

Chicken Kung Pao

To sum up, the first day in Myanmar is exciting and also exhausting due to communication and traffic. I believe it will definitely be an amazing experience for observation in the next few days!

I wish everyone a happy and healthy Chinese New Year 2018!