Lab for Innovative Infrastructure Systems

At the JSCE National Convention (Annual Conference) held at Tohoku University in Sendai from September 4th to 6th, our lab graduate Manami Hazama gave a presentation on her master’s thesis, “Detecting Niche Tourist Spots Using Big Data on Human Flow”.

We received valuable comments from Prof. Ohba of Kyoto University, Mr. Yamazaki of the Toyota Institute for Urban Research, and Ms. Kaneko of ALMEC Co. Thank you very much. (Text by Fukuda) 

From September 11th to 13th, We joined the 23rd Summer School on Behavioral Models 2024. This year, our laboratory participated with a team of six members, including M1 and B4 students.

Compared to previous years, this year’s Summer School offered more foundational lectures aimed primarily at students, as well as lectures that addressed policy evaluation. As a result, many student presentations went beyond mere data analysis, extending into policy recommendations.

Our analysis focused on the characteristics of congestion pricing systems and analyzed the evaluation of disadvantages faced by people with different social attributes using data from Toyosu as a case study. Although we encountered difficulties, such as not achieving the desired results in our estimations, eventually we were able to improve our work based on feedback from professors during the initial drafts and successfully finalized our presentation.

While we narrowly missed out on winning an award, the process of collaborating and engaging in discussions over these three days greatly strengthened our bonds. It also allowed us to deepen our understanding by focusing intensely on behavioral models. For me, participating in this project-based workshop  which we had not experienced before, made it a valuable and enriching first-time experience at the Summer School.

Thank you for the opportunity. [Watanabe]

I am Takashi Uemachi, a first-year master’s student. On August 31st and September 1st, I participated in the 27th National Conference of the Japanese Association for an Inclusive Society, where I presented my undergraduate research titled “A Study on the Relationship Between Automobile-Dependent Society and Social Exclusion: Focusing on the Urban Area of Central and Southern Okinawa Island.”

Although the presentation was brief, I was pleased that the audience showed interest in the issues I addressed. The multiple questions and comments I received during the five-minute Q&A session were all insightful and valuable for my research. As the first external presentation of this study, it was a great learning experience.

I am deeply grateful to Professor Fukuda, who gave me this opportunity and came all the way to Sapporo, and to Professor Kamiya from the University of the Ryukyus.

I will continue to pursue both qualitative and quantitative research on this topic for my master’s thesis. I’m determined to do my best!

From August 15th to 20th, I joined the Trilateral Student Activity 2024 (TSA 2024). This activity is an exchange event for students from the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Tokyo (Japan), Seoul National University (Korea), and National Taiwan University (Taiwan). It has been held every year for more than ten years. This year, it was held at Seoul National University.
The main objectives of this event are to exchange ideas in the field of civil engineering and experience new cultures. The main theme of this year’s event is renovation. During the event, we were divided into five groups: Structure, Hydraulics, Geotech, Transportation, and CAE, which we then worked together within each team. I joined the transportation group, where we compared the intelligent transportation systems in three countries and how we could improve them. On the last day, all of the groups presented their work.
Additionally, we also visited many places in Seoul. From my time in Seoul, I felt that it was a very interesting and fascinating city. Historical and contemporary buildings coexist in the same space. Public transportation is cheap yet convenient. My favorite thing in Korea was food. The food there was delicious, and I could feel that Korean really enjoy eating their food.
I gained a lot of experience and friends during this trip. I will definitely visit Korea again in the future. As for TSA, I am looking forward to the next year in Taiwan. [Krittanai]

My name is Krittanai Sriwongphanawes. I am a first-year Ph.D. student. Between July 13th and 20th, Fukuda sensei and I joined the 17th International Conference on Travel Behavior Research (IATBR) in Vienna, Austria.

I made a presentation about a surge pricing simulation, which was part of my master’s thesis. The full name was “Investigating the Impact of Surge Pricing on Ride-Hailing Usage through a User Heterogeneity Perspective: A Simulation Approach.”

Unfortunately, my presentation was in the last session of the last day of the conference, so there were few people left. Nevertheless, we had a stimulating discussion among a small group of audiences.
This was my first time visiting a country in Europe. It was a good chance for me to experience new cultures and see new environments, not to mention to get to know esteemed professionals in the field of travel behavior research. I aimed to use this experience to improve my research in my Ph.D.

Our laboratory holds seminars every Wednesday throughout the academic year.
In the first semester, we conduct the Research Progress Seminar in the first half, where one student presents their research progress each week, followed by the Learning Seminar in the second half.

Due to construction work in the Engineering Building No. 1, we are using a seminar room in the Engineering Building No. 11, which is different from our usual location. Compared to the room we used in previous years, the new room is smaller and has a warm-toned interior, creating a brighter and more homey atmosphere.

In this year’s Learning Seminar, we are covering the basics of data processing through Python and GIS. Although the time in the second half of the seminar is limited, we were able to learn practically through a hands-on approach.

Given that our laboratory students tackle a wide variety of research topics, the content covered in the Learning Seminar does not always directly match each individual’s research theme. However, by participating in the Learning Seminar during the first semester, everyone gains an equal foundation of basic knowledge, which deepens their insight into others’ research. This, in turn, enables more in-depth questions during the Research Progress Seminar in the second semester. (Nakamura)

The international project group is offering a first-year seminar for freshmen this year.
I participated in this course as a teaching assistant.

The course consists of lectures and group work, and I primarily joined the group work sessions. I was inspired by the fresh perspectives of the first-year students and their eagerness to learn new things each week, which also provided me with new insights.
On the first day of the course, I visited the Komaba Campus for the first time in four years.

This week, as the final session of the course, we visited Haneda Innovation City.
We joined a tour of “PiO PARK,” an open innovation space, an autonomous bus, and the robot restaurant “AI_SCAPE.”
Previously, I had ridden an autonomous bus in Sakai Town, which was the ARMA model by the French company NAVYA. This time, I experienced the MiCa model made in Estonia. MiCa has been customized for Japan, and according to the staff, it performs better than the NAVYA model, which they formerly used. On this route, the bus operated in “fully” autonomous mode without any manual intervention, showing significant advancements in autonomous driving compared to the visit a year ago.
Although we couldn’t enter the robot restaurant, its futuristic ambiance made me eager to dine there someday.

This was my first visit to this facility, which was established in 2022, and it was a valuable learning experience for me.

Re-engaging with the first-year seminar I took as a freshman, now in my final year, was a precious experience that made me reflect on what I have learned. (Nakamura)

At the end of June, Dr. Fukuda participated in the Yui-Maru Project in Okinawa. The Yui-Maru Project is a collaborative initiative led by the Toyota Mobility Foundation involving the Okinawa Prefectural Police, the University of the Ryukyus, and the University of Tokyo. It aims to address the frequent accidents caused by tourists driving rental cars.
Toyota Rent-a-Lease Okinawa was inspected during the visit, and various traffic danger spots were identified. Having driven a rental car in Okinawa, I recall the challenges of navigating the intricate and narrow streets of the old town.
Our laboratory frequently addresses tourism policies related to overtourism in Okinawa and other regions in our students’ graduation research. With Okinawa’s population estimated at 1.46 million (as of June 2024) and 8.53 million tourists in 2023 (domestic and international combined), the need for a safe and comfortable coexistence between locals and tourists is evident. This figure highlights the significant impact of tourism on the region.
Reflecting on this, it becomes clear that addressing these challenges from a traffic engineering perspective is essential to ensuring the safety and comfort of both residents and visitors.

Reference:
Okinawa Prefecture Planning Department Statistics Division (Updated June 1, 2024). “Estimated Population”. Accessed July 12, 2024.
Nikkei Newspaper article (May 2, 2024). “Okinawa’s Fiscal Year 23 Tourists, Domestic Visitors Reach Record High of 7.26 Million”. Accessed July 12, 2024.

I am Takeshi Uemachi, an M1 student. I have been interested in disparities in mobility and have been working on my graduation research on “Poverty and Transportation in Okinawa.”

At the end of June, I held a presentation at the prefectural office. In addition to meeting new people for the first time, attendees included members of Professor Kamiya’s lab at the University of the Ryukyus, officials from the prefectural office, and staff from the social welfare council who have been supportive of my research. After the presentation, I received many comments on the results and discussions, which provided insights for continuing similar research in my master’s program. I also received words of encouragement for the future development of my research, which made me feel a strong sense of responsibility.

I will continue to work hard to clarify the actual situation and achieve results that can lead to policy recommendations. Once again, thank you for providing me with the valuable opportunity to present my findings on site and for the warm welcome. This summer, we also have a joint seminar with the University of the Ryukyus planned. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again!

[Uemachi]