Lab for Innovative Infrastructure Systems

Hi! I’m Sakib Shahrior Fahim, a fresh arrival in Japan, where I’m excited to pursue my Master’s in Civil Engineering at the University of Tokyo. Having grown up in the bustling metropolis of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, where traffic delays cost residents an average of one hour of productivity daily, my journey into transportation engineering began with a mission to improve these numbers and make my city more livable. Now, as part of the Laboratory for Innovative Infrastructure Systems (LIIS) under the guidance of Fukuda Sensei, I’m diving deeper into the fascinating world of transportation systems. My goal? To contribute to more efficient, energy-conscious, and sustainable transportation solutions for developing countries, like Bangladesh’s, and beyond.

Looking forward to the adventures and challenges ahead!

[Sakib Shahrior Fahim]

Adaptation and Welcome Experience at Fukuda Lab

After arriving at the University of Tokyo on October 2nd, I was warmly welcomed into the Fukuda Lab, which has played a vital role in my smooth transition into academic and everyday life in Japan. The cool autumn weather that greeted me upon arrival added a refreshing touch to this new chapter of my life. The crisp air and the changing colors of the leaves around the campus reminded me that I was stepping into a new season, personally and professionally.

One of the first people to help me incredibly was Uemachi-san. Navigating city hall administration and handling paperwork can be overwhelming in a new country, but everything went much more smoothly with his guidance. From the moment I arrived, he ensured I had all the necessary information, made the arrangements for my residency registration and assisted me in understanding the essential processes for settling in.

The lab members have also been incredibly supportive. They quickly offered help and advice related to academic work or adapting to life in Tokyo. Everyone’s friendliness and readiness to assist me in getting used to the culture, environment, and university systems truly made me feel at home.

In addition to the academic support, the social integration has also been fantastic. A few days after my arrival, we had a Nomikai (a casual drinking gathering) at a local Yakitori restaurant with the lab members. It was my first Nomikai in Japan, and it was a wonderful experience to share delicious grilled skewers and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. We talked about everything—from research topics to life in Japan—and it helped me feel more connected to my colleagues. The warm camaraderie and laughter we shared at the Yakitori restaurant made me feel like I was part of the lab’s community. It was a celebration and a reflection of how the lab fosters connections, helping everyone integrate smoothly.

Now, two weeks into my journey, as the autumn breeze continues to cool the city, I already feel a strong sense of belonging. The teamwork and collaborative spirit within the Fukuda Lab are inspiring, and I am excited to contribute to the lab’s ongoing projects. With the help of the department and my colleagues, I am confident this will be a productive and enriching experience at the University of Tokyo!

[Aulia Rahman]

This fall, two new international students have joined the Fukuda Lab.

Aulia Rahman, a Ph.D. student from Indonesia, and Sakib Shahrior Fahim, a master’s student from Bangladesh.

Both of them received support from the department’s international student office and lab members from the day they arrived, ensuring a smooth start to their student life at the University of Tokyo.
The day after they arrived, we held a welcome party in the IP room. We ordered lunch boxes, gathered around the table, and enjoyed a friendly chat, with the two lab secretaries joining us as well.

With these new additions, our lab now has 11 students. We’re excited to work with them, as they bring valuable experience in transportation analysis from their countries. We’re looking forward to a productive semester ahead!

[Uemachi]

The international project group, which our lab is a part of, organized an annual group trip to Okutama.

On the first day, we had a BBQ at a campsite, and on the second day, we toured Lake Okutama and the Ogouchi Dam.

For the BBQ on the first day, we tried our best to make a culturally inclusive BBQ, fitting for our international members. However, from shopping to cooking, we faced many problems. I didn’t know until today that pork extract is used in yakisoba sauce! Despite such challenges, we had a wonderful time together, and it was a great opportunity to strengthen bonds within the group.

On the second day, we split into two groups—one enjoyed the hot springs, while the other went hiking. Afterward, we found a local performing arts festival near Okutama Station and had the chance to watch a bit of traditional dance. At Ogouchi Dam, we enjoyed “dam curry”  as well as the dam tour guided by Dr. Daniel, who specializes in energy research.

I’m currently a second-year master’s student, and this was my first time joining the international project group trip. I was really happy to get closer to other lab members whom I usually don’t talk to much. Though I’ve lived in the Kanto area most of my life, this was my first visit to Okutama, and I was surprised by how much nature it has—it’s become one of my favorite spots.

I’m motivated to keep working hard on my research for the rest of the year!

[Nakamura]

From 9/17 to 9/20, we held a joint seminar with Professor Kamiya’s laboratory from the University of the Ryukyus in Funauki, Iriomote Island, Okinawa.

On the second day, all the students gave research presentations, making it a stimulating seminar. Members of Professor Fukuda’s lab were particularly impressed by the progress made by Professor Kamiya’s lab in their analyses. The breadth of research topics presented was much wider than our lab, which evoked lively discussions and provided us with fresh inspiration.

Additionally, Mr. Suga from the Regional Futures Research Center, as well as Mr. Yamanaka and Mr. Nakamura from CHUO KENSETSU CONSULTANT, Co.,Ltd. shared insights about their work and their projects on Iriomote Island.

Mr. Ikeda, who took care of us in Funauki, shared his thoughts on the inconveniences faced there. His words left a deep impression on all participants, serving as an important reminder for us not to focus solely on pursuing convenience in transportation and urban planning.

For all of us, this was our first visit to Iriomote Island. Beyond the insights we gained from the seminar and the talks, everything we saw on the way, the time we spent preparing for the seminar, and all the conversations we had will serve as valuable experiences for our future research and student lives.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Professor Kamiya, Professor Fukuda, and everyone involved for providing us with this opportunity.

[Nakamura]

At the International Symposium on Integrated land use/transport models for carbon neutral strategies in Osaka, held at Osaka University’s Nakanoshima Office, our lab’s graduate Keita Hasegawa presented.

This is a theoretical study using a two-city model of the feasibility of dual residence between urban and rural areas and the role of the central government.

Thank you to Dr. Joanna Ji of the Technical University of Munich, who asked a question, and to Dr. Masatoshi Kii of Osaka University, who organized the symposium. (Text by Fukuda)

Symposium website:
https://www.mos.ed.tum.de/tb/workshops/osaka-symposium-2024/

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]