Faculty and Researchers
Environmental Engineering
An introduction to faculty staff members and laboratories in the Environmental Engineering.
Note: Information on the laboratories is current as of the 2025 academic year. There may be changes to this information in the 2026 academic year.
ABUKU Masaru
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Laboratory of Environmental Engineering in Architecture
Building Physics
We research the comfort, energy efficiency, and durability of buildings.
IWATA Norio
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Vibration Engineering Laboratory
Structural Engineering
We do research on vibration to understand damping performance and improve damping techniques, as well seismic design procedures that take damping into account. Our aim is to ensure overall safety and comfort of buildings not only in major earthquakes, but also during small to moderate earthquakes and wind events.
IWAMAE Atsushi
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Architectural Environmental System Laboratory
Architectural Environmental Engineering, Heat/Humidity/Air Environments, Architectural Equipment
We are developing and evaluating new materials and construction methods with the aim of making buildings, in particular, homes, more energy efficient or zero-energy structures, making them more healthy and comfortable, and further enhancing their long-term durability. Our activities are characterized by selectively using social research, laboratory experiments, numerical simulations, and different approaches depending on the purpose.
OKADA Masaaki
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Landscape & Heritage Study Laboratory
Landscape Engineering, History of Civil Engineering, Industrial Heritage, Heritage Studies
Research on landscape evaluation and history of civil engineering. We embrace the concept of using landscapes near to us as community assets in doing design. We start with familiar places, and identify issues and research ways to resolve them.
OKINAKA Tomoo
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Applied Mechanics Laboratory
Material Mechanics, Applied Mechanics, Image Measurement Systems
In the break-up and collapse of a structure, splitting cracks will branch and propagate for several hundred meters. We use experiments and computer simulation to investigate what phenomena are occurring in such situations.
OKUTOMI Toshiyuki
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Architectural Design Theory Laboratory
Architectural Theory, Architectural Design, Architectural History
The modern era is a period in which the globalization of architecture advanced against a background of dramatic technological innovation. In that process, what has architecture taken and what has it left behind? We give thought to what constitutes the essential center from various social contexts surrounding architecture.
KAWAI Katsuyuki
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Environmental Geotechnics Laboratory
Geotechnical Engineering, Geoenvironmental Engineering, Disaster Prevention
Using a three-phase mixture comprising soil particles, water, and air, we faithfully model geo-materials that exhibit complex behaviors depending on their composition ratio, and search for clues to solve problems by simulating ground disasters such as landslides and soil contamination.
KISHIMOTO Ichizo
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Concrete Structure/Material Laboratory
Concrete Structures
We do research on the earthquake resistance and durability of concrete structures. For example, in a study working in collaboration with a private company, we investigated the performance of concrete structural members using high-strength shear reinforcement (rebar wound around the interior of columns and beams of a building) developed by the manufacturer. In addition, we are working on a study of concrete cracking from the perspective of durability and aesthetics. This research is attractive because the need is strong in the real world and is relevant to people’s lives.
TAKEHARA Kohsei
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Environmental Hydraulic Laboratory
Hydraulics
We are engaged in a wide range of research including gas transport phenomena in oceans and surrounding flow fields related to the motion of microorganisms. In addition, we are studying the phenomenon of water droplets and gas bubbles using the world's fastest video camera developed at this university.
NAGASAWA Yasuhiro
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Architectural Environment and Building Services Laboratory
Architectural Environmental Engineering, Architectural Equipment Engineering, Thermal Environment and Indoor Air Quality
We conduct research on the planning, analysis, and evaluation of environmental building service systems to achieve indoor environments that will enable people residing in buildings to live in comfort and good health with minimal energy consumption.
NODA Hiroshi
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Wind Engineering Laboratory
Wind Engineering, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Risk Assessment
As seawater temperatures near Japan have risen in recent years, disaster damage caused by powerful winds, for example, typhoons and tornadoes, has been increasing. We study the safety of buildings with respect to strong winds and the strong winds themselves.
HIGASHIYAMA Hiroshi
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Laboratory of Composite Structural Engineering
Structural Engineering, Bridge Engineering, Maintenance Engineering
For the sake of safe, reliable and comfortable living, we research the development of new materials and structures, investigate methodologies, and study maintenance of existing structures. We deepen our understanding by examining phenomena, touching on materials and structures in experiments and analysis.
HIRAGURI Yasuhiro
- Position
- Professor
FUMOTO Takayuki
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Environment Material Laboratory
Concrete Engineering, Construction Materials, Environmental Materials
The fundamental properties and degradation mechanisms of construction materials under various environmental conditions such as loading, drying, heating, freezing, etc., are clarified using a visualization method based on three-dimensional X-ray CT images. Based on the results, we are devising useful utilization methods and material production methods, such as the use of recycled materials and the development of artificial rocks.
MATSUI Kazuaki
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Environmental Biological Science Laboratory
Urban Microbial Ecology, Human Impacts on Microbial Ecosystems
We are working on a variety of research projects to understand the urban aquatic microbial ecosystems. Our current interest is the dynamics and distribution of bacterial heavy metal and antibiotic resistance genes in urbanized environment. We also try to elucidate the quantitative relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning with microbes.
MATSUMIYA Tomohiro
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Earthquake-Resistant Structure Laboratory
Steel Structures, Earthquake-Resistant Structures
Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. To enable people to live with peace of mind, we are conducting research to help improve the seismic safety of steel-frame buildings.
MIYABE Hiroyuki
- Position
- Professor
Architectural Renovation Architectural Design
We research on architecture, real estate planning and space design in the field of architecture and urban renovation.
YANAGIHARA Takao
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Welfare Planning Laboratory
Transportation Planning
We research the relationship between people and the social environment from a variety of perspectives, such as engineering, health and well-being, psychology, and cognitive science. In particular, in recent years, we have also been doing R&D on equipment to support independent living by people with disabilities.
YAMAGUCHI Kentaro
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Housing for Life and Well-Being Laboratory
Architecture Planning
In manufacturing, it is essential to get a picture of user needs and lifestyles. Using a variety of research methodologies, we gauge the needs of people who have difficulty in making their wishes known, for example, the elderly and the disabled, and study what is desirable in products, architecture, and communities from the standpoint of these people. In particular, we are undertaking comprehensive research on facilities for the elderly, from assistive devices and equipment to buildings and regional planning.
WAKITA Yoshihisa
- Position
- Professor
- Laboratory
- Urban Planning Laboratory
Urban Planning, Architectural Planning
Based on knowledge and techniques of urban planning and architectural planning, we define the principles of space configuration in cities, villages, and houses indigenous to regions in Japan as well as in Southeast Asia, with a view toward resolving regional problems. At the same time, we are engaged in practical research on techniques to promote collaborative community development with citizen involvement.
INUBUSHI Tetsushi
- Position
- Associate Professor
OKAMURA Kentaro
- Position
- Associate Professor
Hana SEKIKAWA
- Position
- Associate Professor
TAKANO Yasuhide
- Position
- Associate Professor
- Laboratory
- Water Environmental Measurement Laboratory
Environmental Measurement Engineering, Hydrology
Using measurement instruments, as well as electron microscopes, and the like, we investigate the state of the environment in urban areas mainly by measuring the heat and moisture environment (temperature, humidity etc.) and soil property about heat and moisture transfer.
TAKABATAKE Tomoyuki
- Position
- Associate Professor
- Laboratory
- Coastal Engineering Laboratory
Hydraulic Engineering, River Engineering, Coastal Engineering, Disaster Prevention Engineering, Urban Engineering
We integrate various research methods, including experiments, fluid analysis, AI, AR/VR, field surveys, and questionnaire surveys, to conduct studies aimed at ensuring safety from water-related disasters while creating a rich and attractive human society in harmony with nature and promoting the effective utilization of water resources in the future.
NAKASHIMA Koji
- Position
- Lecturer
- Laboratory
- Geotechnical Disaster Prevention Engineering Laboratory