Faculty and Researchers

Building Physics

We research the comfort, energy efficiency, and durability of buildings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Environmental Engineering, especially Environmental Analysis, Water Quality Control, and Waste Treatment.

Our laboratory investigates the status and sources of pollution from chemical substances in the atmosphere and water, in microorganisms, and the like. We examine whether the possibility exists that a substance would have an adverse impact on people and ecosystems, and conduct research with the aim of building appropriate systems to manage and control chemical substances.

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.

Transport Planning, Urban Planning, Regional Planning

We are working broadly on urban management in an aging society and low-carbon society from both a theoretical and practical perspective. In particular, we are studying town planning by the residents themselves that applies urban management techniques.

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.

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.

Urban planning、Urban design、Community design

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.

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.

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.

Architectural Renovation Architectural Design

We research on architecture, real estate planning and space design in the field of architecture and urban renovation.

Timber Structures

A variety of construction methods exist for wood structures. In addition, wood is a biological material, and thus, material strength is also uncertain. Consequently, the theory of structural design is still underdeveloped compared to reinforced concrete and steel-frame construction. We have adopted a research theme of developing computational theories and evaluating structural performance that will be beneficial in the structural design of various load-bearing elements. Since it is difficult to theoretically elucidate the full behavior of wood structures, we focus our research on tests of actual full-size structures.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Coastal Engineering

This coastal engineering laboratory aims to protect human lives and properties from such devastating coastal disasters and contribute to developing a sustainable coastal area. To achieve this goal, we have conducted a variety of research relevant to coastal engineering, including field surveys, hydraulic experiments, and numerical simulations.

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.