Earthquake Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Group (EDPMG) is one of the research groups under the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of Saitama University

As apparent from the name of our group, we conduct research with primary focus on earthquakes. Various branches of work that are being carried out under the vast field of earthquake engineering are (including but not only limited to):

  • Evaluation of building vibration characteristics and collapse behaviour using observed seismic motion and numerical analysis
  • Influence of site and propagation path on strong ground motions
  • Research on strategies for creating disaster-resilient communities (development and social implementation of resilient structures)
  • Development of accurate estimation methods for disaster sites using digital twins
  • Evaluation of evacuation route during disasters using GIS
  • Analysis of factors resulting in regional differences in seismic retrofitting rate
  • Dynamic interaction between soil and structures during earthquakes (SSI)
  • Evaluation of the impact of seismic faults on linear structures such as railways and roads and their application to design
  • Assessment of the integrity of social infrastructure facilities (such as dams) using observed seismic motion
  • Verification of the effectiveness of evacuation signage using 3D virtual space (VR)
  • Development of semi-active base isolation systems using deep reinforcement learning
  • Research and development of seismic countermeasures for resilient cultural properties and artifacts
News and Topics

2024.06.28
A mini workshop in creating escape map in an event of emergency was held this afternoon. Two teams were formed and tasked with assessing time required by residents around Saitama University to reach the evacuation point once an emergency occurs. Photos of the two maps are attached here (green area represents evacuation points (3 in total)).

 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

It was quite interesting to find after the workshop that missing one street when creating the escape map changes quite a lot (apparent from distinct colour change in area around top right corner)!

2024.05.23
An article on Professor M Saitoh's developed device using microbead cushions to prevent museum arts from being damaged by earthquakes appeared on Tokyo Shimbun Tokyo Web (東京新聞首都圏ニュース). The news (in Japanese) is here:

https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/328844?rct=saitama

2024.05.17
Professor Yogendra Singh (https://www.iitr.ac.in/~EQ/yogenfeq) of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee visited our research group on May 16, 2024. During his visit, he provided a special lecture under the title of 'Earthquake Engineering in Hilly Regions - Challenges in Indian Himalayas'. Both undergraduate and graduate students attended this lecture and had a lively post-lecture Q/A session with him. A group photo after the lecture is posted here (Prof. Singh is 4th from the left):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2024.04.18
Professor M Saitoh commented on seismic retrofitting trend in Saitama prefecture. This appeared as news on Tokyo Shimbun (東京新聞) Tokyo Web. The news (in Japanese) is here:
 
2024.04.17
The degree conferment ceremony was held on March 25, 2024. Both the undergraduate and master's students from Earthquake Disaster Prevention and Mitigation group received their degrees on that day. Two undergraduate students from our research group (Hikaru Yamada and Kajikawa Shunsuke) won the best thesis award at the ceremony. We congratulate them for this achievement!
 

A photo including few of the graduates from our group is seen here after the graduation ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2024.03.04
Professor M Saitoh appeared on "NEWS545" aired by TV Saitama on February 28. The content (in Japanese), comprised of an explanation on the challenges in Saitama prefecture related to disaster prevention measures. The talk addressed the scenario wherein a severe earthquake hit the capital of Japan. The broadcast can be viewed from the YouTube channel of NEWS545 from the following link:
 
2023.03.30

The university graduation ceremony was held on March 24, 2023. Undergraduate and master's students from our group graduated on that day. A photo including few of the graduates is seen here after the graduation ceremony:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2022.11.04

Prof. Masato Saitoh and SHODEN (https://www.sdn.co.jp/eng/index.html) have been awarded 2022 Governor of Tokyo Award from the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation for the invention of base isolation systems for long-period earthquakes (JP, 2015-045171, A; Title of Invention: Displacement Suppressing Device and Displacement Suppressing System). The award information (in Japanese) is here: http://koueki.jiii.or.jp/hyosho/chihatsu/R4/jusho_kanto/index.html.

Details of the invention can be seen from here: https://is.gd/53ltgK.

We would like to express our congratulations to Prof. Saitoh.

2022.11.04

Hiromasa Koga, a master's 2nd year, received the Best Presentation Award at the 77th JSCE Annual Conference in 2022. The title of his presentation was "A study on learning method of semi-active seismic isolation system for various seismic motions using deep reinforcement learning". We would like to express our congratulations!

2022.09.26

The university graduation ceremony was held on September 22, 2022. From our group, 4 masters and 1 doctoral students graduated on that day. A photo of the graduates is seen here after the graduation ceremony:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2022.09.09
On Sept. 16, 2022, Professor Saitoh will appear in a special online seminar organized by Shoden (https://www.sdn.co.jp/) and RiskMeasures (https://www.risktaisaku.com/) on "How to survive the climate crisis era?: Highly resilient BCP (Business Continuity Planning) measures requirements of businesses today". [Japanese title: 気候危機の時代をどう切り抜ける?今、企業に問われているハイレジリエントなBCP対策]
 

The content will be Session 3: Earthquake Countermeasures "Predicting earthquakes is difficult! That's why you should think about resilience improvement efforts and precautions". (Can be assessed free of charge). Details (in Japanese) are here: https://www.risktaisaku.com/articles/-/70849

2022.09.01
Professor M Saitoh appeared on "NEWS545" aired by Teletama (https://www.teletama.jp/) on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 (5:45~6:15 PM JST). The content (in Japanese), comprised of an explanation on “Earthquake Precautions and Necessary Preparations” for the disaster prevention week. The broadcast can be viewed from the YouTube channel of NEWS545 from the following link (Prof. Saitoh appears around 7 minutes and 48 seconds into the video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64fdJwBhxsA

2022.05.11

Usama Zafar of our group won the 'Best Paper Award' at the 7th Wold Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE'22) that was held virtually between April 10-12, 2022. His award winning paper is titled "Influence of nonlinearities on the vertical kinematic interaction of piles" (DOI: 10.11159/icsect22.173). We congratulate him for winning this award!

Further details can be found here: https://cseecongress.com/past-event#Awards

2022.03.29

The university graduation ceremony was held on March 24, 2022, and both the masters and undergraduate students of our group graduated on that day. Here is one of the photos taken right after the graduation ceremony involving graduating students, faculty members, and staff member of our group.

Yuki Mizukawa_Excellent Master Thesis Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2022.03.19

A joint technical online seminar between Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) and Saitama University (SU) was held on March 15, 2022, led by Assoc. Prof. H Taniyama from SU side. From CUET side, Assoc. Prof. Md. Aftabur Rahman and his research group participated in the event. Technical presentations were made from both sides, both by the faculty members and students. At the end of the seminar, discussion on future collaborations was carried out. A screenshot of the seminar showing participating members is posted here.

Yuki Mizukawa_Excellent Master Thesis Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
2022.01.12

As a part of student activities, Japanese and international master’s students of our group visited Sendai (Miyagi) on Nov. 21 to learn about the reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The full-day trip provided a good platform for the visiting members to see and understand the reconstruction.

The same visiting members also participated in two online real-time special lectures given by Assoc. Prof. Phan Huy Dong of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, Vietnam on Dec. 9 and Assoc. Prof. Nakhorn Poovarodom of Thammasat University, Thailand on Dec. 15. The lectures covered various interesting research aspects in the fields of structural and geotechnical engineering and at the same time highlighted the link between research and industry.

Report on the activity can be seen from here: https://bit.ly/388iOdd.

2021.12.08  - (Overdue post)

Yuki Mizukawa of our group won the 'Excellent Master Thesis Award' for the academic year 2020. His master's thesis research work is titled "On the technique for early detection of dangerous buildings using aerial video footages in the aftermath of an earthquake (地震直後の危険な建物を空撮動画から早期検出する手法の研究)".

Conferred by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the award honours master's students who conduct excellent master's research and make outstanding final presentation. Of all the master's graduate of 2020, only 2 other students besides Yuki Mizukawa were awarded the excellent master thesis award. We congratulate him for this achievement!

Further details (in Japanese) can be found here: https://www.civil.saitama-u.ac.jp/prospective/cmd/

Yuki Mizukawa_Excellent Master Thesis Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Yuki Mizukawa (front row left) and Prof. Saitoh (back row left) during the award ceremony)

2017.11.24  

Prof. Masato Saitoh was awarded the 'Best Lecture Award' for the year 2016 in a ceremony today at Saitama University. The award recognizes the work and effort by an individual among all the instructors of the Faculty of Engineering at Saitama University and is based on lecture feedback obtained from the students.

2017.11.24_M Saitoh_Best Lecture Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Prof. M Saitoh with the received award)

2017.04.14  

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