This major aims at the development of basic abilities of professional engineers and researchers, equipped with advanced theory and techniques related to bioresources production and conservation of the natural environment, with special attention to the coexistence between human activities and the nature. Our main research and educational concerns are: (1) advanced theory and techniques related to measurement and analysis of air, soil, water, living organisms and ecosystems, and the use of such environmental information for production and disaster prevention, (2) advanced theory and techniques related to analysis and evaluation of multi-sided functions of farms, forests, rivers and oceans, and efficient use of these functions; and (3) advanced theory and techniques related to systems of production, processing and use of bioresources, with special consideration for the conservation of the natural environment.
Regional Conservation Engineering
This course aims to teach and research on the conservation of natural environments and the creation of wealthy rural environments. We teach advanced theory and techniques needed for the proper use of water, soil and atmosphere in rural areas in relation with natural and human activities, for the planning, production and conservation in rural environments, for the development, construction and management of facilities, and for disaster prevention.
Environment Oriented Information and Systems Engineering
This course teaches and conducts research on measurements and control of environmental information based on information technology and systems engineering as a method of study in addition to biological and ecological knowledge, in order to maintain the coexistence between humans and other living creatures, and to insure a sustainable development of the mankind. In other words, this course is intended to provide expertise on improving environment conditions related to various kinds of plants and coexisting technology, as well as on the production and processing of bioresources with low technological impacts on the environments using high precision handling of the environmental information.
Forest Resources and the Environment
For the purpose of making full use of various functions of forests as material and environmental resources, this course is intended to teach and research on comprehensive and professional theory and technology related to forests. This includes such topics as forest ecosystems, tree physiology, sustainable control and management of forests, their social roles, conservation of soil and water, evaluation of scenery, and measurement of health effects. Moreover, highly functional, effective, and sustainable use of forest resources is considered from the low to the high levels of the biological organization.
Geosystem Science
Deepening the basic knowledge about the structure and the interrelationships among the fundamental elements of the global ecosystem, i.e., atmosphere, ocean and land, is the main object of our educational and research programs. This is made through keen observation, analysis and modeling of data from various sources, time and spatial scales, such as station (land or ship) data, satellite (optical and radar) data, computer simulated data, etc. Our final goal is to produce talented scientists, loaded with a high level of technical capability, with the ability to effectively and positively contribute to sustainable development and management of the earthfs natural environment at both the regional and global scales.
- Regional Conservation Engineering
- Environment Oriented Information and System Engineering
- Forest Resources and the Environment
- Geosystem Science
Rural Planning
This field is intended to educate and research on water planning, especially on calculation of necessary amount of city water and water for agricultural use, adjustment of irrigation and placement of facilities to keep that amount, maintenance of rivers for protection against flood, and maintenance of environment such as Neo-Natural River Reconstruction Method as well as basis of drainage of rain and sewage treatment. In terms of rural planning, we intended to educate and research on how to maintain large-sized paddy fields and on how to remodel land use by means of re-allotment method. And, in order to revitalize rural and fishing communities, we promote the settlement of local residents and support exchange and connections between them and city residents.
Soil Resources Engineering
We consider soil resources to include soil itself and any other recycled materials including various construction materials which compose the ground and foundations. In this research field, we teach and research on the physical and mechanical properties of these resources, and on the several characteristics observed in mutual interactions under various natural conditions. The main purpose of this research field is to make clear, both theoretically and experimentally, the elucidation of destruction mechanism of ground and foundations, the investigation on improvement method of old-ponds, the elucidation of interaction between various soil and different structures, the strength characteristics of different construction materials and ferrocement, the effective use of recycled materials, and the safety, the effectiveness as well as the possibility of the use of soil resources.
Water Resources Engineering
In this field, we educate and research on the quantitative understanding of hydrological quantities, with special emphasis on such parameters as rain or evapotranspiration in the natural water cycle process, sustainable conservation of water resources for human, establishment of water recycle techniques, design of semi-natural water supply and drainage facility, improvement of production farms environment, and devising methods to evaluate actual hydrological conditions. Recently, analysis of optimal temperature for conservation of natural monuments, analysis of discharge relating to drainage of paddy field are our main topics for education and research.
Terrestrial Soil and Water
This field is intended to educate and research on watersheds as land resources including topography, soil, water, plants, animals and human activities, and the development of systems for their use, conservation, maintenance, evaluation and restoration. Especially, we focus on the various functions of terrestrial soil and water, and investigate on a better understanding of mechanisms in watershed environments, on the development of monitoring techniques for that purpose, as well as on devising methods for sustainable use, restoration and conservation of watershed environments.
Construction Materials and Environmental Works
In this field, we educate and research on the design, construction, maintenance and control of facilities and structures concerned with local environment and agricultural production. Coexistence with the nature and consideration to environmental problems are our important themes of research. We focus especially on methods of design, construction, maintenance and control of environment-friendly hydraulic structures, recycling of various construction materials, mainly concrete, development of construction materials for effective use of resources and natural environment, etc..
Environmental Information Technology
This field aims at the establishment of biological production systems with minimum burden to the environment based on the application of information techniques, control engineering and system engineering. We especially focus our teaching and research on proper control and traveling performance of agricultural vehicles for realizing precise agriculture tasks in order to mitigate the burden on the environment and to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and agricultural chemicals, on physical control methods by laser, sound, etc., on EMS and LCA regarding food, and on biomass materials development.
Systems Design
Our main aim is to educate and research on developing new systems and facilities for environment management, bio- or any other kinds of production. We specialize in designing and developing machinery and systems for controlling and monitoring the environment, based on fundamental or advanced theory and technology in applied mathematics, dynamics, computer science and system theory etc.
Environmental Control in Biology
We educate and conduct research on theory and techniques aimed at constructing optimum bioresources production systems such as plant factory, by getting information on plants and their growing environments. We also advise humans in sustainable production of bioresources.
Energy Utilization Engineering
In this field, we educate and research on technology of generation and derivation of various kinds of renewable energy, with special consideration to both our dependence on fossil fuel energy and the mitigation of its burden on the environment. Our expertise spans over the fields of mechanism of transfer equipment and its performance and characteristic, and establishment of system for efficient use of energy, and technique of evaluation for total system.
Forest Conservation Ecology
Forest ecosystems are expected to be conserved without impairing their public beneficial functions, such as production of wooden materials, conservation of water and soil, conservation of biological diversity, and other functions of environmental conservation, etc. In this field, we study and research on life trees, which are the primary elements of forest ecosystems, and the regeneration process of forest with the aid of plant physiology and ecology. Education and research on the theory and practice of conservation and on the efficient utilization of forest functions are performed.
Synthetic Environmental Science of Forests
One of the most important themes of the 21st Century is the establishment of a sustainable and coexisting society. In this field, on the basis of historical and environmental roles of forests, we educate and research on future relationship between human and nature, focusing on the reestablishment of forestry suitable for a sustainable society, and investigate on the interchange between cities and mountainous villages in order. Introduction of our students to a coexisting society, investigation and practice on its systematization are also parts of our main topics of research and education.
Forest Conservation and Erosion Control
This research field intends to explicit the causal factors inducing erosion phenomena (e.g. landslides, collapse and debris flow, etc.) and changes to devastated lands occurring in Japan and overseas, caused by sediment related disasters and acute environmental changes in mountainous area. These factors are investigated through field survey, experimental methods and remote sensing techniques, etc. For this purpose, in this research field we educate and research on theory and techniques for conservation of natural phenomena (e.g. sediment and hydraulic phenomena), through the understanding of their reciprocal relationship, and the comprehension of processes related to devastation and restoration of natural environment.
Environmental Forest Operations and Systems
Education and research on theory and techniques for sustainable use of multi-sided functions of forests and green tracts as production resources, environmental resources and cultural resources, from a professional standpoint. We are especially concerned with such topics as the preparation of a basic system for utilization and operation aimed at sustainable and reproducible forest resources.
Timber Engineering and Dwelling Environment
We conduct educational and research activities on wood science and technology, dealing with fundamental and applied studies on solid wood and wood-based materials that can be made from it. Our research method includes not only physics and architecture, but also biology and chemistry. Teaching and research are carried out on wood histology, wood physics, wood-based materials, timber structure and dwelling ability aiming at more effective use of wood by human as renewable and environmentally-friendly materials.
Functionality Control of Phytomaterials
This field aims at getting basic information on material recycling system in the ecosystem through analyzing the functions of forest resources. For this purpose, we educate and do research on sustainable utilization system of forest resources, dealing especially with the separation of cell wall components, the design of functionality controllable polymers, the design and preparation of recyclable materials, and the establishment of a social system leading to sustainable and cascade-type flow of forest resources in the molecular level.
Climate and Ecosystems Dynamics
The primary aim of our education and research is to analyze and understand, at both the global and the regional scales, the mechanism and the dynamics of the changes in the global climate and ecosystem, as well as the mutual interrelationships among them. GIS, field observation and satellite data are intensively utilized. The fingerprints of these changes are observed through such phenomena as extreme weathers (El Nino, storms), drought, air and water pollution related eco-climatic problems (global warming, ozone depletion, acid rains), and changes in the land covers (tropical rainforests destruction, desertification). We especially emphasize on the role and influence of the human as part of the global ecosystem. This makes it possible to obtain a deep understanding of his actions, and to devise and implement ways and means for sustainable solution to the problems.
ClimateOcean Dynamics
In this field, we teach and research on the earthfs ocean and atmospheric dynamics. Our main concerns are: the global warming problem, the variation in the Kuroshio and Oyashio, the oceanography in the Ise Bay and along the Kii Peninsula, the occurrence of the El Nino Phenomenon and the change in sea ice cover on the Okhotsk Sea. Observation by using the Seisuimaru (experimental ship), analysis of observational data provided by government agencies, and numerical modeling, are used for this purpose. Our final goal is to educate research professionals in ocean and atmospheric science, capable of undertaking reliably tasks on environmental assessment.
Hydroscience, Hydraulic Engineering and Environmental Studies
In this field, we educate and conduct studies on water environment and sustainable development. Water has two conflicting characteristics, viz eresourcesf and emenacef. Our main interest is in research on various water-related issues and in developing new concepts in hydroscience in order to find solutions to various issues arising from the two main characteristics of water. For that, we use numerical simulations, field observation, theoretical research and experiments. From the viewpoint of the scale of phenomena, we are interested in hydrological and meteorological processes varying from global to laboratory scale.
Forest Planning for the Environment
This field is intended to study and educate on the theory and techniques related to research method of forest resources and environment, forest management and planning with consideration to conservation of forest ecosystem and biodiversity. Moreover, in order to protect world forest environments, research and education activities are conducted on techniques of forest management for sustainable forest management based on the wise use of forest resources and forest information.
Applied Environmental Studies
Considering that local climates, and not human- or ecosystem-centered systems, are the key elements in our severely changing environment, we teach and research on ways and means for disaster prevention and regional environment management by scientific analysis of environmental information using Geographical Information System (GIS) and remote sensing, etcc This includes especially the observation and analysis of landscapes, atmosphere and water bodies. Based on the analysis results, we intend to provide education aimed at producing talented scientists, capable of predicting future environmental changes and contributing to the establishment of a disaster-proof environment on the regional level.
