Do you know what an aerosol is? Aerosols are tiny particles in the air. They can be sand grains, soot, sea salt, etc., and come from many places on earth. Since they are related to weather, health hazards, global warming, etc., it is very important to properly understand “aerosols,” including their origin, behavior in nature, and transportation routes in the atmosphere.

Living in Japan means living with volcanoes and earthquakes. Volcanoes and earthquakes can be scary, but they also have many good things to offer, such as producing hot springs and resources, and teaching us about the history of the earth. In order to use volcanoes and earthquakes and to protect ourselves from their disasters, we need to have a proper understanding of volcanoes and earthquakes. Research on volcanoes and earthquakes give us some important opportunities to understand the land we live on and to think about how our cities and society should respond accordingly.

Where did we come from and where are we going? As a planet teeming with life, Earth has maintained its life environment, which is the most distinctive feature that distinguishes it from other planets in our solar system. It has not just been maintained; the Earth, and life, has been constantly changing. By exploring the strata and fossils, we can capture global environmental changes, the evolution of life, and the relationship between life and the Earth. By doing so, we can see humanity’s place in the ever-changing Earth and ecosystem. From there, our mission is to present a new view of nature and the Earth in response to the era of change.

Civil engineering structures such as bridges, dams, roads and railroads are indispensable to our daily lives. All of these structures are built on the ground. To create safer and more disaster-resistant structures, it is necessary to understand the “ground” that supports them. We are conducting a wide range of research, including investigation technology to understand the geology, simulation technology to predict the behavior, technology to strengthen the ground, and technology to utilize geothermal energy.

Concrete is a construction material that has been used since the time of ancient Rome. Although it is a material with a very long history, it continues to evolve every day through the application of the latest science and technology. We conduct research on a very wide range of scales, from chemical reactions in cement and research focusing on microstructure using microscopes to the development of ultra-high-strength concrete using large experimental machines that can withstand 100 tons of pressure. Whether you like the details or want to do something big, we’re sure to satisfy you!

Why don’t towers of a few hundred meters or bridges of a few kilometers break? Will it continue to be used for many years to come? Civil engineering structures are designed by considering where and how much force will be applied. In our country, where many structures are decades old after construction, it is important to calculate the risk of old structures, real-time monitoring, and reinforcement methods. Not only to build, but also to maintain. A new world of civil engineering is about to begin.

The flow of water from the mountains to the sea carries sediment along the way, changing the appearance of rivers and beaches. Waves and ocean currents also change the bottom topography and coasts. Heavy rains and typhoons can dynamically change river and coastal landforms in a matter of days, or over tens of thousands of years due to crustal deformation over a wide range of time scales. We clarify the landforms created by water and the mechanisms of their formation, and evaluate their impact on the structures that protect rivers and coasts to create rich waterfront areas.

Disasters that cause much damage, such as floods, storm surges, earthquakes, and tsunamis, are part of our lives. While it is impossible to eliminate disasters themselves, it is possible to reduce damage through the creation of hazard maps and disaster-resistant structures. In addition to understanding disasters themselves, we can also promote the creation of a disaster-resilient society by researching and studying how disasters cause damage, and then simulating the damage based on the data we have obtained.

Water is what circulates the various substances on the earth, and our abundant life is also supported by water. If the environment surrounding water changes, the movement of substances carried by water will be affected, and in some cases, this could lead to disasters and diseases. Data on the water environment, obtained using a variety of methods ranging from global-scale simulations to genetic analysis, can be used to understand climate, design water supply and sewage systems, and assess health risks.

We usually travel by foot, car, or train without thinking. These are made safer and less wasteful by mechanisms that are invisible to our eyes. For example, transportation agencies coordinate with each other, design travel routes, and maintain routes in the event of a disaster. These mechanisms continue to change diversely with new technologies and times. In the future, transportation between space and earth may even become routine!

Do you know the problems of the city you are living in? For example, Japan’s population is now declining. The city that has expanded to become too large will become too inconvenient as the number of people decreases. There are many other unseen challenges facing cities, regions, and buildings, such as smart development, decarbonization, disaster prevention, and aging infrastructure. We will find and solve various issues while incorporating advanced technologies. Such knowledge and skills are now in demand.

The 21st century has been called the “Century of the Environment. In order for society to change from a consumption-oriented to an environmentally conscious society, it is necessary to create new knowledge and technologies in various fields, and to spread these technologies into our daily lives. In order to realize a society in harmony with the environment, research is being conducted day and night on structures and mechanisms to protect the environment and society.