National Research and Development Agency National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience NIED aims to realize a society resilient to natural disasters through improving the level of science and technology for disaster risk reduction.
Greetings National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) conducts research on science and technology for integrated disaster risk reduction from basics to society implementation President Haruo HAYASHI To achieve our ultimate objectives; realization of a society resilient to natural disasters, NIED pursues research activities in a wide range of areas such as earthquake, volcano, meteorology, snow and ice, disaster mitigation, and effective disaster response and recovery to improve the level of science and technology for disaster risk reduction. The definition of science and technology for disaster risk reduction is a broad-ranging concept that includes all of the 1) capability of disaster prevention and mitigation, 2) capability of preventing damage from spreading, and 3) capability for the realization of recovery from the disaster. In order to increase the level of all three types of capabilities, a predictive capability is also required to foresee what will happen. Therefore, NIED should aim to increase the level of science and technology for disaster risk reduction on all the capabilities of prediction, risk reduction, emergency response, and recovery by conducting both inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary researches. To improve the level of science and technology for disaster risk reduction, NIED conducts both basic studies and fundamental researches and developments in a comprehensive manner. In particular, the concept of fundamental research and development is classified into the following three types, as listed in The Act on the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience : 1) Research and development that is common to the promotion of all aspects of science and technology for disaster risk reduction, 2) Research and development using a facility that is considered to be inappropriate for more than one national testing and research organization or independent administrative agencies to install because a large amount of money is required to set up, and 3) Comprehensive research and development that requires cooperation from a number of different disciplines. In fact, the promotion of fundamental research and development on science and technology for disaster risk reduction is equivalent to treating all the subjects of risk reduction and disaster management as our research subjects; thus research activities of NIED have great flexibility and potential. From April of 2015, NIED embarked on a new journey as a National Research and Development Agency with the goal to maximize the research outcomes. And a new seven-year Medium-term Plan has started from April of 2016. In this Medium-term Plan, NIED makes efforts to be the core institute of innovation in science and technology for disaster risk reduction pursuing an aim to become the hub that realizes a society resilient to natural disasters in cooperation with a wide variety of stakeholders associated with domestic and international disaster risk reductions. All of us from NIED would very much appreciate it if you would give us the warmest and kindest support for our new mission.
Basic Research Earthquake and Tsunami Research Volcano Disaster Resilience Research Earthquake Disaster Mitigation Research Storm, Flood and Landslide Research Snow and Ice Research Disaster Risk Reduction And Resilient Social System Research Disaster Resilience Research Strategic Enhancement of Earthquake and Tsunami Forecasting Technology NIED contributes to reduce the risk of earthquake and tsunami damage through the state-of-the-art real time forecasting technology and to enhance the technology for long-term assessment of earthquake and tsunami damage. Development of Monitoring and Forecasting Technology for Volcanic Activity We promote research and development for quantitative assessment of volcanic disasters by using monitoring data of remote sensing and V-net deployed at 16 volcanoes. Research and Development for Our Society's Resilience Against Large Earthquakes To mitigate earthquake disaster and establish our society's resilience, NIED promotes research and development useful for enhancing techniques and strengthening infrastructural systems using E-Defense. Research on Forecasting of Water-related Disasters We pursue to mitigate water and landslide-related disasters resulting from complex factors by promoting the clarification of occurrence mechanism of the disaster and developing the more accurate monitoring and forecasting methods. Research on Forecasting of Snow and Ice-related Disasters Through cooperation with stakeholders, NIED provides accurate information for hazard mitigation based on development of snow disaster monitoring and forecasting methods. Integrated Assessment of Disaster Occurrence Probability and Social Vulnerability NIED contributes to the realization of a society that enables disaster response countermeasures based on multi-hazard risk assessment. Improvement of Comprehensive Disaster Resilience Using Information Products and Technologies NIED pushes forward with research on countermeasure method and technology to improve capabilities of risk reduction, emergency response, and recovery, which enables a society to share and use the disaster information. Study of Disaster Process as Social Phenomenon and Realization of Effective Disaster Response NIED aims to determine the disaster process as a social phenomenon and realize the disaster response by identifying the human behavior in a disaster event and the disaster response process as an information processing process and creating a model of the recovery from a disaster. Center for Fundamental Research and Development Network Center for Earthquake, Tsunami and Volcano Center for Comprehensive Management of Disaster Information Center for Advanced Research Facility Research Center for Reinforcement of Resilient Function Innovation Center for Meteorological Disaster Mitigation Center for Integrated Volcano Research Toward Damage Estimation by Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Realtime Using Network Data With high-performance and accuracy seismographs distributed across Japan, NIED observes various types of seismic motions (from weak to strong) and tsunami behavior. NIED also monitors volcanoes with the volcano observation network. Collection of Comprehensive Knowledge (Information) of Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction NIED provides knowledge of science and technology for disaster risk reduction including past records, current situation, and future forecasts to be used in disaster prevention, response, and recovery in cooperation with administrative agencies, research institutes, and universities. Promotion of Science and Technology for Innovations in Disaster Risk Reduction Using Advanced Research Facilities NIED will organize and utilize the large-scale experiment facilities that can simulate various natural conditions to accelerate innovation in disaster risk reduction, and also will provide and disseminate the research outcomes obtained in the experiments using the large-scale experiment facilities based on the Open Science framework. Promotion of SIP Enhancement of Societal Resiliency Against Natural Disasters We accelerate research and development activities for implementing resilient disaster prevention and mitigation functions in society by collaborating with related organizations and ministries and improving NIED s strong areas. Hub of Researches and Human Resources in Collaboration with Industry, Academia, Government NIED aims to implement research outcomes in society in cooperation with industry, academia, and government through systemization of meteorological disaster forecasting information and evaluation and standardization of measurement technology related to disaster prevention. Integrated Evaluation of Volcanic Activities and Mitigation of Volcanic Hazards NIED predicts the transition of volcanic activities and the occurrence of volcanic hazards by observing volcanoes and conducts an integrated research and development to provide the useful technologies for measuring volcanic disasters to society. 1
Nationwide Seismic Network Three Types of Slow Earthquakes S-net Various Earthquake Disaster Prevention Information Contents e-community Platform Contribution to Local Government and Community NIED operates three types of seismic observation networks deployed at approximately 1,900 locations nationwide. With these high-performance and high-precision networks, various types of seismic signals from weak to strong motions are detectable. The recorded data are available to the public on the Internet. With the seismic observation networks, NIED discovered deep low-frequency tremors and revealed that shallow very-low-frequency earthquakes and deep low-frequency-tremors are accompanied by long-term slow slip events that occur approximately once every six years. S-net, composed of cabled seismographs and tsunami sensors, are deployed at 150 locations at the sea bottom along the Japan Trench for early detection and information transmission of earthquake and tsunami. S-net is connected through optical fiber cables that enable the observation of earthquake and tsunami occurring in the region in real time and 24 hours a day. NIED provides various contents for earthquake disaster prevention such as Kyoshin monitor that enables visualization of the current ground motion of Japan Island, J-RISQ that estimates earthquake damage in real time, and J-SHIS that sends out earthquake hazard information including National Seismic Hazard Maps. NIED has developed the e-community platform (e-comi), an WEB-based information system, that can be used with the integration of various disaster information and the sharing of information with stakeholders for planning of disaster prevention at normal times and decision making at the scene of disaster. This can be used as disaster-risk management system by local community and government. With using e-comi, NIED has assisted the disaster response and the recovery and reconstruction activities at the scene of disasters including the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the disaster prevention activities at normal times all around the nation. NIED has contributed to the realization of appropriate decision making at the scene of disasters and the establishment of cooperative relationship among various stakeholders that promote the effective risk communication at normal times. NIED s Major Research Outcomes NIED carries out a variety of research activities toward the realization of a society resilient to natural disasters. Here are recent major research outcomes from our research activities for over 50 years. Earthquake Early Warning The not-yet-arrived method for rapid hypocenter determination developed by NIED has been implemented in the JMA s early warning system. Also NIED has been contributing approximately 80% of data used for the earthquake early warning at JMA. Volcanic Disaster Simulation To mitigate volcanic disaster with understanding mechanism of volcanic eruption, we are developing volcanic eruption and disaster forecasting technologies with numerical simulation by modeling a variety of volcanic phenomena including lava flows, volcanic ash fall, and pyroclastic flows. Volcano Observation Network (V-net) The volcano observation network, located at 16 volcanoes nationwide, is composed of high-sensitivity seismometer, tiltmeters, and GNSS, which can monitor volcanic activities such as volcanic earthquakes, crustal movement, and volcanic eruptions in real time. The obtained data are used for research and development for forecasting of volcanic disasters and provided to the other related organizations. Development of New Monitoring Technology for Volcano NIED conducts research and development for a short-time forecasting of volcanic activities and disasters caused by a volcano eruption using new technologies of volcano monitoring such as the surface deformation monitoring by radar, the surface phenomena monitoring by optical remote sensing, and the automatic volcanic ash sampling and portable analysis systems. Contribution to Earthquake Disaster Mitigation Seismic Diagnostic and Reinforcing Methods for Wooden School Building Development of X-band MP Radar Contribution to the Forecasting Technologies for Slope Failure Snow Disaster Forecasting System Supporting Safe and Comfortable Life in Snowy Region The results of the E-Defense tests on damages of medical facilities and behaviors inside rooms of a high-rise building under long-period ground motion are compiled in handbooks distributed to medical institutions and municipalities. The E-Defense test results of a school gymnasium are introduced in a MEXT s guidebook concerning earthquake protection for school administrators. Based on the E-Defense test results obtained in cooperation with Hyogo Prefecture, the methods of seismic diagnosis and reinforcement for a wooden school building are established. These methods were employed for a historical elementary school built in 1937. NIED has developed high-resolution X-band MP radar and patented methods of rainfall intensity estimation and radio extinction area detection. The technology was transferred to MLIT s XRAIN to enable accurate monitoring of torrential rain. With experiments using the world s largest rainfall simulator, we have developed technologies for forecasting the time when a slope fails, estimating how far a landslide may reach, and monitoring a slope. A part of its outcomes is incorporated in the MLIT s technical guideline for countermeasures against deep-seated landslides. NIED developed the real time forecasting technology of snow and ice-related disaster based on researches for the observation and modeling of snow and ice-related phenomena such as avalanches, blowing snow, and snow accretion. The evaluation experiment of its outcomes is conducted through cooperation with local governments and road administrators. Cryospheric Environment Simulator, the world s largest class snowfall facility, is used widely by domestic and foreign research institutes and companies to reproduce various snow and ice-related phenomena, such as snow/ice accretion, blowing snow, avalanche, snow load on buildings, to provide better understanding and solutions of snow disasters. 2 3
Location of research centers and observation stations NIED conducts research activities at its four research centers. NIED s observation networks that observe seismic, tsunami, volcanic, and meteorological activities are composed of approximately 2,200 observation stations installed throughout the country. Hi-net, KiK-net Hi-net is an observation network composed of high-sensitivity seismographs installed at bottoms of boreholes to detect weak seismic signal from micro-earthquakes. KiK-net is a network of strong motion seismographs installed on ground surface and in the same boreholes as Hi-net. Those data are also transmitted to JMA and used in Earthquake Early Warning. Nansei Islands Shinjo Cryospheric Environment Laboraroty, Snow and Ice Research Center (Shinjo-shi, Yamagata-ken) Hi-net/KiK-net Ogasawara Islands K-NET K-NET is a strong motion seismograph network that accurately observes seismic motions strong enough to cause significant damage. K-NET can precisely record strong seismic motion up to thousands gals of acceleration. Headquarters Research centers Snow and Ice Research Center (Nagaoka-shi, Niigata-ken) Seismograph networks F-net Hi-net / KiK-net K-NET Seafloor observation networks for earthquakes and tsunamis S-net DONET1 DONET2 Volcanic observation network V-net Meteorological observation facilities and others MP radars Snow and weather observation network K-NET F-net F-net broadband seismograph can record ground motions in broad frequency range, from rapid to very slow oscillations. Using such a seismograph, we can analyze source mechanisms and source processes of large earthquakes all over the world. F-net Hyogo Earthquake Engineering Research Center (Miki-shi, Hyogo-ken) MP Radar National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience Headquarters (-shi, Ibaraki-ken) Snow and Weather Observation Network MP (Multi-Parameter) Radar enables accurate rainfall estimation by transmitting and receiving polarized radiowaves. The developed technology was transferred to the MLIT's radar network (XRAIN). X-band MP radar (Ebina City) The observation network monitors valuable meteorological data including detailed snow information in mountainious areas, which cannot observed by other organizations. These data are used for snow disaster prevention and snow removal. S-net Exterior view of an observation station V-net is a volcano observation network which can monitor volcanic activities such as volcanic earthquakes, crustal movement, and volcanic eruptions. DONET S-net and DONET are the ocean bottom earthquake and tsunami observation networks composed of seismometer and water-pressure gauge. S-net is installed along the Japan Trench from off the coast of Hokkaido to Chiba. DONET is deployed in the area off Kumano-nada in Nankai Trough and Kii channel. NIED boasts the world's largest-scale of ocean bottom observation networks of more than 200 observatories. They are expected to contribute to the early detection of earthquake and tsunami. V-net S-net observation unit DONET observation unit V-net
Center for Comprehensive Management of Disaster Information Disaster Information Library NIED s Major Research Facilities E-Defense -shi, Ibaraki Hyogo Miki-shi, Hyogo Shinjo Shinjo-shi, Yamagata Common use Disaster Prevention Information System Common use Common use Hyogo DIL has collected and provided documents and informations about a wide variety of natural disasters. Those materials of past records, current information, and future forecasting of natural disasters are available for all people involved in disaster prevention activities. Super Computer Building is an intelligence infrastructure, composed of the large-scale simulation system and information transmission cloud computing system with the large-scale parallel computer as its core function. The facility operates these disaster prevention information systems to provide the field crossing and strategic information, such as a response to widespread complex disasters. Cryospheric Environment Simulator E-Defense is the world s largest three-dimensional fullscale earthquake testing facility that can simulate complecated three-dimensional ground motion as an actual earthquake. The table size is 15m by 20m and its loading capacity is 1,200 ton. E-Defense provides collapsing processes and behaviors of a structure model on the table that precisely simulates ground motion recorded during actual earthquake events such as the Great Hanshin/Awaji Earthquake and the Great East Japan Earthquake. Large-scale Earthquake Simulator Common use Common use Shinjo Cryospheric Environment Simulator is the world s largest class of snowfall facility that can reproduce cryospheric environment including the snowfall similar to the natural one. The facility is widely utilized not only by public institutes but also by private companies for researches on snow problems and development of countermeasures. Network Center for Earthquake, Tsunami and Volcano Cumulonimbus Cloud Observation Sensor System Large-scale Rainfall Simulator Common use L76m Structure: W49m L76m H21m H21m 72 44m m W49 m Large door (Double sided) Maximum height of opening: 8m Shaking test of a five-story pagoda (scale: 1/5) Since 1970, the Large-scale Earthquake Simulator has performed shaking tests on buildings, houses, bridges, embankments, tunnels, industrial facilities, and nuclear facilities to improve their seismic performance. The shake table simulates ground motion such as the Great Hanshin/Awaji Earthquake in horizontally one direction. 6 Kyoshin monitor The network center provides stable operation of the seismic and tsunami observation networks that cover both land (Hi-net, F-net, K-NET, and KiK-net) and ocean areas (S-net, DONET) and the volcano observation network. Various phenomena detected by the networks and obtained data archived with data obtained from other related organizations are accessible to the public. The network center also consistently provides the information about seismic activities and tsunami behaviors after analytical processing of the data observed in real time. X-band MP radar (Kisarazu City) NIED develops one-hour ahead forecasting method of extreme weather by combining cloud radars, Doppler lidars, microwave radiometers, and X-band MP radars, which can observe atmospheric condition and clouds prior to the formation of cumulonimbi that could cause extreme weather such as torrential rain or tornado. Rainfall area: 44m 72m 5 divisions The large-scale rainfall simulator is the world s largest class of water sprinkling facility that can simulate rainfalls with intensity of 15-300mm/hr. The simulator is used to conduct research to clarify the mechanism of water-related disasters such as landslide. 7
Organization, staff, and budget Organization Staff Board members: 4 (including 1 part-time member) Full-time staff members: 249 Budget Revenue in fiscal year 2016:9.2billion yen Expenditure in fiscal year 2016: 9.2billion yen 8
History of NIED (September 1959: Ise Bay typhoon) (January 1963: (Showa 38) Heavy snowfall) April 1963: NRCDP established in Tokyo (June 1964: Niigata Earthquake) December 1964: Institute of Snow and Ice Studies established in Nagaoka August 1965: Marine Observation Tower completed in Hiratsuka June 1967: Strong Motion Earthquake Observation Council established July 1967: Hiratsuka Branch established October 1969: Shinjo Branch established June 1970: Large-scale Earthquake Simulator completed (The first facility in Science City) March 1973: Iwatsuki Crustal Activity Observatory completed March 1974: Large-scale Rainfall Simulator completed in April 1978: Headquarters moved from Tokyo to Science City March 1984: Kanto and Tokai Crustal Activity Observation Network formed June 1990: Reorganization from NRCDP to NIED completed April 1993: Reorganization (Research Center for Earthquake Prediction established) (January 1995: Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake (Great Hanshin/Awaji Earthquake) March 1996: Sagami-Bay Sea Bottom Earthquake Observatory completed May 1996: Reorganization (RCEP renamed the Earthquake Research Center) June 1996: K-NET (Kyoshin Net) started operation March 1997: Cryospheric Environment Simulator completed (Shinjo) April 1997: Construction and operation of Hi-net (High sensitivity seismograph network), KiK-net (Kiban Kyoshin-net), and F-net (Broad-band seismograph network) started April 1999: Reorganization (National Information Center for Earthquakes and Disasters established) April 2001: October 2002: April 2003: October 2004: March 2005: April 2006: March 2007: March 2008: (March 2011: April 2011: April 2013: October 2014: April 2015: April 2016: The independent administrative institution, the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, established Earthquake Disaster Mitigation Research Center (EDM) transferred to NIED from RIKEN (Miki) Kawasaki Laboratory established as an additional branch of EDM EDM moved to Kobe City from Miki City Hyogo Earthquake Engineering Research Center established Three-dimensional full-scale earthquake testing facility (E-Defense) established Research organization reorganized into 3 research departments and 3 centers Kawasaki Laboratory closed down Marine observation tower at Hiratsuka Experiment Station closed down Great East Japan Earthquake) Earthquake Disaster Mitigation Research Center (EDM) closed down Research departments reorganized into 3 research departments Snow and Ice Research Center was reorganized. Shinjo Branch changed to "Shinjo Cryospheric Environment Laboratory" Research Center for Reinforcement of Resilient Function established The status of NIED was changed from an Independent Administrative Institution to a National Research and Development Agency Reorganization (Institute s name changed to National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience)
Location Directions to NIED N IE D Facilities site area National Research and Development Agency National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) URL : http: //www.bosai.go.jp/ Headquarters 3-1, Tennodai, -shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-0006 Japan Phone +81-29-851-1611 Fax +81-29-851-3246 E-mail : toiawase@bosai.go.jp By Express (TX) From Station, take either the Tsuku Bus northern route shuttle bound for san-guchi or the Kanto Tetsudo bus bound for Techno Park Oho. It is an approximately five-minute walk from both the Hanabatake bus stop of the Tsuku Bus and the Bosai-kagiken bus stop of the Kanto Tetsudo bus. By highway bus / route bus Take an express bus from JR Tokyo Station or a route bus from Joban Line Hitachinoushiku Station, Arakawaoki Station, or Tsuchiura Station bound for Center (TX Station). From Station, take either the Tsuku Bus or the Kanto Tetsudo bus mentioned above. By car Get off at the Yatabe Interchange or the Sakura Tsuchiura Interchange and take Higashi-Odori northbound toward Mt.. NIED is located on Higashi-Odori. Snow and Ice Research Center 187-16, Maeyama, Suyoshi-machi Nagaoka-shi, Niigata-ken, 940-0821, Japan Phone +81-258-35-7520 Fax +81-258-35-0020 Shinjo Cryospheric Environment Laboratory, Snow and Ice Research Center 1400, Takadan, Toka-machi, Shinjo-shi, Yamagata-ken, 996-0091, Japan Phone +81-233-22-7550 Fax +81-233-22-7554 Hyogo Earthquake Engineering Research Center 1501-21, Nishikameya, Mitsuda, Shijimi-cho, Miki-shi, Hyogo-ken, 673-0515, Japan Phone +81-794-85-8211 Fax +81-794-85-7994