Research Topics
Development of Integrated Assessment Methods for Basin-scale Water Resource and Disaster Risk Management
We focus on developing integrated assessment methods that combine Geographic Information Systems (GIS), hydrological modeling, and extreme rainfall analysis to achieve sustainable water resource management and disaster risk reduction at the basin scale, particularly in Asia.
Our research covers a wide range of regions, from the Lake Biwa–Yodo River Basin in Japan to river basins across Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand—areas that are all experiencing rapid urbanization and the growing impacts of climate change.
Implementing Sustainable Water Resource Monitoring through Mobile Technology and Citizen Participation
We are working to establish practical and cost-effective environmental assessment methods in developing regions by validating and promoting low-cost, high-frequency water quality monitoring techniques using smartphones and simple test kits.
We also designed and verified a process by which local residents learn to measure water quality themselves and become active agents in ongoing monitoring efforts.
This study aims to serve as a model for sustainable water environment management by lowering technological barriers. Moving forward, we plan to develop a more comprehensive water resource management strategy that includes biological indicators such as E. coli.
Understanding and Improving Domestic Water Quality and Sanitation Based on Community Behavior and Awareness
Our research focuses on Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, exploring how local residents’ water use behaviors, empirical knowledge, and hygiene awareness affect the quality of domestic water and the surrounding sanitation environment. Through citizen-participatory water quality assessments and on-site surveys in daily living settings—such as educational institutions and residential communities—we propose context-specific strategies to improve WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) conditions that are grounded in the realities of everyday life.
Fostering Sustainable Environmental Awareness through Education, Participation, and Co-Creation: Developing Practical Approaches
We are developing environmental education and communication methods that emphasize collaborative learning rather than one-way knowledge transmission. Our focus is on designing and implementing workshop-based programs that engage university students and local residents in issues closely tied to their living environment, such as water and waste management. These programs aim to promote self-awareness and behavioral change.
We aim to expand these co-learning and participatory methods into regional environmental management and collaborative planning processes, establishing a foundation for environmental communication that contributes to building a more sustainable society.
