Special Issue on Protecting Cultural Heritage and Historic Cities from Disasters

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-3
Author(s):  
Kazuyuki Izuno ◽  
Takeyuki Okubo
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Cultural Preservation ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Disaster Reduction ◽  
History Of ◽  
Historical Masonry ◽  
Wooden Structures ◽  
Near Future

Natural disasters have damaged or destroyed many invaluable cultural heritages. How to mitigate these losses, however, is difficult question. If we cannot save human lives, of course we cannot save cultural heritages from disasters. This requires more sophisticated countermeasures than conventional disaster reduction methodologies. This special issue of JDR provides many examples of such mitigation in historical cities which have expanded with cultural heritages as nuclei. Cultural heritage disaster mitigation lies somewhere between the fields of cultural preservation and the disaster mitigation engineering. The first two review papers focus on the importance of protecting cultural heritage from natural disasters and the history of this issue from the viewpoints of both engineering and humanities. Twelve papers discuss engineering problems and the planning of cultural heritages preservation, cover issues such as the seismic performance of traditional wooden structures, the vulnerability of historical masonry structures, disaster reduction in slope failures around cultural heritages, disaster risk analysis at historical cities, fire prevention in historical cities, and urban planning taking cultural heritage into consideration. This issue closes with a tutorial paper showing the techniques and basics of cultural heritage disaster mitigation. It serves as a practical handbook on mitigating disasters surrounding cultural heritages and historical cities. We expect contributors to this field to increase in the near future due to the importance and urgency of cultural heritage disaster mitigation. We thank the authors for their earnest contributions and the reviewers for their invaluable advice on improving the quality of this special issue of JDR.

scholarly journals Gods and Demons, Beauties and Zombies: through the pages of Chinese educational magazine “Cultural Heritage of China”

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 214-231
Author(s):  
Elina A. Sarakaeva
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Oral Tradition ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Sensitive Question ◽  
History Of

This work reviews the Chinese cultural and mass-educational magazine “Cultural Heritage of China” going through several issues of the magazine - those of 2016, 2017 and 2020 years. The brief history of how the magazine was established and structured is given in the first paragraphs. Following are the reviews of the magazine’s issues about the vestimental culture of China, the sensitive question of borrowing elements of Chinese culture into the Japanese oral tradition, the history of state examinations. In the last part of the review I analyze the contents of the special issue on Chinese spirits and demons.

Special Issue on Disaster and Big Data

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunichi Koshimura ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Editorial Committee ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Working Together

In the years that have passed since the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake, many new findings, insights and suggestions have been made in disaster observation, sensing, simulation, and damage determination on the damage scene. Based on the lessons, challenges for disaster mitigation against future catastrophic natural disasters such as the anticipated Tokyo metropolitan and Nankai Trough earthquakes are made on how we will share visions of potential impact and how we will maximize society's disaster resilience. Much of the ``disaster big data" obtained is related to the dynamic flow of large populations, vehicles and goods inside and outside affected areas. This has dramatically facilitated our understanding of how society has responded to unprecedented catastrophes. The key question is how we will use big data in establishing social systems that respond promptly, sensibly and effectively to natural disasters how this understanding will affect adversity and resilience. Researchers from a wide variety of fields are now working together under the collaborative JST CREST project entitled ``Establishing the most advanced disaster reduction management system by fusion of real-time disaster simulation and big data assimilation." One objective of this project is to identify potential disaster scenarios related to earthquake and tsunami progress in a chained or compound manner and to create new techniques for responsive disaster mitigation measures enabling society to recover. This special issue on disaster and big data consists of 11 papers detailing the recent progress of this project. As an editor of this issue, I would like to express our deep gratitude for the insightful comments and suggestions made by the reviewers and the members of the editorial committee.

Special Issue on Adaptation to Global-Warming-Triggered Disasters

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syunsuke Ikeda
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Special Issue

The Committee on Disaster Mitigation under Global Changes of Natural and Social Environments, Science Council of Japan (SCJ), issued on May 30, 2007 a report, “Policies for Creation of a Safe and Secure Society against Increasing Natural Disasters around the World”. The report, which includes an outline of Japan’s past responses to natural disasters of a global scale, provides a comprehensive discussion of a desirable direction for the development of infrastructure and social systems to meet the forthcoming changes in nature and society. Based on the report, the committee reported to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, in response to the minister’s former inquiry. Another report was issued on countermeasures by adaptation to water-related disasters, following the former report and the result of discussions made in the subcommittee on June 26, 2008. This special issue of JDR is based on the latter report of Science Council of Japan. In Japan, over the past 30 years, the number of days of heavy rain with a daily rainfall of 200 mm or more have increased to about 1.5 times that of the first 30 years of the 20th century. It has been pointed out that this is likely to have been caused by global warming. The Fourth report of the IPCC indicates that even low-end predictions implies an unavoidable temperature rise of about 2°C, and, even if the concentration of greenhouse gases is stabilized, the ongoing warming and sea level rise will continue for several centuries. In terms of social systems, population and assets are increasingly concentrated in metropolitan areas. At the same time, economic recession and aging of the population are accelerating especially in rural areas. The central parts of small- and medium-size cities have lost vitality, and so-called marginal settlements are increasing in farming, forestry and fishing villages. These factors make it difficult and complicated to maintain social functions to fight with natural disasters. Under these circumstances, it is quite important in our country to take an action for adaptation to climate changes, where land is vulnerable to water-related disasters. The need for adaptation has widely been recognized in Europe, and various reports have been issued there. In Japan, initiatives to reduce greenhouse gases emission are being actively discussed, but both the central government and the people still do not fully recognize the importance of adaptation to water-related disasters. Elsewhere, increases in extreme weather and climate events have caused flood disasters, such as those that have been occurring with larger frequency in the downstream deltas of Asian rivers. The latter type of disaster is exemplified by the unprecedented huge flood disaster that occurred in Myanmar in May in the last year. The increase of population in Asia will induce shortage of water resources in near future. Japan, which is in the Asian Monsoon Region, has a natural and social geography similar to these countries. Japan should implement strong assistance programs based on accumulated knowledge and advanced technologies developed. To treat the adaptations mentioned in the above, there are many components to be considered such as follows: (1) Reliable assessment of future climate, economic and social situation such as population. (2) Developing physical and social infrastructures. (3) Building disaster awareness and preparation in communities. (4) Planning for recovery and restoration. (5) Research and development for adaptation. (6) International contributions for preventing water-related disasters. In this special issue of JDR, these subjects are treated in series by introducing 5 papers written by leading researchers and engineer worked in the central government. However, the details of international contributions could not be included in this issue.

Special Issue on Disaster and Big Data Part 2

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-225
Author(s):  
Shunichi Koshimura ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Editorial Committee ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Working Together

6 years have passed since the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake. Many new findings, insights and suggestions have been made and were implemented in disaster observation, sensing, simulation, and damage determination. The challenges for disaster mitigation against future catastrophic natural disasters, such as the Tokyo metropolitan earthquake and Nankai Trough earthquake, are how we share the visions of the possible impacts and prepare for mitigating the losses and damages, and how we enhance society’s disaster resilience. A huge amount of information called “disaster big data” obtained, which are related to the dynamic flow of a large number of people, vehicles and goods inside and outside the affected areas. This has dramatically facilitated our understanding of how our society has responded to the unprecedented catastrophes. The key question is how we use big data in establishing the social systems that respond promptly, sensibly and effectively to natural disasters, and in withstanding the adversities with resilience. Researchers with various expertise are working together under the collaborative project called JST CREST “Establishing the most advanced disaster reduction management system by fusion of real-time disaster simulation and big data assimilation.” The project aims to identify possible disaster scenarios caused by earthquake and tsunami that occur and progress in a chained or compound manner and to create new technologies to lead responses and disaster mitigation measures that encourages the society to get over the disaster. This special issue titled “Disaster and Big Data Part 2,” including 13 papers, aims to share the recent progress of the project as the sequel of Part 1 published in March 2016. As an editor of this issue, I would like to express our deep gratitude for the insightful comments and suggestions made by the reviewers and the members of the editorial committee.

Special Issue on Enhancement of Societal Resiliency Against Natural Disasters

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-211
Author(s):  
Muneo Hori
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Heavy Rain ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
Social Resilience ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Advanced Technologies ◽  
Estimation System

Enhancing social resilience in the event of natural disasters is a critical issue for Japan. It will requires a need huge efforts to further increase the physical preparedness; on the other hand, compared to increasing physical preparedness, enhancing social resilience is a cost-effective means of mitigating the effects of natural disasters. The Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion program (SIP), the biggest national research program in Japan, selected a theme related to enhancing social resilience in the face of natural disasters in 2014. The authors of this special issue worked as a part of the SIP for five years and developed state-of-the-art technologies for the enhancement, namely, next-generation tsunami and heavy rain observation, integrated liquefaction counter-measures, methods for sharing disaster information, a real-time disaster estimation system, an emergency communication system, and the development of applications for regional use. Most of the technologies have been implemented in efforts at natural disaster mitigation following earthquakes and heavy rains in 2017 and 2018. The development and implementation of advanced technologies are the essence of the SIP because it aims to foster innovation. While the SIP is a Japanese government program, it promotes international utilization of the technologies it develops. There are many instances which might be studied better by developing and utilizing advanced technologies in various countries following different types of natural disasters. I hope that this special issue will be a gateway for readers who are interested in using such advanced technologies to mitigate natural disasters and enhance social resilience during such events.

EDUCATION FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN THAILAND

2010 ◽  
Vol 04 (02) ◽  
pp. 61-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
ABSORNSUDA SIRIPONG
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
International Strategy ◽  
Disaster Reduction ◽  
The People ◽  
Educational Processes ◽  
Learn By Doing ◽  
Tsunami Mitigation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Better Than

Education has been identified by UNESCO as well as the UN/International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) under the Hyogo Framework for Action as Key to mitigate the impact of natural disasters. Moreover, education — lifelong education for everyone — is the excellent investment for individuals and society as a whole. It is the least expensive and most efficient way for disaster mitigation, even without sophisticated and expensive technologies for early warning, the people can escape from and mitigate the impact of the natural disasters safely if they know the characteristics of the disasters scientifically. Learning early is better than preparedness, because preparedness needs time and efforts. Aristotle once said "What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing." Education is a part of awareness and preparedness. A warning will be useless, if people do not know what to do in case of an emergency. The educational processes and institutions for tsunami mitigation with some problems in Thailand were described.

Special Issue on Extinction of Organisms

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-165
Author(s):  
Hiroyoshi Higuchi ◽  
Hideaki Karaki
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Volcanic Activity ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

Plants and animals are declining or becoming extinct in many parts of the world. They include both well-known species such as the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and the crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) and once common land snails, fireflies and small migratory birds. Factors leading to population decline or extinction include habitat destruction, chemical pollution, alien species, poaching, infectious disease, and global warming. In addition to their individual adverse impacts, these factors often overlap or interconnect in time and space, compounding their effects. In limited areas isolated by habitat destruction, for example, alien species and global warming more easily cause local populations to decline and become extinct. There are also natural disasters such as volcanic activity and meteors that diminish or exterminate flora and fauna populations. However, extinction of species and groups sometimes give an opportunity for other species and groups to occupy vacant niche and similar life styles, which may lead to adaptive radiation in evolution. Organisms have repeated such evolution and extinction throughout geological history. This special issue focuses on the extinction of plants and animals resulting from both human activity and natural disasters. In the first of seven articles, Hisashi Nagata reviews the history of extinction and the natural and human factors involved. Kazuto Kawakami looks at the impact of alien species on current ecosystems in the Ogasawara Islands, demonstrating interrelationships among different plant and animal species and pointing out what we could do about island ecosystem conservation and management. Haruo Ogi discusses the effects of fisheries by-catch on sea birds. TatsuyaKunisue and Shinsuke Tanabe detail the effects of chemical pollution on wild animals. Both factors are important in conserving biodiversity and in maintaining industries such as marine fisheries. Kazuya Ashizawa et al. focus on the population decline and extinction of plants growing along dry river beds and becoming rare as a result of human activities changing the structure of natural rivers. Yunshan Su deals with the history of the near extinction of crested ibises in China, and introduces successful recovery programs that may be useful in a similar Japanese program for the same species. Takashi Kamijo et al. detail the impact of volcanic activity on the vegetation of a small island, discussing ecosystem recovery. We hope that this special issue will lead to better understanding of the unique interrelationships among plants, animals and the inorganic world, teaching how to conserve and manage the biodiversity around us. Extinction of one species may appear to have nothing to do with human lives, but the extinction of many plants and animals sets up serious conditions in maintaining life during the changing structure and function of ecosystems comparable in process to an aircraft losing rivets one by one and finally crashing at a critical point with massive loss of life.

scholarly journals Plenary: The legacy of museum ethnography for indigenous people today - case studies from Aotearoa/New Zealand

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arapata Hakiwai ◽  
Paul Diamond
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Museum Professionals ◽  
History Of ◽  
Museum Practice ◽  
People Today

The following plenary took place at the seminar ‘Reassembling the material: A research seminar on museums, fieldwork anthropology and indigenous agency’ held in November 2012 at Te Herenga Waka marae, Victoria University of Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. In the papers, indigenous scholars and museum professionals presented a mix of past legacies and contemporary initiatives which illustrated the evolving relations between Māori people, and museums and other cultural heritage institutions in New Zealand. Whereas most of the papers at this seminar, and the articles in this special issue, are focused on the history of ethnology, museums, and government, between about 1900 and 1940, this section brings the analysis up to the present day, and considers the legacy of the indigenous engagement with museums and fieldwork anthropology for contemporary museum practice. What do the findings, which show active and extensive indigenous engagements with museums and fieldwork, mean for indigenous museum professionals and communities today?

The Research on Dragon Kiln Ecotourism in Wanyao Village, Lincang City Based on Cultural Preservation

2014 ◽  
Vol 1065-1069 ◽  
pp. 2779-2784
Author(s):  
Yan Ling Peng ◽  
Wen Ye
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Cultural Preservation ◽  
Intangible Cultural Heritage ◽  
Dual Mode ◽  
The Future ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ecological Tourism

Ceramic culture takes a very important part in the history of Chinese civilization as China is the home of ceramic. Dragon kiln, which has been put into use for more than 3000 years in China, has become to be a significant intangible cultural heritage. Unfortunately most of them are only remaining sites or completely annihilated now. Nevertheless, on the basis of dragon kiln, Wanyao earthenware culture village has existed and developed for 276 years since 1738. And in the future the villagers will adhere to the dual mode of ecological tourism and cultural protection to further prosper earthenware culture.

scholarly journals Development of Earthquake-proof Fittings of Traditional Wooden Frame Structures

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-68
Author(s):  
Takehiro Wakita ◽  
Fuyuki Konuta ◽  
Akihisa Kitamori ◽  
Yasuo Kataoka
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Frame Structures ◽  
Seismic Action ◽  
Wooden Frame ◽  
Frame Buildings ◽  
Wooden Structures ◽  
Near Future

There are many old traditional wooden frame buildings which were specified as cultural heritage or will be specified as Japanese important building in the near future. But there are many buildings which do not have good performance against seismic action. The purpose of the investigation is to develop the earthquake proof fittings, and to apply them to the traditional wooden structures. In concrete terms, the types of the earthquake-proof fittings are the Kamachi door, the acrylic door and the hinged wooden door. Strength and rigidity of the earthquake proof fittings were estimated experimentally, and they were applied to reinforce the two old Buddhist temples.

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