Dr. Dungca at Tokyo Insititute of Technology Workshop on Geotech & GeoEnvi Eng'g

Prof. Dr. Jonathan Dungca, Dean of GCOE was invited as a speaker in the International Workshop on Geotechnical & Geoenvironmetal Engineering for Sustainable Society held on March 21, 2017 at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The Venue was the Meeting Room on the first floor of Midorigaoka Building No. 5. The host professor was Prof. Jiro Takemura. Prof. Dunca presented his research on "Flyash-based Geopolymer as Stabilizer for Road Embankments."

The other papers presented were:

•  An overview of ongoing research and development at Geotechnical Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University - Suched Likitlersuang, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand 
• Study on the drainage and reinforcement effect of the steel drainage pipes against flood-induced deformation in the levees -  Jenisha Singh, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan 
• Some experience of slope bio-engineering in Thailand: research and practice - Apiniti Jotisankasa, Kasetsert University, Thailand 
• Waste disposal facilities in the Philippines and its potential to contaminate groundwater - Maria Antonia Tanchuling, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines 
• Case studies of solid waste management and landfill in Southeast Asian countries-  Phetyasone Xaypanya, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan 
• Study on seepage-induced erosion at Tokyo Institute of Technology - Kazuki Horikoshi, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan 
• Microstructure development levels of Mekong Delta late Pleistocene-Holocene deposits - Truong Minh Hoang, Ho Chi Minh University of Science, Vietnam 

Participants of the workshop

Oreta at Tokyo Insititute of Technology Workshop on Structural Eng'g & Mechanics

Participants of the workshop include Professors from Vietnam, TIT Professors and Researchers of the Hirose Laboratory

Prof. Andres Oreta was invited to be one of the resource speakers in the International Workshop on Structural Engineering and Mechanics at Tokyo Institute of Technology held on March 17, 2017. The host professor in this event was Prof. Sohichi Hirose. 

  Dr. Oreta presented a lecture on "Structural Engineering and Heritage Preservation." The lecture, consisting of three majors sections as summarized below:

 

1. Principles and Definitions on Heritage Preservation: This section answers the basic question, “Why do we need to preserve our heritage structures?” and define special terms and principles related to heritage conservation such as Preservation, Restoration, Reconstruction, Reuse and Remodeling.
2.     Impact of Natural Hazards to Heritage Structures: This section presents as an example the impact of the Bohol Earthquake in 2013 to heritage churches and RC Buildings. Observed damages of the structures were presented.
3.  Role of Structural Engineering in Heritage Preservation: This section presents a framework where Structural Engineering is the link between Heritage Preservation and Disaster Risk Reduction. Research on risk assessment and structural assessment of heritage structures conducted by the author and his students were presented. 
   

   

   Dinner after the workshop

   

   With Dr. Jonathan Dungca who is also at TIT for a workshop on Geotechnical Eng'g (Read separate blog)

CIV Students Participate in Tokyo Tech Student Exchange Program 2016

August 29 – September 7, 2016
Article by: Bea Sollano and Kenneth Elevado
Photos by: Ephrem Codilla

Last August 29, 2016, twenty-three (23) civil engineering students of De La Salle University participated in this year’s DLSU - Tokyo Tech Student Exchange Program. The said 10-day student exchange program is an annual collaboration hosted by the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Tokyo, Japan with an objective of strengthening the ties between the DLSU students and the Tokyo Tech students and professors for possible future collaborations. Three (3) DLSU faculty members from the Civil Engineering Department, Engr. Ronaldo Gallardo, Dr. Mary Ann Adajar and Engr. Richard De Jesus, along with Tokyo Tech Philippines Office Staff Ms. Ioulany Esguerra and Ms. Dianne Buagas accompanied the students.

The group had a chance to visit the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and to know more about Tokyo through their short presentation. The tour began by gathering and having a short introduction of the participants to the Tokyo Tech professors and students who accompanied them. The tour went on by going to the Centennial Building then to the Main Building in which there was a passageway full of wilted sakura trees. It continued by visiting their design and manufacturing building and their co-op canteen and bookstore. The students went to witness their most prized possession which is famously known as Japan’s fastest supercomputer called TSUBAME 2.5 (Tokto-tech Supercomputer and UBiquitously Accessible Mass-storage Environement). It was designed to provide computations and storage resource for research such as processing the simulation of earthquakes, wind patterns and many more for academic purposes of Tokyo Tech and as well as collaborated projects with other universities in Japan. Another prominent location in the university is the Cheesecake Library in which it has a similar architecture to that of a cheesecake. One can really see the advancement in technology and discipline being practiced inside the library. At the end of the visit, the  Tokyo Tech students and professors hosted a small welcoming party where the participants were able to mingle with the students and have a short exchange of cultural performance. 

DLSU students at Tokyo Institute of Technology with DLSU President Br. Raymundo Suplido FSC, Vice Chancellor for Academics Dr. Robert Roleda, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management and CE Faculty Engr. Ronaldo Gallardo, CE Faculties Dr. Mary Ann Adajar and Engr. Richard De Jesus and Ms. Ioulany Esguerra

The following days were composed of visits to other parts of Tokyo such as Odaiba in which the DLSU students visited the Miraikan or The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation which explored on understanding the world of today and its future. Odaiba was also packed with malls where one can enjoy shopping from one mall to another. The advancement in architecture and technology of Japan could be seen throughout the whole city as the students visited places such as Ginza and Akihabara.

DLSU students in front of Nakamise heading to Sensoji Temple

Truly, Tokyo is a mixture of history and technology. In the students’ visit to places such as Asakusa and Harajuku, they were able to see the value of culture to the Japanese people.  Several temples such as the Sensoji Temple and Meiji Jingu showed another side of Japan, in which ancient temples were properly restored and flocked by people to pay their respects. One can make wishes through their wishing tree or prayer. It was noticed that they would impose several rules such as eating within the establishment area of where food is bought to avoid littering. 

At the last the day before the flight to Manila, the group were toured around the Ebara Fujisawa District Plant. Ebara Corporation is a company divided into three divisions that specializes on machinery such as water pumps as well as environmental services. The plant consists of several warehouse that makes fluid pumps of different sizes and uses. The discipline and organization of the manufacturing of such machinery were seen as the group toured from one warehouse to another. The dynamic operation in the warehouses showed the quality assurance and quality control in their products and services. The DLSU participants had the chance to roam around some of the company’s warehouses with the assistance of their generous staffs. The students were able to witness the different processes and stages that the products undergo from manufacturing to inspection.

Overall, the student exchange program provided an opportunity to the DLSU participants to learn Japanese culture and an avenue to meet some Tokyo Tech students and professors for possible future collaborations. The program brought many insights to the students into becoming reflective lifelong learners through the 10-day student exchange program.

DLSU Students who participated in this year’s DLSU- Tokyo Tech Exchange Program along the high rise district of Tokyo

CE undergrad students present papers at WOW2016!

 

DLSU Student delegates

Wastes are usually deemed as insignificant, worthless and of no use thus are disposed of. Correspondingly, an increase in population means an increase in waste generation. In this regard, different efforts are done for a sustainable utilization of waste. The 2016 Seminar Workshop on the Utilization of Waste Materials or more known as WoW 2016, held in University of the Philippines – Diliman on the 8^th day of September 2016, paved way for the promotion of different innovation regarding a sustainable waste management and utilization. It is a collaboration of the different institutions and organizations namely De La Salle University (DLSU), Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), University of the Philippines (UP), Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT) and Association of Tokyo Institute of Tech Alumni and Research Scholars (ATTARS).

The program included two keynote lectures as provided by Assoc. Proj. Dr. Naoya Abe and Prof. Dr. Nobuaki Otsuki. Dr. Abe shared his expertise about “Reconciliation or Diversification? – Some Preliminary Thoughts on Future Directions of Waste Related Research in SDGs Era” while “Mottainai – Wasteful – In the Field of Concrete” was discussed by Dr. Otsuki.

 
CE undergraduate students  presented their research/thesis at the 2016 Seminar -Workshop on the Utilization of Waste Materials (WOW2016) with the theme, "Engineering Innovation towards Sustainable Waste Management". The first three thesis projects on waste uitilzation in the list below were conceptualized after a visit at Don Bosco Calauan. The thesis on sea water is a research developed from collaboration with Tokyo Tech professor Otsuki.

Nikko Villanueva

Jason Alcantara

 The papers from DLSU are as follows:

• EFFECTS OF PLASTIC WASTES AS PARTIAL AGGREGATE SUBSTITUTE TO CONCRETE HOLLOW BLOCKS -Maejann E. Cuartero, Nikko Paolo P. Villanueva and Andres W.C. Oreta (Adviser)

•  EFFECTS OF FIRE ON THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF CONCRETE HOLLOW BLOCKS MIXED WITH PLASTIC WASTE AGGREGATES -Jason Alcantara, Patrisha Ayala, Veya Santos, Eunice Yao and Bernardo Lejano (Adviser)

• INVESTIGATION OF STRENGTH AND DURABILITY OF PAVING BLOCKS MADE OF NONBIODEGRADABLE HOUSEHOLD WASTE AS PARTIAL SUBSTITUTE FOR FINE AGGREGATES - Martin Benedicto, Marisue Eusebio, Jude Granada and Darwin Tuazon and
  Richard De Jesus (Adviser)
• INFLUENCE OF COLD JOINTS ON THE CORROSION OF STEEL IN CONCRETE MIXED WITH SEAWATER UNDER VARYING FLY ASH RATIOS -Christian Huy Dalangin, Jayson Marco Gonzales , John Christopher Ilagan, John Christopher Yu and Cheryl Lyne Roxas (Adviser)
• COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH ANALYSIS OF CONCRETE WITH WASTE CERAMIC TILES AS SUBSTITUTE TO AGGREGATES - Jay Ong, Angela rieta, Levin Lizardo, Sherwin Cheng and Ronaldo Galllardo (Adviser)

 

Martin Benedicto

Jay Ong

WOW 2016 is hosted by the UP College of Engineering and supported by DLSU and TUP and the Association of Tokyo Tech Alumni and Research Scholars (ATTARS). ATTARS is headed by DLSU BSCE alumnus and Tokyo Tech PhD graduate, Dr. William Hong. A total of 32 researches were presented in the seminar which pave way for more innovative solutions towards a sustainable waste management and utilization.

The thesis projects on waste utilization were a result of the site visit at Don Bosco Calauan

Acknowledgement: GCOE Dean's office for supporting the registration fee of the student participants
 - Write-up by Maejann Cuartero and AWCO