The Sino-Japanese Academic Seminar on Urban Flood Management Is Held Successfully

In the afternoon of November 30, 2018, Keiichi Toda, a professor from Kyoto University, Taisuke Ishigaki,  a professor from Kansai University and Zhang Hao, an associate professor from Kochi University visited Beijing Normal University at the invitation of Xu Zongxue, Director of Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Water Cycle and Sponge City Technology. Also, Liu Shukun, Professorate Senior Engineer of China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, and Cheng Xiaotao, Assistant Chief Engineer of China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research accompanied the visit. A group of more than 20 experts and students, including Xu Zongxue, Director of Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Water Cycle and Sponge City Technology, Yu Jingshan, the Deputy Director, Associate Professor Zuo Depeng, Doctor Zhu Zhongfan and some doctor and master candidates, had discussions and exchanges on the issue of urban flood management with the experts from Japan.

Professor Xu Zongxue presided over the academic seminar. First, he warmly welcomed the three experts from Japanese universities and introduced them to audience. Then Associate Professor Zuo Depeng, who was Assistant to President of College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, and Associate Professor Pang Bo, Assistant to Director of Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Water Cycle and Sponge City Technology introduced the College of Water Sciences and the Key Laboratory respectively. After their introduction, Professor Keiichi Toda, Professor Taisuke Ishigaki, and Associate Professor Zhang Hao briefly introduced their latest research results on urban flood management respectively. Subsequently, the experts and students from China and Japan had in-depth discussions and exchanges on related topics.

Experts and Part of Students Attending the Academic Seminar

On the morning of December 1, the Sino-Japanese Academic Seminar on Urban Flood Management was grandly held in IWHR. More than 120 people, including experts and representatives of master &doctor candidates from all over the country attended the seminar. First, Peng Jing, Vice President of IWHR made a speech to elaborate the development of IWHR in the past 60 years and its profile. Then Cheng Xiaotao, Professorate Senior Engineer of IWHR presided over the academic seminar. Professor Keiichi Toda, Professor Xu Zongxue, Professor Taisuke Ishigaki, Li Na, Professorate Senior Engineer of IWHR, and Associate Professor Zhang Hao successively gave academic reports, i.e. "Car related problems in urban flooding", "Simulation of urban floods: Case studies in Beijing and Jinan cities", "Underground space inundation and evacuation", "Progress of urban flood simulation technology and its application" and "The 2018 Western Japan heavy rain disaster", respectively. These reports were rich in content and covered a wide range of areas. They represented the latest research results of both China and Japan on urban flood management. Seminar participants were not only attracted by the rich content of the seminar, but also deeply impressed by the rigorous spirit in scientific research shown by the Japanese experts. After the seminar, seminar guests had extensive discussions with experts from China and Japan on such issues as similarities rate in car simulation, the standardization of flood risk levels, and the impact of flood on pedestrians and drivers' psychology. At last, The academic seminar was successfully concluded in resounding applause in the conference hall.

Group Photo of Part of Leaders and Experts Attending the Seminar

Through the Sino-Japanese Academic Seminar on Urban Flood Management, the experts and scholars of urban flood management of both China and Japan have had a deeper understanding of the latest research results of the other side. It is believed that this academic seminar will enlighten both China and Japan in urban flood management. This seminar is the starting point of cooperation between China and Japan in urban flood management. The experts from both sides expressed the desire to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in urban flood management by taking the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of signing of Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People's Republic of China.