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PWRI Outline

Message from the Chief Executive

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After integrating with the Civil Engineering Research Institute of Hokkaido, the Public Works Research Institute (PWRI) has made a fresh start.
The PWRI was first established in May 1921 as the Road Materials Testing Department in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and for the past 80 years has played an important role in the research and development of civil engineering technologies, including the introduction and dissemination of technologies for use in disaster situations, and providing high-quality infrastructure.
The Civil Engineering Research Institute of Hokkaido was founded in 1937 as a department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and for 64 years has been dedicated to the research and development of civil engineering technologies in cold regions prone to heavy snowfalls. It has played a vital role in the creation of valuable infrastructure in Hokkaido, along with the introduction and dissemination of technologies and providing support during times of disaster.
The two research institutions were designated as incorporated administrative agencies in April 2001, and since that time have worked to more fully realize their respective potentials, and have raised the quality of their research to a new level by optimizing their facilities and local data based on social infrastructure needs. Following is an introduction of the first-phase of the medium-term goals that the two institutions worked to achieve.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE QUALITY OF PERSONNEL
Based on our belief that the quality of personnel is an indispensable factor to ensuring the quality of research and development, both institutions have actively promoted the acquisition of relevant academic qualifications for staff. Accordingly, in the six years since our designation as incorporated administrative agencies, the number of personnel at the PWRI who have gained doctoral degrees has risen from 19 to 31 persons, while personnel who have gained doctoral degrees at the Civil Engineering Research Institute of Hokkaido has risen from 11 to 21.
In addition, during the period since our institutions were newly designated as incorporated administrative agencies, all personnel have been employed at the discretion of the Chief Executive, and new employees are set to work with a researcher in a specialist field for a specified period. The institutions are actively conducting a flexible employment system and personnel exchanges with universities, etc.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH RESULTS AND DISSEMINATION
Compared to the period before our new designation, PWRI researchers doubled the number of research papers they present at international conferences and related academic meetings, while the number of investigative research papers has trebled. The number of academic papers presented by researchers has risen from 3.5 to 4.8, while the number of investigative research papers has trebled. Both institutions are actively implementing measures to promote the quality of personnel.
Not only do we announce the results of researches in academic papers, but also strive to obtain patents, publish manuals which reflect national technological standards, and utilize local technicians to realize practical applications and specific projects for our research results.

NTRODUCTION OF TECHNOLOGIES
Together, both institutions respond to approximately 1,000 technical problems encountered by national and local authorities during the production or maintenance of vital infrastructure.
In addition, the sense of mission which underpins both institutions is to respond rapidly to requests for assistance from national and local authorities during disaster situations. Specific examples can be seen with our rapid response to such major disasters as the earthquake in northern Miyagi prefecture, the Tokachi-oki earthquake and the devastating typhoon No. 10, all of which occurred in 2003, and the earthquake in the Niigata-chuetsu region and typhoon No. 18 which both occurred the following year. The institutions also react rapidly to requests for investigations and restoration projects in disaster-stricken areas.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
On March 3, 2006, the government of Japan and UNESCO, and PWRI and UNESCO concluded agreements, and an international center for water-related disasters and risk management was established. Before that, we employed a foreign national in December 2005 who responded to a recruitment advertisement for international staff, and we also have plans to advertise further for international staff and recruit four more foreign nationals. The institution aims to organically link the research, training and information network activities, and create a comprehensive center with a truly international flavor.
In addition, both institutions are actively promoting internationalization through engaging in exchanges with overseas research institutions and various activities with international cooperation agencies, and presenting academic papers at international conferences.
As can be seen with the above examples, PWRI and the Civil Engineering Research Institute of Hokkaido are utilizing the special status accorded to incorporated administrative institutions and are actively engaged in tackling the new challenges set out in the initial phase of our medium-term goals. The evaluation committee for incorporated administrative institutions of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has appraised the two institutions very positively for the past four years, and both institutions are proud to have successfully accomplished all tasks they originally set out to achieve.
Following the integration of the PWRI and the Civil Engineering Research Institute of Hokkaido, on March 31, 2007, a new law related to incorporated administrative agencies was passed. During the initial deliberations surrounding this bill, much discussion was raised which emphasized the importance of the continuing research being undertaken by PWRI and the Civil Engineering Research Institute of Hokkaido, and the benefits of integrating the two research institutions. Accordingly, several relevant persons have become very interested in the integration of the two institutions.
Pursuant to this, we are now promoting projects which comply with the new medium-term goals set by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in April this year. With the integration of the institutions, we will continue to develop and provide relevant technologies to benefit agriculture and fisheries in cold-weather regions which experience heavy snowfall. In so doing it is our intention to become the focal research institution for civil engineering-related technologies for Japan.
In accordance with the important research and development projects in the second phase of our medium-term goals, we are focusing on 17 extremely important projects, and exerting our utmost efforts to announce the results of our work at the earliest possible opportunity in a clear and concise manner in line with our policy of "reflecting results and repaying our debt to society." The important projects are focused jointly on our central Tsukuba center and our Hokkaido cold region center, and we will endeavor to unify our efforts in those areas in which it is possible, and to solve problems encountered in the process of our researches. By doing this, we will be able to make our research activities more effective and enhance the quality and significance of our research results. This in turn will lead to us being able to repay our debt to society at the same time as allowing us to contribute to social infrastructure and the development of Hokkaido.
Furthermore, while only a single organization is responsible for overall operations at our new research centers, as the Central Tsukuba Research Institute and the Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region in Hokkaido are located far apart, daily operations at the cold region research center are directed by the Acting Chief Executive.
Finally, with the integration of the two centers, we have received a new official designation. However we remain firmly resolved to carrying out our mission of extending every possible support to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. We will continue to conduct systematic personnel exchanges with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other relevant ministries and agencies, and work tirelessly toward raising the level of research results with the needs of the national administration and the international community uppermost in mind. I would like to take this opportunity of asking all those who kindly extended their assistance to us in the past to continue to provide our new research institutions with the same thoughtful and considerate support as we move forward in to a new era.

Objectives and Projects

The incorporated administrative agency Public Works Research Institute was launched in April 2001, and with the integration of the previous PWRI and the Hokkaido Development Civil Engineering Research Institute we started anew in April 2006.
Along with the investigation, testing, research and development of civil engineering technologies (technologies and other civil engineering devices related to the construction industry and those of the Hokkaido Development Agency), the two institutions will disseminate the results of researches. By doing this, we aim to further enhance civil engineering technologies with a view to the promotion of more effective social infrastructures and the development of Hokkaido.

Organization and Research Projects

Executive Board (Outline)
Organizational Outline
Organizational Chart
PWRI information and pamphlets

Introduction of Facilities

Tsukuba Central Research Institute

Snow Avalanche and Landslide Research Center
Aqua Restoration Research Center

History

History of the PWRI
History of the Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region (Hokkaido)

Related Laws and Regulations

The Independent Administrative Agency Public Works Research Institute Law

Medium-term Plan

PROJECT PROCEDURES
The Independent Administrative Agency Public Works Research Institute Project Procedures (PDF format)

MEDIUM-TERM GOALS OF THE MEDIUM-TERM PLAN
Medium-term Goals (PDF format)
Medium-term Plan (PDF format)

PLANS BY FISCAL YEAR
FY2008 Plan (PDF format)
FY2007 Plan (PDF format)
FY2006 Plan (PDF format)

Plan for Disaster Prevention Projects (PDF format)
Plan for Projects related to the Safety and Security of the People of Japan (PDF format)