International Strategy for
Disaster Mitigation Laboratory (ISDM)

International Strategy for Disaster Mitigation Laboratory (ISDM), one of the research fields of Regional and Urban Reconstruction Research Division at IRIDeS, aims to provide more practical international strategies for disaster mitigation/post-disaster recovery and to develop international frameworks that enable us to realize the strategies based on field surveys and data analysis. In order to clarify existing problems and make recommendations to the world for future disaster reduction, ISDM is researching on the relationship between disaster management and urban/regional space inside and outside of the country, through case studies of vulnerable areas including disaster-experienced cities.

One of our significant researches is urban vulnerability evaluation. Using the actual building damage data due to the 1995 Great Kobe Earthquake, Prof. Murao clarified the relationship between seismic ground motion and building damage. As a result, he constructed building vulnerability functions and proposed a method of building collapse risk evaluation for Tokyo.

Monitoring urban recovery of areas affected by the disasters in the world, ISDM quantitatively evaluates the urban recovery processes for planning future disaster risk reduction strategies. To date, our overseas research fields have been in Taiwan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Peru, China, Hawaii, New York, and Myanmar. In addition, Kobe, Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Sanriku Coastal Areas affected by 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami have been significant research objectives for us in Japan.

A research on the relationship between physical environment and disaster management is our current concern. Our challenge is to establish a systematic framework of architectural/urban planning for disaster risk reduction.

Greetings from International Strategy for Disaster Mitigation Laboratory (ISDM)

Welcome to the International Strategy for Disaster Mitigation Laboratory (ISDM) web site. My name is Professor Osamu Murao at the International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University. I am pleased to meet you.

While studying Architecture at Yokohama National University, fascinated by Tadao Ando’s space, I used to visit renowned architecture and town scenery inside and outside Japan to be an architect or to work in the design field. It was on January 17, 1995, when I was about to finish my doctorate course under Professor Suminao Murakami (Urban Disaster Risk Reduction), the 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake (also known as Great Kobe Earthquake) occurred. Right after that, Professor Murakami called me in to join him bringing my expertise in design into disaster risk reduction. I decided to step into the field of urban disaster risk reduction upon consultation with Professor Satoru Sadohara.

Then I started to help Professor Murakami at his consultant company, Laboratory of Urban Safety Planning (LUSP) Co., Ltd. in 1995. I took part in their projects, such as a survey for Post-earthquake Recovery Parks in the Tokyo Reconstruction Plan after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. I also worked with Professor Toshio Ojima at Waseda University and Professor Murakami at organizing symposiums regarding the 1995 Great Kobe Earthquake. It connected me with Professor Tsuneo Katayama at Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo, and brought me to officially be involved in Institute of Industrial Science (IIS) in the late 1996.

At Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), I assisted Professor Fumio Yamazaki with his research on building damage by the 1995 Great Kobe Earthquake, as well as with management of KOBEnet and production of disaster prevention manual of Institute of Industrial Science (IIS). I also worked closely with Professor Kazue Wakamatsu and Professor Kimiro Meguro. I then got my doctorate degree in 1999, by completion of a thesis "Study on Building Damage Estimation based on the Actual Damage Data due to the 1995 Hyogoken Nanbu Earthquake." In the same year, 1999, the Chi-Chi Earthquake happened in Taiwan, then I was called in to join its recovery research. By that time, I had already widely experienced fields of architectural planning, city planning, architectural design, structure, civil engineering, and earthquake engineering. In December in the following year, 2000, I got a position at the University of Tsukuba and opened my first laboratory.

At the University of Tsukuba, I was a member of Urban Disaster Management Laboratory with Professor Yoshio Kumagai and Professor Eiichi Itoigawa. I belonged to Urban and Regional Planning at College of Policy and Planning Sciences and the Department of Risk Engineering at Faculty of Engineering, Information and Systems. I researched urban risk and resilience engineering besides holding lectures on urban architectural design and "Urbanology of Tokyo." I stayed at the University of Tsukuba until March 2013, then I moved to Tohoku University―newly opened International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS)― in April 2013. I took a lead role and developed the International Strategy for Disaster Mitigation Laboratory (ISDM) based on my 12-year experience to manage Urban Disaster Mitigation Planning Laboratory at the University of Tsukuba. Our subject of research focuses on their post-disaster change at disaster-experienced areas and cities, and also all other possible risks from environmental changes and compound social systems. Essentially, we provide practical solutions to these issues from the viewpoint of space and design.

I treasure all encounters through my career: students I have taught at the University of Tsukuba and Tohoku University, researchers inside and outside Japan, as well as all others I have met.

Though it is a new laboratory still, I am looking forward to eagerly developing my laboratory with fellow researchers and students. Our effort is dedicated to disaster mitigation of the world. I sincerely appreciate your continued support. Thank you very much.

April 1, 2014

Professor Osamu Murao
International Strategy for Disaster Mitigation Research Field
Regional and Urban Reconstruction Research Division
International Research Institute of Disaster Science
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering
Tohoku University