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Demonstration experiment project for predicting the occurrence of sediment disasters launched

Hiroshima University's Resilience Research Center has been working on the "Gagara-Yama Demonstration Experiment Project" with the aim of elucidating the mechanism behind slope failure and mudflows to protect lives from sediment disasters. The project will be using research funds raised through a crowdfunding campaign.

On November 27, two observation holes were bored near the summit of Gagara-Yama on HU's Higashi-Hiroshima campus.

Center Director Mr. Kaibori explains his research on mudslides and debris flow

Conducting drilling works

In the future, measurement equipment will be installed in the observation boreholes to measure groundwater level, water pressure, and temperature. A satellite positioning, navigation, and timing system will be set up to collect and accumulate basic data such as changes in the ground surface topography caused by precipitation.

Since Gagara-Yama has experienced repeated collapses and mudflows, changes in the groundwater level and water pressure caused by heavy rainfall and the accompanying changes in the mountain’s topography are expected to be detected at the observation point.

Furthermore, many researchers have considered the need for groundwater data to research and elucidate the mechanism of sediment disasters. However, it has been very difficult to establish an observation point in the mountain and carry out continuous surveys deep in the mountain range. Gagara-Yama is located on the campus of HU and is only approximately one kilometer away from the Resilience Research Center, making it suitable for continuous monitoring as it is easy for students and university staff to get to the site.

Walking towards the observation point

Center Director Mr. Masahiro Kaibori introduced the hypothesis that changes in water in the bedrock affect the mechanism of mudflows and slope failures, which happen radially from the summit, based on his research on sediment disasters that have occurred repeatedly in Hiroshima Prefecture due to heavy rainfall in recent years. He expressed hope that this project will lead to the development of an early detection system by investigating the relationship between precipitation and groundwater in the mountain.

[Inquiries]

Resilience Research Center

E-mail: hrrc*hiroshima-u.ac.jp (Please replace * with @)


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