 Japan Commission on Large Dams | |
 Sadazo Amino, President of JCOLD |
1. Outline of JCOLD 2. Objectives of JCOLD 3. History of JCOLD 4. Needs of Dams in Japan |
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1. Outline of JCOLD Japan Commission on Large Dams (JCOLD)was established at same time of its admission to a member country of International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) as Japanese National Committee on Large Dams (JANCOLD) in 1931, after 3 years of International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) establishment in 1928 in Paris, France. Since then to date, JCOLD has played a big role in Japanese Dam Society for the upgrading of dam engineering by introducing advanced technology from Westerners through ICOLD, and on the other hand, contributed to the ICOLD activities for the progress in the dam engineering, although unfortunately it has been interrupted during and after the Second World War. In Japan, a lot of dams (over 2,600dams) have been constructed for the Reconstruction of the Nation after the Second World War, such as for food production, energy production, water supply to industrial development and urban development, flood control and so on. And still today, many dams are under planning and construction for the socio-economy requirements in many parts of Japan. Actually approximately 100 dams are under construction in Japan. JCOLD is organizend as a legal body registered officially under the Ministry of Economiy , Trade and Industry and Ministry of Land, Infrastructue and Transport in Japan. And currently JCOLD comprised 80 corperate members, such as Electric Power Companies, Water Resources Development Corporation, Dam Engineering Institutes, Dam Engineering Consulatancy firms and various companies related to Dam Construction and Hydraulic Manufacturing. 2. Objectives of JCOLD JCOLD aims mainly to promote activities to upgrade technologies related to planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of dams and their incidental facilities including civil-structures for hydropower stations. In recent years, JCOLD is also emphasizing to carry out studies and researches related to environmental issues, particularly mitigation measures for impacts induced by dam constructions. Results of JCOLD acitivities are also aimed to contribute national social economic development and international cooperation. 3. History of JCOLD
4. Needs of Dams in Japan Japan , narrow lands with 70% being mountainous topography, is situated within the Asian monsoon zone. Japanese rivers are steep in gradient and short in length , and some 120 million people populate the river basin densely. During the rainy season, heavy rainfalls gush towards the sea rapidly. Not only does precious water resources run off uselessly into the sea, but also flooding sometimes harms the lives and property of residents in the river basin. Because of such features, dam construction in Japan is still much needed as it provides an effecive method of utilizing water resources while controlling floods. With the reconstruction of devastated land of Japan after the Secound World War , there were comprehensive river development projects centered upon dams on many major rivers because of the need to increase food production and electric power generation as well as to control flooding. In addition , along with the rapid urbanization and industrialzation, the needs to provide water for industrial and urban use were added to the objectives of dam projects. Such dam constructions were difficult in Japan since suitable dam sites were scarce due to the confined terrain and poor geological conditions , along with the fact that the country was earthquake-prone. As a result, every earnest effort has been made to develop operation & maintenance and construction technologies that brougth about safe and economical dams under aforementioned adverse conditions. Moreover, since Japan is densely populated, upon dam construction there has been the expenditure of utmost efforts with the participation of local residents and in harmonizing with the natural environment. It is not an exaggeration to say that half the dam construction project is completed when the consensus from the local residents has been obtained. Particularly in recent years, there has been an increased awareness of local residents in the dam site areas, they want to know the future regional development program and natural environmental protection measures in the dam and reservoir areas. Therefore, there is a need for dam engineers to possess wide-ranging knowledge and policy planning capability. Furtheremore, as regards construction and operational management, not only to mention safety and economy, there is a strong demand for mitigation technologies that lessen the environmental impact as much as possible. Thus, JCOLD is primarily promoting the following three technological developments;
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Copyright 2001 by Japan Commission on Large Dams