JAWRIC carries out applied research on the planning, design, construction and maintenance of agricultural and forest roads. Our starting point is always a problem encountered in the field — a question raised by a municipality, a contractor, or a prefectural office. The knowledge we gain is published as reports, technical standards, training material and open data so that it can be used on sites across Japan.
Agricultural and forest roads are difficult facilities to standardise. They cross steep terrain, carry very little traffic, and are inspected and repaired under conditions that vary greatly from one valley to the next. Techniques developed for ordinary public roads therefore cannot simply be transferred. Our research is guided by the principle of establishing methods that match the realities of hilly and mountainous areas, and we place emphasis on a careful sequence of survey, analysis, trial construction and evaluation.
Research themes
We are currently working on six themes. Each one grew out of a practical issue identified in our own projects or raised by the municipalities we support. Wherever possible we publish interim findings and invite comment, so that the final output reflects the experience of the people who will use it.
ICT construction and automation
We test how machine guidance performs on narrow sites, how much of the as-built survey can be automated, and how construction history data can be reused for maintenance planning.
Drone surveying and 3D data
We combine aerial photogrammetry with laser scanning to capture the shape of steep slopes and landslide sites safely and quickly, and to build 3D models for design work.
Low-impact methods and slope revegetation
We evaluate revegetation using locally native species, seasonal restrictions that protect rare habitats, and other methods that reduce the environmental footprint of road works.
Road network planning
We are developing planning methods that assess road density within a watershed, compatibility with forestry work systems, and the availability of detour routes during a disaster at the same time.
Inspection and service life extension
For small bridges, retaining walls and culverts, we study inspection procedures that combine visual assessment with simple measurement, and methods for setting repair priorities from deterioration forecasts.
Disaster risk and recovery methods
We analyse the relationship between rainfall and slope failure, methods for rapidly identifying damaged sections, and selection criteria for emergency repair works.
From research to practice
Publishing a report is not the end of a research project. Our approach is to translate what we learn into forms that can be used directly on site: technical standards and manuals, training material, case study collections and statistical datasets. The process from selecting a theme to publishing the result follows six stages.
- Identifying the issue — enquiries and requests from project sites, municipalities and contractors are reviewed and turned into research themes.
- Reviewing existing data — past damage records, inspection results and construction records are collected to establish the basis of the study.
- Field survey and trials — trial construction and measurement are carried out in model districts, testing the method under varying conditions.
- Evaluation and consolidation — workability, cost and safety are evaluated, and the range of applicability and points to note are clarified.
- Reflection in standards and training — findings that can be generalised are incorporated into technical standards and explained in training sessions.
- Publication and public comment — results are published as reports or technical notes, with a public comment period where appropriate.
Outputs from each stage are published as soon as practicable. Receiving comments while a study is still in progress is one of the most effective ways of improving the final product.
How our findings reach users
| Output | Content | Main audience |
|---|---|---|
| Technical standards and manuals | Standard approaches and procedures for design, construction and inspection | Prefectures, municipalities, designers and contractors |
| Technical notes and reports | Trial results, measurement data and conditions of application | Engineers and research institutions |
| Training and site workshops | Explanation of standards and how to apply them in the field | Municipal engineers and contractors |
| Case studies and newsletter | Background and outcomes of local initiatives, written for a general readership | Residents, partner organisations, the public |
| Statistics and open data | Road length, structure counts and other numeric data | Researchers, municipalities, companies |
This table scrolls horizontally on narrow screens.
Joint research and field sites
To make efficient use of limited resources, we conduct joint research with universities, national colleges of technology, private companies and prefectural research institutes. In most arrangements JAWRIC provides the field sites and the survey data, while the partner contributes specialist analytical methods or laboratory facilities. Results are published by agreement between both parties, and intellectual property is settled in writing before work begins.
We also maintain model routes in cooperating districts in the Hokuriku block, Nagano Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture and Shimane Prefecture, among others. Because these routes differ in terrain and climate, testing the same method at several sites allows us to check how well it travels across regions.
Framework for joint research
- Call for proposals
- Themes are invited each April and May, with selection completed in June. Urgent topics are accepted at any time.
- Duration
- Normally one fiscal year. Where continuation is warranted, the project is reviewed annually and may be extended for up to three years.
- Cost sharing
- Costs for testing and measurement are shared under a joint research agreement. JAWRIC’s contribution is limited to the annual research budget.
- Publication
- Results are published in principle. Timing and scope are agreed at the outset, and publication may be deferred briefly where a patent application is planned.
- Contact
- Research Planning Division (info@jawric.org)
Technical advice
We welcome individual technical enquiries, not only about our research themes but also about practical questions — how a standard should be applied to a particular terrain, or what repair strategy is appropriate for a failed slope. Advice is free of charge, is normally given by email, and may include a site visit or coordination with the relevant authorities where needed.
Where an enquiry relates directly to one of our projects, we work with the responsible division. Issues raised repeatedly are recorded and fed into the following year’s research plan or into the list of candidate revisions to our technical standards.
Related pages
Discuss a technical question with us
Application of standards, design and construction practice, or a proposal for joint research — our technical advice desk is here to help.