Learning from Calamities
Smart Reconstruction of Japan after triple disasters
‘Smart Reconstruction’ can be defined as rebuilding communities that have been destroyed by disasters in a way that makes them smarter and sustainable. A simple example can explain what initiatives can be termed as ‘smart’: In March 2014, Suvir Mirchandani, a fourteen –year old student in Pittsburg USA put forth a proposal to the Government on saving millions of dollars in printing ink if they changed their font used in printing government documents to Garamond - as the letters were thinner. This inference came out of his prize winning entry for the teen science project at his school. Governments and communities must look at simple and probably for traditional solutions in their disaster management and rebuilding efforts.
Japan was crippled on 11 March 2011 by triple disasters- the magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Sanriku, followed by the tsunami that finally resulted in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant melt down. North-eastern Japan faced the brunt of the calamities as a result of which thousands died and large swathes of infrastructure were wiped out. As of 10 January 2014 the human toll was 15,884 and buildings completely decimated 126,631 with many more partially destroyed. The question was, how does a country recover from such a catastrophe? Out of this real-life scenario has emerged the idea of reconstructing the damage in a way that the area is protected in the future in a manner that is sustainable.
In 2012 an International Energy Seminar was held in Fukushima City. It was titled “Smart Community Proposals for reconstructing the Disaster-Affected Areas” and came up with guidelines for information exchange between countries, resulting in the Tohoku Smart Community Initiative. This outlined a regional community model with five elements:
- Citizens at the centre
- The ensuring of security and safety
- The promotion of renewable energy
- The creation of new industries and employment; and
- The compatibility of economic efficiency and comfort.
This kind of model should be shared with the world, and a contribution should be made to international society.”
In 2012, Japan also set up the Reconstruction Agency with a ten year mandate. Under its guidelines is one of ‘promotion of use of renewable energy and improvement of energy efficiency.’ The Agency along with its other duties of getting the devastated areas back on their feet will also:“Promote experimental studies with the latest solar power generating facilities and wind power generation facilities in the disaster-affected regions; Introduce “Smart community” and “smart village” which improve energy efficiency in disaster-affected regions; promote concentration of industries related to renewable energy system in disaster-afflicted regions.
Furthermore, promote thorough control of recycling the large quantities of waste debris generated in the processes of recovery and reconstruction, creation of an advanced sound material-cycle society that links the manufacturing and recycling industries, putting 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) into practice.”The Japanese Government has also undertaken the responsibility to ensure that the future of their country will be one with a vibrant SOCIETY conducive to healthy children and the aged; with sustainable energy that is focussed on the use of local resources thus making the community an important stakeholder on the path to recovery. The way forward is being worked on in the following categories:
Initiatives
Homes & Buildings
The earthquake and subsequent tsunami wiped out dwellings in large numbers. Rebuilding efforts focus on clearing debris, levelling sites or identifying new land pockets for settling the community. The habitats are resistant to future seismic shocks and on the coastline they are built on higher terrain to avoid flooding. One example of success in this venture is the village of Noda in Iwate Prefecture. After much research and detailed planning, the community has been involved in reconstruction that is due to be completed this year. Some unique ideas have been floated to protect homes. Inventor Shoichi Sakamoto of the Japanese company Air Dashin proposes to levitate houses on an airbag the moment shocks hit. At present it can cater to only minor tremors and that too only lateral ones. But, it is a contribution to the ‘smart’ movement. Minamisanriku, another coastal town has lost 90% of its fishing boats. This town was rebuilt after a 1960 tsunami wiped it off the map. This time however the government is taking measures that history does not repeat itself. They propose to build a sea wall to offer protection to commercial areas and relocate residential buildings on higher ground.
Lessons are also being adapted from prior ‘smart’ collaboration between architects and engineers. Architect Toyo Ito’s Mediatheque in Sendai had forward thinking structural systems designed by an innovative engineer Mutsuro Sasaki who incorporated them into the seven floored media building that projected lightness and transparency. It shook violently during the quake. But did not fall and is thus a lesson for future designers. Architecture’s awardee of the most prestigious Pritzker Prize Shigeru Ban has designed temporary housing for the tsunami victims out of cardboard tubes. The result is low cost yet dignified. Referring to the award the foundation head Tom Pritzker said, “Innovation is not limited by building type and compassion is not limited by budget. Shigeru has made our world a better place”- A statement that truly applies to recoupment from catastrophes the world over.
Energy
Before & After
The future city is one that uses renewable and clean energy, reduces its carbon footprint and pumps extra energy into a grid for other use. Japan now plans to reduce its dependence on nuclear energy. Examples of this theory being put into practise abound: Kesennuma City’s Akaiwa port will have an eco-park with energy systems that are self-reliant. Unused land in Natori City will be converted into solar power plants that are capable of storing extra energy for emergencies. Wind, Solar and biomass will make Minamisoma ‘the city of the future’ by efficient city planning that includes energy saving homes.
Meltdown at nuclear power plants due to accidents poses severe radiation related deaths and destroys the liveability quotient of the surrounding region. To combat this danger Japan is turning to safer alternatives. One of them is Wind Energy. In a PPP model, experimental floating wind turbine farm projects off the coast of Fukushima are unique endeavours in overcoming the outcome of the disaster.
The Clean Energy Initiative in Miyako City involves private companies in the production of biomass energy. Wood will be grown locally for this purpose and this continuing cycle will also re-energise the green cover of the areas laid bare by the tsunami. ‘Blue Tower’, is the biomass gasification structure where the hydrogen by -product is converted to heat and electricity that will be allocated to agriculture in the region. Alongside, the hydrogen can be used to power battery supported vehicles thus reducing the dependency on fuel driven ones. In other areas like Kesennuma, where forestry is the major industry, the waste wood during the cutting process is also used for biomass gasification.
Agriculture
Before & After
Creating ‘smart’ communities post disasters needs application of new and traditional technologies in rural and urban sectors. One of these that the Japanese are propounding includes Agriculture. Domed farms produce lettuce without soil, powered by solar energy and water with higher production and a successful model that can be replicated in other regions. The strawberry industry used technology to create the right environment for a high yield of superior quality that has put this product back on the market. In Minamisoma's "Solar Agripark" (Fukushima) has indoor plant farms that work on renewable energy. A 500 KW solar power facility is helping agriculture, industry and tourism.
Dealing with Fukushima
Due to radiation dangers, a 20 kms radius around the nuclear power plant is a restricted area. Thousands were evacuated after the disaster and a large number living in temporary shelters need to return to begin normal life again. The challenges are constructing homes and other support structures; ensuring a healthy environment free from radiation; introduction of economically viable industries to provide work for these residents; and provision of a support system that will beckon the youth to return and settle in the region.
Steve Jobs once said “Japan's very interesting. Some people think it copies things. I don't think that anymore. I think what they do is reinvent things. They will get something that's already been invented and study it until they thoroughly understand it. In some cases, they understand it better than the original inventor.” If the reconstruction progress is anything to go by, it seems Jobs was right!
-Swati Kiran, Architect
http://www.reconstruction.go.jp/english/topics/2013/03/special-initiatives-in-fukushima.html http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/energy/seminar120302.html
http://www.greenbang.com/one-year-after-disaster-japan-aims-for-smart-reconstruction_21589.html
5th May 2014
Word Count: 1410