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The year 2018 was one of growing positive signs that new technologies for the design, construction, and maintenance of concrete structures are just over the horizon.
Japan is on track to be the first of the advanced countries to experience a significantly falling population. As society faces the prospect of a shrinking labor force, an urgent issue for the construction industry is how to improve productivity. At the same time, the civil engineering sector has the opportunity to contribute technological advances in response to this enormous demographic change. The long history of technology demonstrates that rising productivity has always been accompanied by improved quality.
One role of the JSCE Concrete Committee is to make recommendations for the design of concrete structures; dozens have been made in the past and some recent ones are just coming into effect. For example, the criteria for fresh concrete workability have been revised. Provisions concerning full-section joints have been laid down in order to facilitate the use of precast concrete. And a system of data-sharing between contractor and owner via a factory has been put into trial operation. The realization of these improvements has been a long time in the making.
The Concrete Committee also completed a series of revisions to the Standard Specifications for Concrete Structures at the end of 2018. These revisions incorporate technological advances made in the past few years to ensure that they remain relevant to the design, construction, and maintenance of concrete structures in future years.
While hoping that these positive trends progress further in 2019, we are also looking to a future where rejuvenation of our cities and national land will become a major focus. To ensure success with this wide-ranging cultural venture that crosses the border between old and new, it is more necessary than ever for all sectors to work together in a departure from the normal hierarchical approach. This requires us to call on our deep intelligence in order to seek an optimal way forward.
I offer my best wishes for the further development of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers in 2019 and for the wellbeing of all members.
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