People who build a dam “Kawakami dam” | 「ODICT」 Obayashi-Dam Innovative Construction Technology | Let’s know about the dam OBAYASHI DAM WORLD

Kawakami Dam JV Construction Office
Construction manager (electromechanical)

Ryo Senoo

Toward the establishment of an automated construction system

I am in charge of building and managing an automated construction system at a dam construction site. In the process of production and transporting concrete for the dam body, we have automated a series of work processes, such as sending aggregate for concrete to a batching plant (concrete manufacturing equipment) using a belt conveyor and transporting the manufactured concrete using a tower crane. We aim to establish an optimal system to realize more efficient construction.
Of course, not only the performance of the machine but also the skill and teamwork of the staff who handle it are important. In particular, since this construction work will be carried out day and night, we are working on maintenance and a staff system cautiously.

Kawakami Dam JV Construction Office
Construction manager (electromechanical)

Ryo Senoo

Kawakami Dam JV Construction Office
Construction manager

Daizo Toda

The professional point of view of safety management

The Kawakami Dam site has a wide construction area, and concrete aggregates are transported from surrounding areas such as Iga City and Kameyama City using dozens of dump trucks. We also try to ensure the safety of management and transportation routes.
We also plan to introduce AI and ICT for safety measures at sites where large machines such as tower cranes are used. In addition, we use wearable sensors to measure the heart rate and work environment conditions in real-time, "Envital®", and take all possible measures to manage the physical condition of workers.
We aim to complete the construction without accidents while considering the safety of residents and the habitat of rare wild animals and plants.

Kawakami Dam JV Construction Office
Construction manager

Daizo Toda

Kawakami Dam JV Construction Office
Charge of Civil Engineering

Ippei Nakamura

ICT strategy at the vanguard of dam construction

About 460,000m³ of concrete will be placed at the Kawakami Dam. Because this construction work will be conducted by day and night with the minimum number of staff, we will adapt automated equipment using ICT technology.
Specifically, we automate the sliding-type formwork for concrete, the backhoe with a vibrator for vibration compaction, and the green cut machine for processing joint surfaces. By using these devices, work can be done continuously and speedily, and significant rationalization and labor savings can be achieved.
Although young people do not have the skills and experience of our seniors in the field, they must take the initiative and lead the way in the operation of these new technologies and equipment. Regardless of whether one is an experienced or a young person because it is a place where opinions are taken into account, I would like to see it as an opportunity to try out cutting-edge technology and take on challenges to the fullest.

Kawakami Dam JV Construction Office
Charge of Civil Engineering

Ippei Nakamura

Kawakami Dam JV Construction Office
Charge of Civil Engineering

Norifumi Matsumoto

Advanced technology from the perspective of a new employee

This is my first year with the company, so Kawakami Dam will be my first construction site. In graduate school, I majored in urban engineering. In research, the thoughts and ideas can be implemented immediately, but in the actual field, work can not be performed alone. Every day, I realize that true “manufacturing” is to convey ideas to workers, listen to their opinions, and share them as we go through the processes one by one.
Various cutting-edge technologies are used at the site, but I am personally interested in the fact that the wastewater generated from the site is purified by muddy water treatment equipment and returned to the river. In the future, I would like to be involved in the development of such "Environment-friendly technology", and I would like to continue to study so that I can make use of my experience and learning in the field.

Kawakami Dam JV Construction Office
Charge of Civil Engineering

Norifumi Matsumoto

Kishimoto Construction Co., Ltd.
Manager of Kawakami Dam Construction Office

Makoto Yamaguchi

Taking responsibility by launching the dam body

I am in charge of the site work of the entire concrete casting process for the dam body. About 80 people are working on it, and workers from several construction companies have gathered. Each of them is a specialist in their field, but I think that fostering teamwork is essential to maximizing their abilities.
Various advanced technologies are used at Kawakami Dams, and there are many experiences of works for the first time, but the basic technology and experience are the same at any construction sites. After all, I think that the ability of people is important in the last. Along with the goal of the completing placing concrete for the dam body with everyone's efforts, we will also develop engineers who should be responsible for the future through on-site work.

Kishimoto Construction Co., Ltd.
Manager of Kawakami Dam Construction Office

Makoto Yamaguchi

My Tac Co., Ltd.
1st Division Kawakami Dam Field
Office Manager

Hideyuki Hashimoto

Maximum utilization of advanced Tower Crane

Two advanced tower cranes have been deployed at the Kawakami Dam site, making them one of the largest for dam construction. Operation of this crane is my duty. The operation of a crane is severe, and the feeling of operation differs depending on the manufacturer. In particular, since this is a new crane, we are carefully conducting detailed operation checks and trial work in preparation for full-scale operation. We also plan to automate the transportation of concrete using a tower crane.
Cranes are operated in a matter of seconds, safe, accurate, and speedy operation is required. Therefore, it is important to control own health, and among the operators some of them say, “I refrain from drinking until the site is over“. Everyone takes part in their work with a sense of responsibility so much.

My Tac Co., Ltd.
1st Division Kawakami Dam Field
Office Manager

Hideyuki Hashimoto

Seia Co., Ltd.
Representative

Shuji Inomata

Professional of quality control

My main duties are the management of the concrete batching plant used for the dam body and the quality control of the concrete. At the Kawakami Dam site, there is also an aggregate mixing plant. It's a very large scale, so the amount of work and responsibility is also big. I have been involved in dam construction for about 25 years, but in recent years the construction period has become shorter, and high-speed construction is required.
The plant also needs to operate continuously day and night, and if there is any trouble, the construction schedule will be delayed, so we are also careful about maintenance.
My main duties are the management of the plant equipment that manufactures the concrete used for the dam body and the quality control of the concrete.

Seia Co., Ltd.
Representative

Shuji Inomata

Mie Chusei Crushed Stone Sales Cooperative Association
Secretary General

Koji Morikawa

Supporting the stable supply of concrete materials

Concrete aggregates for manufacturing concrete for the Kawakami Dam are jointly manufactured by four crushing plants in Iga City and Kameyama City. While confirming the progress of the construction work and the circumstances of the aggregate storage facilities, we regulate the transportation plan of the aggregate and cooperate with each crushing plant and vehicle drivers to ensure a stable supply of materials.
The Kawakami Dam project was the largest civil engineering project in which I was taken in, and required planning and preparation on a scale like never before to ensure the quality and quantity of aggregates. We have understood the shipment volume of union companies for the past three years, calculated the annual surplus aggregate volume while considering the manufacturing capacity and the scheduled manufacturing days, and established a system that does not interfere with the required delivery volume. In addition, we visit each factory regularly to check the quarry sites, production status, inventory quantity, quality control test results, etc.

Mie Chusei Crushed Stone Sales Cooperative Association
Secretary General

Koji Morikawa

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Obayashi-Dam Innovative Construction Technology