Tokyo Tech Strategic Research Field SSI Next-generation Social Infrastructure We Envision 4th Session
Creating smart cities and societies
Asst. Prof. Maki Kishimoto, Asst. Prof. Hang Song
School of Environment and Society
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SSI has established four themes, “Building a Resilient Society,” “Designing Voice of the Earth,” “Creating Smart Cities,” and “Innovation,” to move toward the future society that we want to create. In this feature, we discussed the theme of “Creating Smart Cities” with Assistant Professor Maki Kishimoto and Assistant Professor Hang Song from the School of Environment and Society. We spoke with them about their current research and other activities at SSI .
Research on urban development for disaster-resistant cities
—First of all, what kind of research do you do, Assistant Professor Kishimoto?
Kishimoto: My research focuses on urban planning for disaster mitigation using computer simulations. Specifically, I examine effective measures to reduce property and human damage during a major earthquake in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, which is an urban area with a high density of buildings.
For example, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has designated emergency transportation roads as lifelines for rescue operations following a major earthquake. If those roads become impassable, it would severely impact not only the transportation of emergency supplies but also rescue and firefighting activities. Therefore, preventing building collapses along those roads is essential to maintain their function during a large earthquake.
To address this, I simulate which buildings are likely to collapse based on their seismic resistance and which roads would be blocked by the debris from these collapsed buildings. These simulations, based on the data from past earthquakes, allow us to estimate the impact of such collapses on emergency transportation roads. Using these results, I collaborate with relevant departments of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and incorporate the findings into urban planning to reduce disaster risks.
Asst.Prof. Kishimoto
—What are the challenges of your research?
Kishimoto: One of the major challenges in the field of urban disaster mitigation is that obtaining residents’ consent is essential to proceed with development. To ensure the function of transportation networks in the event of a disaster, it is important to make buildings along roads earthquake-resistant and take measures against ground liquefaction. However, development can only proceed if residents understand the importance of such measures. This is a challenge particularly in areas with a high concentration of wooden structures where there are concerns about the collapse of buildings and the spread of fires. In such areas, building owners tend to be elderly and are reluctant to rebuild in many cases. This makes it difficult to reach a consensus.
Sensing people’s movements inside buildings
Kishimoto: I also conduct research related to smart cities.
One example of Tokyo’s smart city initiatives is the 5G antenna-equipped smart poles in the Nishi-Shinjuku neighborhood. These poles are next-generation information infrastructure with three functions: (1) connection through 5G antennas and Wi-Fi, (2) visualization of the urban environment through cameras that measure the movement of people and environmental sensors, and (3) transmission of information through digital signage.
Going forward, installing such IoT devices throughout Tokyo will make it possible to obtain a large amount of data every day. It is important to interpret this big data as meaningful information and use it in a way that benefits our daily lives.
With this problem in mind, my first step is to consider how to apply the big data obtained by IoT in buildings to architectural plans. Specifically, I want to understand people’s movements by creating a network composed of a large number of infrared sensors installed in buildings to detect the presence of people.
In this way, I am currently conducting research based on the two pillars of “disaster mitigation in urban planning” and “architectural planning using big data.” Going forward, I plan to integrate my work into research on urban disaster mitigation in a society where smart cities are realized. By sensing people’s behavior during disasters and reflecting on that behavior in simulations, I hope to recommend appropriate actions in the event of a disaster, and use my research results for urban improvement projects. Ultimately, I’d like to be able to provide people with evacuation guidance in real-time when a disaster occurs.
—Urban development for disaster resistance and smart cities both have the same goal; that is, they both aim to realize a safe, secure, and sustainable society.
Assistant Professor Kishimoto, why did you decide to pursue this research?
Kishimoto: While studying architecture, I became interested in people’s movements within cities and buildings. I was deeply impressed by the statement of Professor Toshihiro Osaragi: “unraveling the principles regarding the various environmental factors in architectural and urban spaces and people’s evaluations and behavioral characteristics within those spaces.” I felt the desire to use data to find patterns regarding people’s movements and use my findings in urban planning for disaster prevention, which has been the theme of my research until now.
Using communication radio waves to check on people’s health
Asst.Prof.Song
—Next, what kind of research do you do, Assistant Professor Song?
Song: My field of expertise is information and communications. I am currently conducting researches on bio-sensing with communication radio waves.
Various radio waves are transmitted through the air for communication. Currently, the fifth-generation mobile communications system (5G) is rapidly spreading. Furthermore, 6G, which is an even more advanced technology beyond 5G, is scheduled to be introduced around 2030. With the technology evolution, millimeter waves and terahertz waves will be used. However, as the frequency of radio waves increases, there are also increases in attenuation and energy consumption. Going forward, the question of how to best utilize radio waves is an important theme for sustainable societies.
On the other hand, our movements, breathing, and heart rate actually affect the communication radio waves around us. Therefore, by using communication radio waves to detect the movements, breathing, and heart rate of people in a room, it is possible to estimate their health condition. With this in mind, I started research on a health monitoring system using bio-sensing with communication radio waves.
—What is the wavelength of the radio waves you use?
Song: Initially, I used Wi-Fi radio waves in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for bio-sensing. Currently, I am focusing on bio-sensing using millimeter waves in the 28 GHz band. Compared to Wi-Fi, millimeter waves and terahertz waves allow for more precise sensing.
In an aging society, it is necessary to check the health of older people living alone. Currently, smartwatches and other devices can be used to measure heart rate and blood oxygen levels. However, these devices can run out of batteries. Moreover, such devices need to be worn, which can be a burden. Conversely, I believe that a contactless bio-sensing system like this is an optimal way to check health status without imposing a burden on the person.
Accelerating research into the integration of communications and sensing
—When did this kind of research start?
Song: The state of communication radio waves can be expressed by channel state information (CSI). Around ten years ago, a tool that can obtain the CSI of Wi-Fi communication radio waves was released. Since then, research into the integration of communication and sensing has become popular around the world. Going forward, sensing is expected to become a common function of communication radio waves. I believe that all smartphones will be equipped with bio-sensing functions in about five to ten years.
In this way, sensing services will ultimately be provided by companies. The key to sensing will be how to process the acquired information and analyze it with better accuracy. To solve such issues, I am focusing on research for processing radio signals.
In the near future, millimeter wave base stations will be installed in various places, and I hope that we will be able to use these radio waves to detect people’s movements over a wide area, not just indoors.
—It sounds like your research is truly an initiative for realizing smart cities!
Kishimoto: If I may, I would like to ask a question to Assistant Professor Song. You said that Wi-Fi radio waves can detect people’s movements, breathing rate, and heart rate inside a room. However, wouldn’t there be interference from various sources such as refrigerators and microwaves within homes?
Song: Wi-Fi has two frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Microwaves and other devices use the 2.4 GHz band and can cause interference to close frequencies. However, they can operate without interference if the frequencies are different enough.
Also, I am currently improving the accuracy of analysis by using AI to learn the data acquired through communication radio waves. AI learning will make it possible to estimate the correlation between changes in radio wave strength and phase and people’s health conditions based on sensing data.
Kishimoto: What about when there are many people in a room?
Song: Currently, we are able to make reliable estimates when there are only a few people in a room. Research is still being conducted on large numbers of people. However, after listening to what Assistant Professor Kishimoto said earlier, I am interested in building a sensor network. By processing the data form the sensor network, it might be possible to estimate the health condition of each individual, even when there are a large number of people in a room.
Collaboration between researchers specializing in smart technology and researchers specializing in urban development is essential to realizing smart cities
—In closing, could you please discuss your expectations for SSI?
Kishimoto: When discussing his research, Assistant Professor Song provided many hints about how to utilize data obtained from sensors. In my everyday research, I don’t have many opportunities to talk with researchers from different fields. Today’s discussion showed me the importance of exchanging information with people from different fields. In that respect, I find SSI appealing and have high expectations.
Song: Until now, I mainly conducted research on underlying technologies, and have not thought about social implementation much. By participating in SSI, I had the opportunity to learn about the research of faculty members involved in civil engineering and architecture. As a result, I began to consider how to implement underlying technologies in society. Also, by listening to Assistant Professor Kishimoto discuss her research today, I reaffirmed the importance of using the technology we research and develop to benefit society.
Engineering researchers like myself tend to specialize in the “smart” aspect of smart cities; that is, the technical aspects such as sensors and communications. However, in order to realize a truly smart city, it is essential to collaborate with civil engineering and architecture researchers who study cities. From that perspective, I feel that SSI is an outstanding platform. Going forward, I hope to continue broadening my horizons through SSI, and to take on new fields and challenges.
—Thank you very much for participating in today’s discussion.
Maki Kishimoto
Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture and Building Engineering,
School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology
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2016.3 Graduated from Department of Architecture, School of Engineering, Tokyo
Institute of Technology
2018.3 Completed the Master program, Department of Architecture and Building Engineering, School of Environment and Society,Tokyo Institue of Technology
2020.3 Completed the Doctoral program, Department of Architecture and Building
Engineering, School of Environment and Society,Tokyo Institue of Technology
2022.4 Current position
Hang Song
Assistant Professor, Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology
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2012.6 Graduated from Electronics Science and Technology, School of Electronic Information Engineering, Tianjin University
2015.1 Completed the Master Program, Microelectronics and Solid Electronics, School of Electronic Information Engineering, Tianjin University
2018.3 Completed the Doctoral Program, Department of Semiconductor Electronics and Integration Sciences, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University
2018.4 Visiting Researcher, Research Institute for Nanodevice and Bio Systems, Hiroshima University
2019.3 Lecturer, School of Microelectronics, Tianjin University
2020.12 Specially Appointed Researcher, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Since 2022.4 Current Position
Published: September 2024
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