About US

Greeting from Director

 As of April 1, 2023, I was appointed as the ninth head of the Research Institute for Geo-resources and Environment, AIST.
 This Institute is the only one research unit that has continued since the establishment of AIST in April 2001. In the 22 years since 2001, we have experienced a variety of major events, including the terrorist attacks in the United States, the financial crisis, the Great East Japan Earthquake, the pandemic of a new type of coronavirus, and the serious problems between Russia and Ukraine. The impact of these events has been enormous, and I believe that the world has completely changed since the establishment of this institute with regard to the issue of underground resources and the environmental aspects that support them.
 In particular, the securing of "mineral resources and energy" is clearly stated in the "National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Law" (the purpose of the Institute), but I fear that our country is quietly but surely encountering a difficult era to navigate, triggered by the Ukraine conflict. In fact, the international environment on which our country was premised is changing at a rapid pace, with the normalization of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the rise of the resource-rich BRICS and the Global South, and the increase in resource and energy transactions in non-dollar currencies, and the possibility that simply having money may make it difficult to secure resources We believe that we cannot deny the possibility that simply having money may make it difficult to secure resources, and that we may even lose our country's affluence.
 We believe that the future role of this division is extremely important. I think it is important to accumulate the results (value) of priceless academic research and technological development, and build them up as sincere measures for social implementation, in order to prepare for the stable securing of resources both domestically and internationally. I say "sincere" not simply to maximize the amount of resources acquired, but also to consider environmental conservation and regional development in conjunction with development, which I believe will be Japan's weapon in an increasingly severe international environment.
 Under these three themes, we are promoting a variety of research activities, including participation in projects that integrate all areas of the institute, various research and development related to geo-assessment for industrial use, development of intellectual infrastructure such as basic surface soil assessment maps and hydrological environment maps, and standardization of testing methods for soil contamination assessment and remediation. With only two years remaining in our Fifth-term, we will be required to steadily produce results and to be aware of future developments by the next medium to long-term planning period. As a public research institute, we will continue to catch up with social conditions and changes both domestically and internationally, take the initiative in identifying important social issues in this difficult era to navigate, and create results that will contribute to society as a group of researchers with various abilities and intellectual curiosity.
 We look forward to your continued guidance, encouragement, and cooperation in our various activities.

April 1, 2023
Director, Institute for Geo-resources and Environment

Overview and Research activities

More generally, the aims of AIST in the Fifth-term Plan include:
  1. Solving social challenges,
  2. Expanding of bridging research,
  3. Establishing fundamental scientific information and
  4. Pioneering accomplishments of AIST.
Of these aims, GREEN has formed collaborative partnerships with several research departments to address social challenges and to focus on “Environmental evaluation, recovery and management that aims to harmonize environmental preservation and development/utilization”. In particular, the Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) is actively involved in this initiative. Moreover, GREEN participates in other collaborative research projects, such as “Development of fundamental techniques for significant reductions in greenhouse gases”, “Development of advanced techniques on mineral resource utilization and system evaluation”, and “Technical development of innovative diagnostic methods for assessing infrastructure integrity and extending infrastructure lifespans to construct sustainable safe-secure society”.

Regarding the aim “Expansion of bridging research”, GREEN has focused on three important research themes in a research project being undertaken by the GSJ titled, “Evaluation of geosphere for aiding industrial utilization”. For the third aim, “Establishment of fundamental scientific information”, GREEN leads “Standardization and implementation of test methods for evaluating contaminated soil” and “Collection and analysis of underground water information and promotion of applications”.

GREEN participates in a variety of other collaborative projects that are outlined in the Fifth-term Plan.
  1. Environmental evaluation, recovery and management that aim to harmonize environmental preservation and development/utilization
    In order to harmonize environmental development/utilization and support the activities of industry/society within the context of environmental preservation, and to improve the quality of life of society in general, GREEN has developed a variety of techniques for evaluating, remediating and managing environmental impacts. In this regard, GREEN is focused on research and development in the following areas:
    • Environmental impact assessments associated with the development of natural resources and the recovery and management of contaminated environments in the Geosphere and Biosphere,
    • Preservation of water resources, as well as surveying, analyzing, evaluating and managing environmental impacts associated with the development of natural resources in the marine environment,
    • Environmental monitoring, various kinds of analyses, risk assessments for harmonizing environmental preservation, and resource development/utilization in conjunction with the social sciences.
  2. Development of fundamental techniques for significant reductions in greenhouse gases
    In order to achieve the reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions, GREEN undertakes fundamental research on innovative environmental techniques with international cooperation, and aims to realize a zero-emissions society through empirical studies on renewable energy.
  3. Technical development, including an evaluation system, of a high efficiency material-recycling society
    In order to shift from a society based on material consumption to a society based on material recycling, GREEN conducts research on the development and recycling of functional materials, as well as techniques for recycling and evaluating the CO2, NOx etc. that are produced during the fabrication of these fundamental materials.
  4. Technical development of innovative diagnostic methods for assessing infrastructure integrity and extend infrastructure lifespan to construct a sustainable and safe-secure society
    GREEN has undertaken to develop innovative techniques for evaluating the integrity and extending the lifespan of infrastructure. These techniques, which were developed in collaboration with the public and private sectors, have been applied to existing infrastructure to benefit society.
Furthermore, GREEN has supported the activities of the Global Zero Emission Research Center, which was established prior to the Fifth-term Plan, by developing CCU/CCS techniques focused on resolving social challenges.

GREEN participates in research on evaluating the geosphere for industrial applications. Practical research topics include the following:
  1. Technical development and preparation of relevant information for evaluating of underground resources, such as conventional/unconventional fuel resources, metal/non-metal mineral resources, minerals, geomicrobiological resources, and deep geothermal resources/ground-source heat-pump systems,
  2. Technical development and preparation of relevant information for evaluating and assessing geo-environment utilization applications, such as underground disposal and/or storage, and geo-environment preservation of groundwater or soil,
  3. Development of geological survey techniques for investigating physical/chemical properties and dating of underground rocks and soils for industrial applications,
  4. Standardization of test methods for evaluating contaminated soils and for promoting rational and minimal-impact environmental assessments of soil and water contamination,
  5. Publication of groundwater, geological and geoscience maps for terrestrial and marine areas according to intellectual infrastructure plans of the government.

Organization

Director Soma Nobukazu Underground measurement engineering,Geothermal development engineering
Deputy Director Masaya SUZUKIMineralogy,Materials chemistry
Prime Senior Researcher
(Responsible for R&D of CO2 Geological Storage)
Masao SORAIGeochemistry,Crystal growth,Mineralogy
Principal Research Manager Youhei UCHIDAHydrology,
Groundwater flow/heat transport theory
Principal Research Manager Yasuhide SAKAMOTOGeo-environmental engineering,
Energy resource engineering
Research Manager Tatsuo MAEKAWAGeochemistry,Chemical engineering
Concurrently in charge of
Hiroshi ASANUMAGeothermal development engineering,
Seismology
Takuya ISHIBASHIReservoir engineering
Kyosuke OKAMOTOSeismology
Yusuke YAMAYAGeophysical exploration engineering
Norihiro WATANABEComputational engineering
Yota SUZUKIGeothermal resource evaluation
Yasuo MATSUNAGAPhysical exploration (electromagnetism),
Hydrothermal system simulation
Emeritus
Researcher
Kisaburou KODAMA,Keiji KINBARA,Michio KURIYAGAWA,
Takeshi KOMAI,Masakatsu SASADA,Tetsuro NODA,
Isao MATSUNAGA,Yusaku YANO
Groundwater Research Group
Leader Mayumi YOSHIOKA Groundwater hydrology,
Groundwater flow simulation
Group member Reo IKAWA Groundwater hydrology,
Isotope hydrology
Masahiko ONO Hydrology
Shinji MATSUMOTO Mining engineering, Hydrogeochemistry
Naoyuki YOSHIHARA Hydrogeochemistry, Geomorphology
Mariko IIJIMA Environmental chemistry,
Environmental ecology,
Isao MACHIDA Hydrogeology
Concurrently
in charge of
Widiatmojo ARIF Heat and mass transfer model,
Fluid mechanics,Underground ventilation,
Spontaneous combustion of coal seams
Takeshi ISHIHARA Quaternary studies,
History of landform development
Shrestha Gaurav Hydrology,Geothermal use,
Environmental engineering (Water environment)
Akira TOMIGASHI Geothermal use,groundwater engineering,
hydrology
Shohei KANEKO  
Yutaro SHIMADA Life cycle assessment,Geothermal use,
Architectural environmental engineering
(Thermal environment)
Mineral Resources Research Group
Leader Mihoko HOSHINO Mineralogy,geochemistry,Crystal chemistry
Group member Daisuke ARAOKA Geochemistry
Shinsuke KODAMA Remote sensing
Yoshiaki KON Geochemistry,Mineral deposits,Ptrology
Kenzo SANEMATSU Mineral deposits
Yuki TSUNAZAWAI Mineral beneficiation,Powder engineering,
Powder simulation
Shota SATORI Mineral deposits,Mineralogy
Takashi AMAGAI Mineral deposits,Mineralogy
Fuel Resource Geology Research Group
Leader Hideyoshi YOSHIOKA Biogeochemistry,Organic geochemistry
Group member Takeshi NAKAJIMA Sedimentology,Marine geology,
Fuel geology
Shusaku GOTO Geothermal science,
Kenta ASAHINA Organic geochemistry,Organic chemistry
Koji TAKAHASHI Coal geology,Organic geochemistry,Geochemistry
Satoshi FUROTA Organic geochemistry,Sedimentology,Analytical chemistry
Aya KUBOTA Stratigraphy,Sedimentology
Geomicrobiology Research Group
Leader Masaya SUZUKI Agricultural engineering,Materials chemistry
Group member Taiki KATAYAMA Microbial ecology,Microbial physiology
Masanori KANEKO Organic geochemistry,Biogeochemistry
Daisuke MAYUMI Microbial ecology,
Hanako MOCHIMARU Geosphere microbiology,Microbial ecology
Yusuke MIYAJIMA Geochemistry,Organic geochemistry,
Paleontology
Konomi SUDA Geochemistry,Earth history
Geo-Environmental Evaluation Research Group
Leader Tetsuo YASUTAKA Soil contamination,abandoned mine,
Risk assessment,Sustainability assessment,
Test method development/standardization
Group member
Munetake SASAKI Resource engineering
Hanae SAISHU Geochemistry
Miu NISHIKATA Geochemistry
Kazuya MORIMOTO Mineralogy
Momo TAKADA Environmental chemistry
Yuto KOMURA Environmental engineering,Ground hydrology
Youko MIYOSHI Clay mineralogy,Inorganic geochemistry
Exploration Geophysics Research Group
Leader Motoharu JINGUUJI Exploration Geophysics,
Nondestructive ERT survey,
Thermal conductivity profile,
Mobile EM Survey
Group member Shogo KOMORI Electrical resistivity method / Induced polarization (DC/IP),
Magnetotelluric method (MT),
Rock experiments for its electrical property,
Numerical simulations of mass and heat transfer beneath geothermal areas
Toshiyuki YOKOTA Physical exploration (Elastic waves)
Miho ASADA Marine geology,Ocean physics
Ryosuke UMEZAWA Measurement of electrical properties
Masashi KODAMA Physical exploration (Muography)
Shohei MINATO Geophysical exploration,
Seismic wave imaging theory,
Wave propagation theory,
Geotechnical engineering
Jun MATSUSHIMA  
Takumi UEDA  
CO2 Geological Storage Research Group
Leader Nobukazu SOMA Underground measurement engineering,Geothermal development engineering
Group member Yuki KANO Environmental Fluid Dynamics,
Numerical Modeling
Hiroki GOTO Rock mechanics,Hydrogeology
Takashi FUJII Hydraulics, Geomechanics, Interface science
Takuya HORIKAWA Geophysics
Naoki NISHIYAMA Mass transfer,Geochemistry
Yuto NISHIKI Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Clay mineralogy
Masao SORAI Geochemistry,Crystal growth,Mineralogy
Geo-Environmental Risk Research Group
Leader Junko HARA Geochemistry,
Geo-environmental engineering, 
Environmental risk
Group member Yukari IMOTO Environmental engineering,Soil physics
Hajime SUGITA Geochemistry, Chemical engineering
Miho YOSHIKAWA Soil chemistry,
Geo-environmental engineering,
Geomicrobiology
Takeshi SAITO Geo-environmental engineering,
Hydrology,geochemistry
Kyouhei TSUCHIDA Geo-environmental engineering,
Transport phenomena
Geomechanics Research Group
Leader Yasuhide SAKAMOTO Geo-environmental engineering,
Energy resource engineering
Group member Xinglin LEI Rock mechanics,Seismology
Yasuki OIKAWA Rock engineering
Manami KITAMURA Rock mechanics,Structural geology
Takashi TAKEHARA Rock mechanics
Kuniyuki MIYAZAKI Rock mechanics,Soil mechanics
Shunya KANEKI Rock mechanics,Geochemistry
Ayaka ABE Crack Propagation Analysis,
Reservoir engineering
Research Institute for GEO-RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT, GSJ, AIST
Address
1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8567, Japan