Gifu University Students Win the Excellence Award at the Civil Engineering Design Competition 'Keikan Kaika.'
A group of Gifu University students from the Urban and Landscape Research Laboratory, the Faculty of Engineering at Gifu University won the second-place Excellence Award at the civil engineering design competition 'Keikan Kaika,' organized by the School of Engineering, Tohoku University and was held in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture on Sunday, December 1, 2024. This event provides a platform for young people interested in civil engineering design to test their skills and demonstrate the potential of civil engineering design to a wide audience.
This year's 'Keikan Kaika' was held under the design theme 'Oregional Transport Hub: Design a Transport Node for a City to be Chosen.' Thirty-two groups from across the country entered the competition, and five groups that passed the first round of poster screening presented their designs at the public final review. Gifu University student group presented a design proposal titled 'Unraveling the Fence,' targeting the station square in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. Their proposal, which utilized the historical background and regional characteristics to create a new urban space, received high praise.
The project 'Unraveling the Fence' focuses on Ogaki City, where water transport has historically supported the local culture, and targets the area in front of the south exit of Ogaki Station, a transport hub. The concept of the project is 'unraveling the fence by creating water transport and waterfront landscapes.' By organizing (unraveling) the complex traffic lines and their boundaries (fences), the project aims to create new spaces, provide unique water transport experiences characteristic of the water city Ogaki, and promote diverse activities by maximizing the use of local resources, thereby revitalizing the urban space.
Representing the student group, Mr. KOMATSUKI Kenta, a second-year student in the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, said, "From the stage of selecting the target site, discussions among group members were heated, with many opinions coming and going. However, at the end of the day, we were able to cooperate and create a good project. I am happy that we won the Excellence Award." Additionally, Mr. YAMADA Rento, a first-year student at the same graduate school, said, "After deciding on the area in front of the south exit of Ogaki Station as the target site, we were able to develop specific design proposals for the utilization of wide spaces such as the boat landing, park, and rotary, and incorporate everyone's opinions and thoughts into the project. I am glad we were able to shape it into a tangible form." Both reflected on how teamwork led to the award. Furthermore, the student group plans to propose this project to Ogaki City in the future.
Gifu University will continue to support students' challenges in collaboration with the local community.
- Project Proposal: Unraveling the Fence
- Student Group：
- Mr. HISHIDA Yuki, 2nd year, the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Mr. KOMATSUKI Kenta, 2nd year, the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Mr. MIYAGAWA Akira, 1st year, the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Mr. AOKI Yutaro, 1st year, the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Mr. YAMADA Rento, 1st year, the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Mr. FUNADA Souta, 4th year, the School of Social System Management - Advising Professor：Professor DEMURA Yoshifumi, the School of Social System Management (Urban and Landscape Research Laboratory)
