Civil Engineering: Research Guide

The construction industry is currently facing a shortage of workers. The negative image of the construction industry has taken hold, and this is probably the main reason for the shortage of workers. In order to improve the environment for workers, “the three laws for leading workers” was revised in 2024, but how much improvement can be expected? In this special issue, we interview people who are deeply involved in the issue of the shortage of bearers, asking them about the current state of the working environment and their efforts to improve it. We hope that the real voices of those on the frontlines will encourage readers to rethink the “sustainable construction industry.

Space development is advancing through international cooperation, and leveraging the vitality of the private sector to gain further momentum. As a result, people are enjoying the benefi ts of space technology in their daily lives, and the importance of space technology is increasing. The fi eld of civil engineering is no exception, actively incorporating space technology. As attention towards lunar development, seen in the success of lunar landings, increases, civil engineering is transitioning from a user to a key player in development. This special feature focuses on the current state of space-related development, raising interest in space development through public relations and creative ..

It may be surprising to see a feature on art in this magazine. Civil engineering supports daily life as an unsung hero, rarely taking center stage. Art is an active expression of individuality and creativity. Despite their differences, civil engineering and art share similarities. The term "art" comes from the Latin word "ars," meaning skill or craft, and encompasses both art and technology. Over time, these fi elds have specialized, but they were once closely related. Civil engineering can be defined as the essential infrastructure that supports our daily lives. Its importance becomes apparent during disasters or when infrastructure fails. Similarly, art enriches our daily lives, and losing..

This special feature focuses on the contribution of the railway network improvement to the development of land in Japan. Since the birth of railway in Japan in 1872, the improvement of the railway network has played a signifi cantly important role in the growth of Japan’s industry and economy. This special article discusses the effect of transportation system on the national spatial development strategies in Japan. First, the ideal shape of future transportation is described and introduced, where, the benefi cial effect that the Chuo Shinkansen stations will newly bring on the land development and the distribution system is taken up as one topic. Next, we look at the local transportation n..

We are now facing unprecedented events, and society is changing faster than ever. Learning is a powerful and essential way for civil engineers to survive and continue prosperity although it takes time to exert signifi cant effects. What kind of engineers do you want to be? How are you developing engineers? This special section reports 20 year-sighted learning activities in industry and educational institutions. The editors hope this special section will help our readers who are thinking about learning.

One year has passed since the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which caused various disasters, including housing collapse, fi res, and infrastructure failures. As 2025 marks 30 years since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, this special issue revisits the challenges common to the two earthquakes, such as the impact on lifelines and transportation networks. By looking back at past reconstruction efforts, the aim is to assess the progress of civil engineering standards and technologies. Focusing on the areas that were severely damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, we will examine the lessons learned and the challenges for future recovery efforts.

The starting point for this particular issue was to examine the “thoughts” of people involved in civil engineering from a bird's eye view. The special issue consists of three main phases. First, it features an interview with Elina Yamazaki, who photographed the cover of JSCE magazine from January 2023 to December 2024. Next, we received contributions from 18 authors on five themes the editorial board members set. To determine the authors candidates, keywords related to “civil engineering for people” that emerged from the two years of articles were extracted. And 152 words were collected. Based on those keywords, we derived the following five words: “symbiosis,” “ambition and qu..