Seismic diagnosis | Staff Interviews | KKE

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Seismic diagnosis

HIDAKA, Masanobu
Joined KKE in 2014
Graduated from Faculty of Engineering, Kumamoto University,
the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture

Evaluate seismic capacities of schools and factories

I am now involved in a project of seismic diagnosis for seemingly dilapidated buildings, including schools and factories. I make a field survey to know the actual state of the building, reflect the data into a building model using a structural calculation software, calculate the building’s seismic performance, and evaluate the performance as compared to the standard index. This is my routine work. In some cases of aged building, where renovation and refurbishment have been done here and there, it is necessary through the field survey to find out differences between the actual building and existing construction documents and reflect them in the drawings. When it is considered difficult for the building to withstand earthquakes as a result of the survey and diagnosis, we propose a reinforcement plan. We consider necessary reinforcement in light of the current building’s status of use while also trying to reduce its cost as much as possible, but there is more than one reinforcement plan, which I find quite interesting. In addition, the building’s kind, characteristics and issues to be dealt with vary depending on each project, and this is the real thrill of my work.

Every single work makes me grow

Since I have a lot of opportunities to be in charge of the entire work process, starting from a field survey to examination of the diagnostic result from structural calculation, and to seismic retrofitting and reinforcement planning, I feel responsibility as well as a big sense of satisfaction.
Although I always struggle to figure out how to summarize diagnostic results and under what policy a reinforcement plan should be performed, I rather enjoy my work every day with a thought in mind that “Every single effort I make will be accumulated as my experience and knowledge.” One time, I was asked to conduct a seismic diagnosis of a wooden building and a reinforced concrete factory, and I decided to apply some methods such as “Limit Strength Calculation” and “Dynamic Analysis” in order to evaluate the influence of earthquakes on structures with a higher degree of accuracy. Since both were advanced methods that I had never experienced before, I struggled hard to understand and manipulate the new calculation programming software starting from scratch. With support from senior members and colleagues, however, I barely managed to complete the final report to the client. This was a project that helped me take a step forward as an engineer.

SCHEDULE

My ordinary day

9:00 a.m.

Arrive at work, check e-mails, prepare for work
9:30 a.m.

Room meeting
11:00 a.m.

Check calculation sheets
12:00 noon

Lunch
1:00 p.m.

Summarize a field survey
4:00 p.m.

Check the drawings
5:00 p.m.

Meeting
5:30 p.m.

Write reports
7:00 p.m.

Leave office

A style that puts focus on new methods

I really like the KKE’s working style of positively introducing new methods without sticking to conventional ways. The work environment, where I can have a lot of exposure to performance of the professionals working around me, is filled with inspiration and excitement. When I was a small child, I lost my hearing for some reason. This is my fourth year since I joined KKE, and thanks to unprecedented various support, I have been able to try a broader range of tasks than I expected. A sign language interpreter is arranged when I attend a major event in the company, while a voice recognition software that recognizes human voice and displays closed caption was introduced in order to facilitate communication between my boss or colleagues and me. I appreciate all the support the company has given to me. I believe that I can acquire more capacity through my work at this flexible and quick-responding company, KKE, and further broaden my possibilities.

OTHER