5th International Workshop on Sediment Bypass Tunnels

18–20 August 2027 | Hokkaido, Japan

2nd Announcement (Updated Dates)

Workshop Statement

Sediment bypass tunnels (SBT) are hydraulic structures that gain worldwide importance as a measure to counter reservoir sedimentation. Sediments are bypassed around a dam to the tailwater reach reducing sediment aggradation in the reservoir on the one hand and allowing for re-establishing sediment continuity on the other. The latter is more and more aimed at from an ecological point of view since river bed erosion downstream of the dam is decelerated along with an increase of morphological and ecological variability.

To date, we have held four international workshops to exchange the latest information on the basic theory and applied technology of sediment bypass and to lead the world in this field: the first (2015) at the Institute of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology, ETH Zurich; the second (2017) at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University; the third (2019) at National Taiwan University; and the fourth (2025) at the Technical University of Munich. The fifth workshop will return to Japan, and this time we will visit the Horoka Dam SBT, currently under construction in Hokkaido, with the workshop held in Obihiro. As an optional tour, we will visit two dams under the dam upgrading project and Mikasa-Ponbetsu Dam, which is being constructed using CSG dam technology.

We look forward to seeing you in Hokkaido!

Tetsuya Sumi
On behalf of the Organizing Committee

Themes / Call for Abstracts

We kindly invite you to submit your abstract on one of the following topics:

• Planning, Design, and Construction of Sediment Bypass Tunnels (including sediment yield assessment and prediction)
• Operation and Maintenance of Sediment Bypass Tunnels (including invert abrasion management and protection measures)
• Geomorphological and Ecological Impacts on Downstream Reaches
• Monitoring, Measurement Technologies, and Numerical Modeling (including advanced methods and innovations)

Key Dates

Abstract submission: 17 February 2027

Full paper / Extended abstract: 6 May 2027

Workshop (1.5 days): 18–19 August 2027

Technical Tour (0.5 day): 19 August 2027

Optional Study Tour (1 day): 20 August 2027

Schedule Overview

Wednesday, 18 August 2027

• Keynotes
• Session 1
• Poster session
• Sessions 2, 3, and 4
• Welcome Reception

Thursday, 19 August 2027

• Session 5
• Technical tour to Horoka SBT and Nukabira Dam
• Farewell Dinner

Friday, 20 August 2027 (Optional Tour)

• Optional study tour to Chiyoda Experimental Channel, New Katsurazawa Dam and Mikasa Ponbetsu Dam
• Move to Sapporo and New Chitose International Airport

Workshop Fees

Workshop fee (18–19 August): 17,000 JPY

Includes lunch on 18 August and a welcome reception.

Technical Tour fee (19 August, Half-Day): 15,000 JPY

Includes transportation, lunch on 19 August, and a farewell dinner. The tour is limited to 60 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Optional Study Tour fee (20 August, One-Day): 10,000 JPY

Includes transportation and lunch. The tour is limited to 40 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location

The workshop takes place at:

Tokachi Plaza, Obihiro City, Hokkaido, Japan

https://okamotopbc.jp/tokachi-plaza/

Contact

WRRC, DPRI, Kyoto University

Goka-sho, Uji 611-0011, Japan

EasyChair: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=5thsbt2027

Email: onda.chihaya.5m@kyoto-u.ac.jp

Organizing Committee

Prof. Tetsuya Sumi—Kyoto University

Prof. Robert Boes — ETH Zurich

Prof. Tsang-Jung Chang—National Taiwan University

Prof. Nils Rüther—TU Munich

Prof. Sameh Kantoush—Kyoto University

Assoc. Prof. Sohei Kobayashi — Kyoto University

Assoc. Prof. Chihaya Onda—Kyoto University

Assoc. Prof. Tsuyoshi Arimitsu—Kyoto University

Assoc. Prof. Takeshi Yoshimura—Kyoto University

Assoc. Prof. Mohamed Saber—Kyoto University

Assist. Prof. Takahiro Koshiba—Kyoto University

Prof. Makoto Nakatsugawa—Muroran Institute of Technology

Prof. Yasuharu Watanabe—Kitami Institute of Technology

Prof. Yasuyuki Shimizu—Hokkai Gakuen University

Prof. Norihiro Izumi—Hokkaido University

Prof. Daizo Tsutsumi—Shinshu University

Mr. Koji Tabata—J-Power

Mr. Masahiko Kudo—Hokkaido Electric Power

Mr. Koichi Mizukusa — PWRI

Mr. Takahiro Sato—CRIEPI

Mr. Masato Ono—WEC

Prof. Christian Auel—FH Münster

Dr. Ismail Albayrak — ETH Zurich

Prof. Jung Shin Lai—National Taiwan University

Assoc. Prof. Fong-Zuo Lee — National Chung Hsing University