Tokyo Station Research Articles

Assessing the impact of summer heat on the movement of people in Tokyo based on mobile phone location data

Using human location data from mobile phones, we developed a method to detail transportation modes around Shinagawa Station in Tokyo and analyzed the impact of hot weather conditions on traffic behavior. Each user's movement history was collected based on the global positioning system (GPS) communication of applications. We estimated the modes of transportation (train, car, walking, and stationary) for each user. By conducting route searches based on each user's data, we calculated the traffic volume for each mode of transportation, linking the estimated population data to network data and confirming accuracy against official census data. In August 2019, we examined the relationship between the estimated transportation modes and the hourly wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT), which was calculated by the Ministry of the Environment using values measured by the Tokyo Regional Meteorological Observatory. The results indicated that as WBGT increases, fewer pedestrians walk and more remain stationary. Sensitivity to WBGT was four times greater at 20:00 p.m. than at 08:00 a.m., despite similar WBGT levels. This may be because fewer people go out during the hottest part of the day, and the sum of those who go out during the day, i.e., those who return home, is greatly reduced. However, this trend was not observed on weekdays. The results suggest that the impact of summer heat is latent during weekdays due to the demands of work and errands but becomes more pronounced during free time, such as holidays and nighttime.

Electromagnetic field exposure monitoring of commercial 28-GHz band 5G base stations in Tokyo, Japan.

Fifth generation (5G) wireless communication is being rolled out around the world. In this work, the latest radio frequency electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure measurement results on commercial 28-GHz band 5G base stations (BSs) deployed in the urban area of Tokyo, Japan, are presented. The measurements were conducted under realistic traffic conditions with a 5G smartphone and using both omnidirectional and horn antennas. First and foremost, in all cases, the electric-field (E-field) intensity is much lower (<-38 dB) than the exposure limits. The E-field intensities for traffic-off cases do not show any significant difference between the two antennas with the maximum being 3.6 dB. For traffic-on cases, the omnidirectional antenna can undesirably capture the radio wave from the smartphone in some cases, resulting in a 7-13 dB higher E-field intensity than that using the horn antenna. We also present comparative results between 4G long term evolution BSs and sub-6-GHz band and 28-GHz band 5G BSs and provide recommendations on acquiring meaningful EMF exposure data. This work is a further step towardthe standardization of the measurement method regarding quasi-millimeter/millimeter wave 5G BSs.

Experimental studies on the effect of ceiling materials on the sound environment of underpass concourse using the station simulator

Sound environments in railway stations are often noisy because of sound-reflective materials and many noise sources. Especially in underpass concourses, structure-borne sounds are radiated from the ceiling due to vibrations when trains pass by. This results in a high noise level, which often interferes with listening to the announcements. In this study, to examine interior materials that effectively reduce such noise in railway stations, the following measurements and laboratory experiments were carried out: 1) Field measurements of vibrations of the ceiling and environmental sound in stations in Tokyo. 2) Reproduction of vibrations and sounds in the station simulator (full-scale mock-up of a station building), under the four different types of ceilings. 3) Auditory tests to evaluate the noisiness of train passing sounds and environmental sounds, using reproduced sounds in the station simulator as test sounds. As a result, the ceiling with damping material was effective for structure-borne sound, while the ceiling with porous sound-absorbing material was effective for air-borne sound. This result suggests that it is important to consider the placement of ceiling materials according to the noise situations.

The central station in Tokyo 23 wards for land transaction prices

The central station in Tokyo 23 wards for land transaction prices

Association between bystander intervention and emergency medical services and the return of spontaneous circulation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring at a train station in the Tokyo metropolitan area: A retrospective cohort study

AimThe purpose of this study was to stratify patients who achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with bystander procedures pre-emergency medical service (EMS) arrival and those who achieved ROSC with procedures post-EMS arrival, compare outcomes at 1-month, and identify factors associated with pre-EMS-arrival-ROSC. MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis of OHCAs occurring at stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area between 2014 and 2018 was conducted. Subjects were stratified by ROSC phase (categorized as pre- and post-EMS arrival and non-ROSC). Survival at 1-month post-OHCA and the percentage of favourable neurological function in each ROSC phase were analysed. In addition, factors associated with Pre-EMS-arrival-ROSC were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The time of occurrence of OHCA was classified into four-time categories as follows. Rush hour on morning [7:00–9:00], Rush hour on evening [17:00–21:00], Daytime [9:00–17:00], and Night or Early morning [21:00–7:00]. ResultsAmong the 63,089 OHCA in the dataset, 702 were analysed. At 1-month after OHCA occurrence, Pre-EMS-arrival ROSC had higher survival rates than post-EMS-arrival ROSC (86.8% vs. 54.1%) and CPC1-2 rates (73.6% vs. 38.5%). Pre-EMS-arrival ROSC was associated (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) with non-older-adult patients (1.59 [1.05–2.43]), witnessed OHCA (1.82 [1.03–3.31]), evening rush-hour (17:00–21:00; 2.08 [1.05–4.11]), conventional CPR (33.42 [7.82–868.44]), hands-only CPR (17.06 [4.30–436.48]), bystander defibrillation performed once (3.31 [1.59–6.99]). ConclusionsIn an OHCA at a station in Tokyo, ROSC achieved with bystander treatment alone had a better outcome at 1-month compared to ROSC with EMS intervention

Super-resolution of three-dimensional temperature and velocity for building-resolving urban micrometeorology using physics-guided convolutional neural networks with image inpainting techniques

This study proposes a convolutional neural network (CNN) that enhances the resolution of instantaneous snapshots of three-dimensional air temperature and wind velocity fields around buildings in urban areas. The CNN not only increases the resolution of flow fields but also recovers the missing data associated with changes in resolution-dependent building shapes. The proposed CNN incorporates gated convolution, which is an image inpainting technique that infers missing pixels, to improve accuracy. The CNN performance has been verified via supervised learning utilizing building-resolving micrometeorological simulations around Tokyo Station in Japan. The CNN has successfully reconstructed the temperature and velocity fields around the high-resolution buildings, despite the missing data at lower altitudes due to the coarseness of the low-resolution buildings. This result implies that near-surface flows can be inferred from flows above buildings. This hypothesis has been assessed through numerical experiments in which all inputs below a certain height are set as missing values. This research suggests that airflows around buildings can be efficiently estimated by combining neural network inferences and low-resolution fluid simulations.

Development of railway station plazas: Impact on land prices of surrounding areas

Improvement in the built environment is an essential component of transit-oriented development; however, the economic effects of such investments have not yet been fully understood because their investigation requires a suitable empirical case. Using the decentralized development of station plazas, this study identified the conditions under which plaza development raises the economic value of the surrounding areas. We empirically analyzed the impact of station plaza development on the land prices of 3870 properties in the surrounding areas at 181 of the 1556 stations in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area from 2000 to 2010, where station plazas were developed for the revitalization of station areas in a mature urban economy. Mahalanobis distance matching was applied to obtain the treatment effect, and the heterogeneity in the effects on the land price of properties by land-use pattern and geographical location was analyzed. The results showed that the properties benefited from station plaza development depending on the accessibility to and from the nearest station and the Tokyo Station (the central station) and their land-use patterns. The study found that there could be a redistributive effect in that the plaza development had positive effects on land price changes around the stations and negative effects in places far from the stations.

歴史的建造物の活用を含む都市開発事業の成立に向けた方策に関する研究

This study investigated measures for the establishment of urban development projects that include the utilization of historical buildings by targeting 10 cases around Tokyo Station. As a result, new findings on the following four goals were obtained:

Effects of solar radiation in the streets on pedestrian route choice in a city during the summer season

There is a hypothesis that on severe hot weather days, pedestrians may choose routes based on the presence of solar radiation. However, this hypothesis is yet to be verified. Therefore, the present study experimentally clarified the effect of solar radiation in streets on pedestrian route choice. In the experiments, nineteen participants walked freely from the starting point to the designated destination on a sunny summer day. The area for the experiment is a commercial area around the Tokyo Station, which is the central area of Tokyo, Japan. In the experiment, participants were asked to verbalize the reasons for their route choices at every diverging point during their walk. The results are as follows: Most participants chose shaded routes in front of a large commercial facility. The most common reason given was “because there is shade” (28.2%), indicating that the presence or absence of shade is a major factor in route choice under severe thermal environment. Furthermore, in the questionnaire conducted after the walk, the most common reason participants provided for choosing shade was to protect their health, such as preventing heat stroke and sunburn. In summary, participant responses indicated their awareness of the dangers of solar radiation and their defensive motivation to avoid it, which might have led them to prioritize shade over other reasons in their route choice. The clarification of the effect of solar radiation on pedestrian route choice and the reasons for choosing shaded areas is very useful for future consideration in building design and urban planning.

An Application of the Node Place Model to Explore the Interactive Mechanism Between Rail Stations and Urban Functions--A Comprehensive Analysis and a Case Study in Guangzhou

In the recent two decades, transit-oriented development (TOD) has been applied to deal with multiple traffic problems. To alleviate the urban traffic pressure, the Chinese government aims to establish rail transit in numerous cities, including the traditional rail, metro rail, light rail, and high-speed rail (HSR). Based on the notion of TOD, the balance of transport service and urban development is important for the TOD railway station. To explore the interaction mechanism between railway stations and surrounding area, this paper focuses on the coordinated evaluation of the interaction using the mode-place model. In the first part, a literature review is done to explore the overall interactive effects between node and place and the mode-place model applied to rail stations in Tokyo, Korea, and Shanghai. In general, there is a robust relationship between the transport service and the urban development of surrounding areas, and this interaction is affected by the location of rail stations. Furthermore, the application of this model not only corroborates these effects but also provides insight into the future development of rail stations. In the second part, the node place model is used to assess the node and place development of Guangzhou metro stations. The result shows that location, functional characteristics, and government planning play essential roles in the station area development.

Investigation of the Visual Environment of Railway Station Stairs Using Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation Methods

A qualitative evaluation was performed by comprehensively considering the lighting environment of each staircase of 20 railway stations in Tokyo, the width of the stairs, the type of ceiling, wall lighting fixtures, and the color. As a result of the quantitative evaluation of 20 stairs, it was found that a difference of up to 400 lx occurred in the measurement results of the entrance, exit, and middle landing, even for the same stairs. As a result of qualitative evaluation, it was found that the quantitative evaluation result and the simple proportional relationship were not established. It was found that simply physically brightening a space cannot make a comfortable and safe space, and in some cases, glare is likely to occur. As a result of the analysis of variance and correlation analysis, it was found that the characteristics of the space, especially the material of the wall and the location of the lighting equipment, had a large effect on the impression of the space. As a result of simulation analysis, it was found that the performance varied greatly depending on the installation location of the lighting. In particular, the method of installing the line light source close to the ground was effective. In designing stair lighting for public facilities in the future, it is considered that qualitative factors such as the finishing of walls and ceilings, installation positions, and angles of lighting fixtures, which are environmental components other than lighting, should also be considered.

Lighting techniques considering the safety and comfort of the elderly in the railway station space

Modern railway station spaces are being developed to be large and multifunctional through integration with commercial districts. They can go beyond their usual functions of transportation facilities to meet social requirements. The staircase space is a dynamic component of railway space where many users move simultaneously, and it requires appropriate safety measures. The objectives of this study are twofold: to clarify the effect of (1) the lighting environment of the staircase space and (2) the change in mounting height of the handrail lighting on mobility and safety. An on-site survey and impression evaluation of 28 railway stations in Tokyo indicated that illuminance and uniformity at the lower line of sight considerably affected the psychology of users. Therefore, handrail lights that can illuminate the surface of the stairs from a low position need to be installed to achieve a safe and comfortable light environment. No significant influence was detected based on the installation height of the handrail lighting; However, compared to the ceiling lighting, the handrail lighting was found to be higher in brightness, safety, and comfort items of impression evaluation. In addition, the elderly group evaluated the lighting environment with handrail lighting as more preference and safer than the young group.

P142 Factors associated with the return of spontaneous circulation before emergency medical system arrival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurring at a station in Tokyo, Japan

P142 Factors associated with the return of spontaneous circulation before emergency medical system arrival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurring at a station in Tokyo, Japan

The changes in shopping districts surrounding the Koenji station in Tokyo and becoming a youth town

The changes in shopping districts surrounding the Koenji station in Tokyo and becoming a youth town

Evaluation of wheelchair accessibility in train stations using a spatial network

The universal design of public transportation is a crucial task worldwide, especially in aging societies. For this reason, public agencies and train operators have advocated for universal architectural design for train stations, for instance, installing elevators and designing step-free routes. However, the location of elevators is often decided on an ad-hoc basis, and wheelchair users are often forced to take unnecessary detours and collision risks. This is because few methodologies are available for making an integrated evaluation of spatial structure and wheelchair accessibility. This paper introduces an evaluation framework based on network analysis to evaluate wheelchair accessibility from the aspect of the spatial structure at train stations. Specifically, we first develop weighted network data that describe the spatial structure of train stations in detail to represent the mobility restrictions of wheelchair users and pedestrians. We next propose several indices to evaluate each station in terms of its wheelchair accessibility using these data: “reachable time indices,” which measure the time to the train doors from the ticket gate, and “level of path independence,” which describes the low risk of collisions on paths. This evaluation framework was applied to nine train stations in Tokyo, Japan, as case studies to examine the relationship between spatial structure and wheelchair accessibility. As a result, we found three important relationships. First, placing an elevator in the center of a platform narrows the range of the reachable times for wheelchair users. Second, the proximity of elevator doors to stairs or escalator entrances tends to increase the risk of collisions with pedestrians. Third, a wheelchair stairlift installed in place of elevators increases the minimum reachable time and increases the risk of collisions on designated paths. These insights will be useful for finding facilities that require improvement in the wheelchair accessibility of step-free routes. • Train-station spatial-structure network analysis reveals wheelchair accessibility. • Elevators at platform centers reduce the reachable time range of wheelchair users. • Elevator doors near stairs or escalators increase the risk of collisions. • Wheelchair stairlifts increase both the minimum reachable time and collision risk.

Comparing Methods for Measuring Walkability

Walkability analyses have gained increased attention for economic, environmental and health reasons, but the methods for assessing walkability have yet to be broadly evaluated. In this paper, five methods for calculating walkability scores are described: in-radius, circle buffers, road network node buffers, road network edge buffers and a fully integrated network approach. Unweighted and various weighted versions are analyzed to capture levels of preference for walking longer distances. The methods are evaluated via an application to train stations in central Tokyo in terms of accuracy, similarity and algorithm performance. The fully integrated network method produces the most accurate results in the shortest amount of processing time, but requires a large upfront investment of time and resources. The circle buffer method runs a bit slower, but does not require any network information and when properly weighted yields walkability scores very similar to the integrated network approach.

Neurological outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurring in Tokyo train and subway stations

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to identify a relationship between the background environment, bystander and emergency medical services intervention, and favourable neurological outcomes (CPC1-2) one-month after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurred at Tokyo train and subway stations. MethodsThis retrospective observational study used OHCA data between 2014 and 2018 that occurred at train stations in Tokyo. The eligible 954 patients were analysed for correlation between background, time frame, and location. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate factors associated with CPC1-2 in patients with cardiogenic OHCA. ResultsA total of 886 OHCA cases, cardiogenic (n=562) and non-cardiogenic (n=324), met the inclusion criteria. Of the cardiogenic cases, 71.9% occurred at the platform and on-a-train. One-month CPC1-2 was achieved in 32.0% of cardiogenic OHCAs, which included 47.3% during morning rush hour, 24.7% during daytime hours, 40.2% during evening rush hour, and 20.5% during night-time/early morning hours. CPC1-2 had significant correlation with morning rush hour (adjusted odds ratio [AOR],4.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–18.78), evening rush hour (AOR, 6.85; 95% CI, 1.51–31.15), public access defibrillation (AOR, 5.19; 95% CI, 1.38–19.51), and ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (AOR, 7.56; 95% CI, 1.35–42.43). ConclusionA total of 71.9% of cardiogenic OHCAs occurred at platforms and on trains. To improve neurological outcomes of OHCAs at stations, AED installations on train platforms are necessary. Additionally, using artificial intelligence-based platform monitoring for early detection of OHCAs and offering CPR training are required.

Study on Planning of New Underground Railway & New Station in The Yaesu-Kyobashi-Nihonbashi District (Part 2)

The Urban Underground Space Center of Japan (USJ), composed of public, private and academic sectors, aims at utilizing urban underground space through various activities like research, study etc. This paper is the second report of the Yaesu-Kyobashi-Nihonbashi Committee USJ’s Three - year project on planning of new underground railway station supposed to be constructed near Tokyo Station once the railway network is to be realized, connecting Tsukuba and Haneda Airport and running through near Tokyo Station, Tokyo Bay Area etc. This research is vital for Yaesu-Kyobashi-Nihonbashi district as many redevelopment projects are carried out vigorously in conjunction with sharp increase in the volume of passenger traffic passing this district.This time, we mainly report the purpose and role of new underground railway, and the comparative study of route plans. The route plans of A, B and C are compared in terms of the three elements – construction costs, accessibility to the existing Tokyo Station and contribution to revitalization of the district.As a result of the study, it was suggested that it would be desirable to build a new underground railway under the Chuo-dori street from the viewpoint of town development of this district.

Radio and media history as a methodology for conviviality

This article illustrates how research into the history of radio and media can become a methodological ‘tool for conviviality’ by discussing my research into the very low-powered Tokyo station, Radio Home Run. In 1986, Ivan Illich visited Radio Home Run to participate in a programme that not only exhibited characteristics of his concept of conviviality, but that was also partially inspired by this concept as well as his critiques of industrial society and institutional life. During this programme, Illich sat on the floor of a small Tokyo apartment – the station’s make-shift studio – to share food, drink and a microphone with members of the station as he discussed his ideas with those in attendance. About five years prior to his visit, early members of Radio Home Run and its predecessor Radio Polybucket had been inspired by the writings of Illich and other progressive thinkers to develop their own theory and practice of radio-making, which they described as narrowcasting. They implemented this theoretically inspired practice throughout the station’s tenure (roughly 1983–96) both discussing and demonstrating conviviality with Illich during his 1986 visit. In 2016, 30 years after Illich’s visit, I met with former Radio Home Run members to collect oral histories, facilitate group interviews and conduct archival research about the station and its practices. I implemented a methodology that combines traditional practices of media and radio history with practices of art history focused on the perspectives and accounts of creators, such as those advocated by Lucy Lippard and Kristine Stiles. As I travelled throughout Japan to sit, share food and drink and discuss the past with groups and individuals, I experienced what it was like to participate in Radio Home Run’s convivial practices of narrowcasting. I also participated in the collective reconstruction of Radio Home Run’s collective history by documenting conversations as members pieced their memories together and revisited material from their personal archives, which shed new light on the station and its convivial practices. This article discusses and reflects upon the convivial nature of my research experiences in order to propose a methodology of radio and media arts history research that can serve as a methodological tool for conviviality in the present and the future.

Data Retrieval System of JMA Analog Seismograms in the Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion of the Japanese Government

Abstract To archive precious analog seismograms of major earthquakes that occurred in and around Japan, we have scanned selected analog seismograms from 113 stations deployed by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and are constructing a database of the scanned digital images accessible through the website of the Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion (HERP) of the Japanese government. This project started in 2006 and was conducted by the Association for the Development of Earthquake Prediction. The database of HERP now contains more than 185,000 digital images of seismograms recorded during the period from 1884 to 1995. It includes seismograms of earthquakes that occurred in and around Japan and of some major teleseismic earthquakes. The oldest analog seismogram was recorded on 2 January 1884 at a station in Tokyo. The seismograms are the intellectual property of mankind, and the database of these digital images will be an important material for studies of past destructive earthquakes. Technological progress such as artificial intelligence image recognition technology will help to further explore the data.