JP

Organization

Research Division

Practical Research and Collaboration Division
2030 Global DRR Agenda Office
Professor (Specially Appointed)
Ph.D. (Agriculture)
Green Goals Initiative
Research Subject(s)
Water is the most abundant substance on the earth, the principal constituent of all living things, and a major force constantly shaping the surface of the earth. It is also a key factor in air-conditioning the earth for human existence and in influencing the progress of civilization. Changes in the distribution, circulation, or temperature of the earth’s waters can have far-reaching effects, and these changes may be caused by human activities, in particular, since the latter half of the 20th century. Therefore, I aim to understand this water cycle and its change, and solve the world's water issues.
Key Words
Hydrology / Socio-Hydrology / Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) / Water Resouces Enginnering / Agro-meteorology
Website
Research Activities

The current social infrastructures for disaster prevention are insufficient to cope with the increasing number of slope failure disasters with large wood discharges in recent years, not only in Japan but also in the world, considering the impact of climate change in the future. Therefore, an integrated model of slope failure disasters with large wood discharge was developed. I am working on the further advancement of the model, and am also engaged in research that contributes to the realisation of comprehensive watershed management, to design regional environments and rural infrastructure that are in harmony with the natural environment.

Socio-hydrology is a new research field that includes not only theoretical research on the interaction between the natural hydrological cycle and human society as a whole, but also practical intellectual activities to apply the knowledge of hydrology to solving social issues. It is expected to promote interdisciplinary socio-hydrology in Japan, ranging from the humanities and social sciences to geophysical aspects through the hydrological cycle. Therefore, I am working on socio-hydrology to clarify the trade-off between urbanisation and water-related disasters by utilising urban flood area records. 

Understanding vulnerability in agriculture is also important from the perspective of global food supply and demand. Therefore, I am working on agricultural vulnerability to drought and flood disasters in Japan, Asia and the rest of the world.
I am also conducting transdisciplinary research on the nature of the relationship between human society and the natural water cycle and environment, and the mechanisms of local environmental issues, while clarifying the actual conditions of local communities that are changing in the face of globalisation through fieldwork and geographic information systems.

Selected Works

Komori D., Sukegawa Y., Chaithong T., Kazama S. (2021) Modelling of large wood export at a watershed scale. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 47(2), 688-696. http://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5282

Komori D., Nakaguchi K., Inomata R., Oyatsu Y., Tachikawa R., Kazama S. (2022) Topographical Characteristics of Frequent Urban Pluvial Flooding Areas in Osaka and Nagoya Cities, Japan. Water. 14, 2795. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182795

Hendrawan VSA, Komori D, Kim W. (2023) Possible factors determining global-scale patterns of crop yield sensitivity to drought. PLoS ONE. 18(2), e0281287. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281287

Hendrawan, VSA., Komori D. (2021) Developing flood vulnerability curve for rice crop using remote sensing and hydrodynamic modeling. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 54, 102058. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102058

Komori D., Nakamura S., Kiguchi M., Nishijima A., Yamazaki D., Suzuki S., Kawasaki A., Oki K., Oki T. (2012) Characteristics of the 2011 Chao Phraya River Flood in Central Thailand. Hydrological Research Letters, 6 : 41-46.  https://doi.org/10.3178/hrl.6.41

Selected Memberships
  • The Society of Agriculture and Meteorology of Japan
  • Japan Society of Hydrology and Water Resources
  • Japan Society of Civil Engineering
Selected Awards
  • Japan Society of Hydrology and Water Resources「2017 Highest Impact Article」Characteristics of the 2011 Chao Phraya River Flood in Central Thailand.