Research Plans: Unit 4
Unit 4 Geographic Information Systems for Islamic Area Studies
Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Unit Leader: OKABE Atsuyuki
Islamic Area Studies Unit 4 Research Office
Department of Urban Engineering, The University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Tel: +81-3-5841-6225 Fax: +81-3-5841-8521
E-mail: tkuroiwa@ua.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp; skohno@ua.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Unit 4: Research Themes and Activities
The research objective of Unit 4 is to establish a new approach to Islamic area studies, employing spatial analyses using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Group 4-A (the large-scale spatial analysis group) and Group 4-B (the small-scale spatial analysis group) have been organized to undertake the research.
Group 4-A is establishing a database that contains historical information (from the 18th century onwards) of Ponneri, India. Group 4-A has also been developing new techniques for 1) the determination of landcover patterns based on information obtained via high resolution remote sensing, and 2) the analysis of such landcover pattern data. In addition, preparation for the investigation of the Ferghana region in Central Asia is under way.
Group 4-B will collect more precise data of cities and buildings in Turkey. Through comparison with data of other countries, the rationale of spatial forms of houses in Turkey will be quantitatively analyzed, as well as the differences in the residential styles and residential sectioning of different ethnic groups. Group 4-B has been developing techniques for spatial analyses that take into account three-dimensional information.
Unit 4: International Exchange
Scholars to be sent abroad
- ASAMI Yasushi, ARAI Yuji (JSPS Research Fellow), Ismail ISTEK (The University of Tokyo), OIKAWA Kiyoaki (The University of Tokyo), JINNAI Hidenobu (Hosei University), TSURUTA Yoshiko (Showa Womenﾕs University), MAGARIBUCHI Hidekuni (The University of Tokyo), and YAMASHITA Kimiyo (Institute for Cultural Studies of Ancient Iraq, Kokushikan University) will investigate urban spatial structures. August 2000. Istanbul and other Turkish cities, Damascus and Aleppo.
Unit 4: From the Unit Leader
As described in our research theme, ﾒGeographic Information Systems for Islamic Area Studies,ﾓ researchers from two different academic fields, namely, Islamic area studies and Geographic Information Systems, conduct research together in Unit 4. Our goal is to integrate methods of human sciences and natural sciences. However, this is easier said than done, for the scholars must understand fields outside their own specialties. Sound partnership and mutual understanding between the scholars from the two different fields are now being realized through the collaboration of the past three years. In the remaining two years of the IAS Project, we will work even harder to produce fruitful results. (OKABE Atsuyuki)