Vongthanasunthorn Narumol Associate Professor

Research overview

Realizing sustainable water use by analyzing water quality in rivers and dams Ongoing research on local water resources
My research focuses on water quality management and water resource management as a means of facilitating sustainable water use and the conservation of water environments. Using observation data provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Japan Water Agency, the bodies responsible for managing rivers and dams, I create mathematical models and simulate changes in water quality.

■Efforts to address water quality issues
Natural phenomena in water environments can sometimes only be understood through long-term research. For many years, I have conducted research seeking to identify the causes of water quality problems in rivers, lakes, marshes, dam reservoirs, and oceans, and to assess the impact of human activities on water environments. For close two decades, I have been examining changes in water quality in the Ariake Sea and Isahaya Bay reclamation balancing reservoir, which have been attracting attention due to declining fish catches and a poor harvest of nori seaweed.

■Implementation of simulations
Since the large size of rivers, dams, and other bodies of water precludes experimentation, I conduct simulations based on observation data. This approach makes it possible to compare policies and verify their effectiveness, and to foresee improvements in the water environment. I provide my research findings to government officials and river/dam managers for use as reference materials in policymaking.

■Comprehensive water resource management during times of drought
Recent years have seen short, repeated cycles of flooding and drought as the climate changes. In my research, I have been investigating changes in water quality and water resource management in times of drought. In doing so, I focus on the characteristics of water circulation as well as comprehensive water resource management in low-lying areas, taking into account the balance of water supplied by rivers, creeks, groundwater, and dams. I am also involved in ongoing research related to fluctuations in water quality in the Chikugo River system, the Ariake Sea, and at dams and other locations.

The concept of comprehensive water resource management is universal, and my research can be applied equally to any country.I currently involve in joint research into water environments in the Chao Phraya River basin in my home country of Thailand. In the future, I wish to conduct research in Japan and other areas worldwide in the hope that my findings will prove useful in water quality and water resource management in those areas.