Technology Advisor at International Centre for Flood Hazards and Risk Management, PWRI, Japan
Shinji Egashira is an eminent civil and environmental engineer whose professional journey spans over five decades, marked by notable academic, advisory, and research roles. Renowned for his pioneering work in sediment transport, river morphodynamics, and disaster risk reduction, he has significantly contributed to the advancement of hydraulic engineering and sustainable river basin management. His scholarly work is internationally recognized and widely cited, and he continues to inspire the global hydrology and geomorphology communities through both mentorship and technical leadership.
Profile
Scopus
Education
Dr. Egashira earned his Master of Science degree in 1973 and later received his Doctor of Engineering from Kyoto University in 1980. These academic milestones laid the foundation for a distinguished career at the intersection of hydrology and environmental systems. His graduate work initiated a long-term commitment to applied and theoretical research in sediment hydraulics, a field he would later influence profoundly through both academic and practical innovation.
Experience
Beginning his career as a Research Associate at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) at Kyoto University from 1973 to 1982, Dr. Egashira progressed to Associate Professor until 1994. In the same year, he was appointed as Professor at Ritsumeikan University, where he led the Department of Civil and Environmental Systems Engineering until his retirement in 2007. His international influence was marked by a tenure as Guest Professor at the St. Anthony Falls Hydraulic Laboratory, University of Minnesota, in 1990. From 2007 onward, he transitioned into key advisory roles, including Technology Advisor at NEWJEC Inc., Guest Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), and Research and Training Advisor at ICHARM (International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management). He also held a Guest Professorship at the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, contributing to capacity building in Southeast Asia until 2022. He officially retired from ICHARM and GRIPS in March 2025, marking the end of an era of exceptional service to the global water and disaster management communities.
Research Interest
Dr. Egashira’s research interests lie primarily in sediment transport processes, river basin management, flood hazard mitigation, and debris flow dynamics. His work integrates field observations, laboratory experiments, and numerical modeling to develop predictive and management tools for sediment-related disasters. He has particularly focused on rivers in South and Southeast Asia, reflecting a deep commitment to addressing environmental challenges in vulnerable regions. His research has been instrumental in shaping disaster risk reduction frameworks and infrastructure design guidelines.
Award
His excellence has been recognized through prestigious awards, including the 1999 Paper Prize from the Japanese Society of Sediment and Erosion Control, and the 2020 Best Paper Prize from the Asian Pacific Division of the International Association for Hydraulic Research (APD-IAHR). These honors reflect the depth, impact, and applicability of his scholarly work in real-world environmental and engineering problems.
Publication
Among his recent and impactful publications are:
(1) Sudeshika et al. (2025), “Method on sediment management for restoring the lower reach of the Kelani River, Sri Lanka,” River, cited for its innovative sediment management approach in tropical rivers;
(2) Sudeshika et al. (2025), “Study of sediment transport processes in the Kelani River Basin, Sri Lanka,” Journal of JSCE, widely cited in basin-scale sediment modeling;
(3) Sudeshika et al. (2025), “Formation Process of Bed Material Size Distribution,” Water, recognized for advancing understanding of sediment gradation;
(4) Rahman et al. (2024), “Numerical Simulation of River Channel Change,” Water, used extensively in floodplain planning studies;
(5) Nagumo et al. (2024), “Geomorphic Indicator for Evaluating Sediment Transport,” Water, which introduces a novel index for mountain river dynamics;
(6) Harada and Egashira (2024), “Hazard Maps for Flood Disasters,” Proceedings of IAHS, frequently cited in hazard mapping literature;
(7) Subedi et al. (2024), “Inundation Processes with Active Sediment Transportation,” Journal of Disaster Research, contributing critical insights into floodplain sedimentation in South Asia.
Conclusion
Shinji Egashira stands as a towering figure in environmental hydraulics and disaster mitigation research. Through decades of academic leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international advisory work, he has shaped the modern understanding of sediment transport and river basin dynamics. His scholarship, deeply rooted in practical application, continues to resonate across regions vulnerable to sediment-related hazards, making him an ideal nominee for any distinguished award recognizing lifetime achievement in civil and environmental engineering.