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Okayama University Conducts Field Study on Reservoir Management Using Wearable Cameras to Record Local Wisdom in Kumenan, Okayama

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Published Jun 14, 2026 5:45 AM ・ Updated Jun 14, 2026 12:10 AM ・ 11 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

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⚡ Key Points

A research team from Okayama University and Okayama University of Science conducted a field study on reservoir and waterway management activities in Kumenan, Okayama Prefecture, on May 17, 2026.
As part of a project funded by the Toyota Foundation, the team utilized wearable and 360-degree cameras to record maintenance work.
The project aims to visualize and archive localized tacit knowledge, helping to preserve essential skills and develop new business models in depopulating rural areas.

A research team from Okayama University and Okayama University of Science conducted a field study on reservoir and waterway management activities in Kumenan, Okayama Prefecture, on May 17, 2026. As part of a project funded by the Toyota Foundation, the team utilized wearable and 360-degree cameras to record maintenance work. The project aims to visualize and archive localized tacit knowledge, helping to preserve essential skills and develop new business models in depopulating rural areas.

PRIMARY SOURCE PR TIMES View source Distributor: PR TIMES
Published: Jun 14, 2026

June 13, 2026 National University Corporation Okayama University

https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/

◆ Overview

Okayama University (Main Campus: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Yasutomo Nasu) participated in a cleaning and management activity for reservoirs and surrounding waterways in Kumenan Town, Kume District, Okayama Prefecture, on May 17, 2026. A research team consisting of members from Okayama University and Okayama University of Science joined the local community.

This activity was conducted as part of the Toyota Foundation's FY2024 Special Subject "Depopulation and Japanese Society" grant project, titled "Building a New Business Model to Support Depopulating Areas through Co-creation by Young Regional Practitioners and Academic Researchers." In this project, the team aims to understand the tasks, knowledge, and structure of human resources required to maintain local resource management and life infrastructure in mountainous areas experiencing depopulation and aging, and to build a new business model to support them.

On the day of the event, Associate Professor Katsutoshi Oonaka from the Institute for Education and Student Services (Global Division), Associate Professor Hisashi Datai and Professor Fumio Fukuda from the Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology at Okayama University, and Assistant Professor Sakue Onishi from the Faculty of Information Science and Technology at Okayama University of Science participated. Activities such as mowing and collecting grass on reservoir embankments, as well as clearing grass and dredging mud from waterways, were carried out. The research team captured these maintenance activities from multiple angles using wearable cameras, which record from the workers' perspective, and 360-degree cameras mounted on their backs.

Managing reservoirs and waterways is essential for local agricultural production, disaster prevention, and maintenance of the living environment. However, due to depopulation and aging, securing participants for these joint tasks and transferring technology and knowledge have become major challenges. The purpose of this recording is to visualize the local practical wisdom—such as working procedures, division of roles, use of tools, and on-site decisions—which is difficult to convey through paper documents alone.

In addition, this initiative connects university knowledge directly to local issue sites, promoting the inheritance of practical knowledge and the cultivation of new participants to realize a sustainable local society. This activity also contributes to the university's goal under J-PEAKS: "A research university that co-creates the future of local and global communities and contributes to global innovation."

Going forward, the research team will analyze the obtained video records to examine the digitalization and manualization of local resource management activities. In addition, in cooperation with Kumenan Town and local stakeholders, the team will address how sustainable regional resource management should be conducted in depopulating areas and work on constructing new participant and business models to support it. Please look forward to the future initiatives of Okayama University, an open core regional research university.

Scene of grass mowing

Worker equipped with a wearable camera and a back-mounted camera

Location of Kumenan Town (from Google Maps)

◆ References

- The Toyota Foundation FY2024 "Depopulation and Japanese Society" Program https://toyotafound.my.salesforce-sites.com/psearch/JoseiDetail?name=D24-SR-0017 - Okayama University of Science https://www.ous.ac.jp/index.php - Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Food and Environmental Policy Field, Okayama University https://www.cc.okayama-u.ac.jp/~envpol/jpn/index.html - Okayama University Organization for Research Promotion & Collaboration https://www.orsd.okayama-u.ac.jp/ - Kumenan Town https://www.town.kumenan.lg.jp/

◆ Reference Information 1

- [Okayama University] Okayama University Faculty and Staff Present Kumenan Town Project at the Toyota Foundation's "Depopulation and Japanese Society" Mid-term Seminar https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000004018.000072793.html - [Okayama University] Associate Professor Katsutoshi Oonaka and Others Attended the Toyota Foundation Special Subject Grant Presentation Ceremony https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003088.000072793.html - [Okayama University] Project of Associate Professor Katsutoshi Oonaka, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Selected for the Toyota Foundation Grant https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003015.000072793.html

◆ Reference Information 2

- [Okayama University] Okayama University Jazz Club Holds First Solo Live Concert in Kumenan Town! https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000003359.000072793.html - [Okayama University] Okayama University Holds Kick-off Meeting for Regional Collaboration Project with Kumenan Town - First Step toward Sharing Regional Issues and Co-creation https://prtimes.jp/main/html/

FACT BOX

Source: PR TIMES
Category: Survey

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Announced　Jun 14, 2026 5:45 AM — Distributor PR TIMES
Collected　Jun 13, 2026 9:03 PM
AI structured & analyzed　Jun 13, 2026 9:06 PM
Desk-reviewed & published　Jun 14, 2026 5:45 AM

FAQ

What was the goal of Okayama University's field study in Kumenan?

The goal was to record local reservoir and canal management activities using cameras to visualize and manualize traditional practices, ensuring the transmission of regional skills in aging areas.

What kind of camera technology was utilized in the study?

Researchers used wearable cameras to capture the workers' direct line of sight and 360-degree cameras mounted on workers' backs to record from multiple perspectives.

Who were the researchers involved in this project?

The team included Associate Professor Katsutoshi Oonaka, Associate Professor Hisashi Datai, and Professor Fumio Fukuda from Okayama University, along with Assistant Professor Sakue Onishi from Okayama University of Science.

Cite this article — HOW TO CITE

Washin AI News Desk“Okayama University Conducts Field Study on Reservoir Management Using Wearable Cameras to Record Local Wisdom in Kumenan, Okayama”AI News by Washin Village（和心村）, Jun 14, 2026. https://aeo.washinmura.jp/ai/okayama-u-ac-jp/en/news/2026-06-13-%E5%B2%A1%E5%B1%B1%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6-%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A2%E3%83%A9%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%82%AB%E3%83%A1%E3%83%A9%E3%81%A7%E5%9C%B0%E5%9F%9F%E3%81%AE%E7%9F%A5%E6%81%B5%E3%82%92%E8%A8%98%E9%8C%B2-%E5%B2%A1%E5%B1%B1%E7%9C%8C%E4%B9%85%E7%B1%B3%E5%8D%97%E7%94%BA%E3%81%A7%E3%81%9F%E3%82%81%E6%B1%A0%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86%E6%B4%BB%E5%8B%95%E3%82%92

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