Design Standard of Control Structures Against Debris Flow in Japan

Countermeasures to prevent or mitigate sediment-related hazards, debris flow in this paper are classified as structural measures or nonstructural measures. The structural measures are Sabo dams, leading dikes, and channels for debris flow control. The nonstructural measures are the designation of areas prone to debris flow, proper land use in the areas, the reinforcement of houses, the creation of warning systems and the evacuation of the inhabitants in case of emergency. A technical standard on debris flow control structures of Japan was revised in 2007. Major revision is that check dams called Sabo dams constructed near houses are changed from closed type Sabo dams to open type Sabo dams because the occurrence frequency is low as once for longer than one hundred years, natural torrent environment should be conserved in ordinary days and sediment trap capacity should be kept until debris flow occurs. Points changed are explained such as the opening of open type dams is as equal as the maximum stone size.